Hynes Throws Another Jab At Blago

May 6th, 2008 at 02:30am Aaron Chambers

Continuing to raise his profile while traveling Illinois, state Comptroller Dan Hynes on Monday slammed Gov. Rod Blagojevich for reportedly threatening to cut higher education funding.

Blagojevich has said the state has a $750 million deficit in the budget ending June 30, and his aides have said a number of programs — including perhaps higher education — may not get all the funding that lawmakers appropriated for them this year.

In a news release following a visit to Western Illinois University, Hynes said the governor ought to honor the state’s commitment.

“The Governor says we can’t afford to give colleges and universities the state assistance they promised this year,” Hynes said following a round table discussion with administrators from Western Illinois University. “I say we can’t afford not to. I say investing in our colleges and universities is one of the best investments this state can make to help ensure a thriving economy and a solid future for the next generation. The Governor needs to keep his word and give the universities the funding they were promised.”

It was the third time in a month that Hynes, a third-term comptroller, took a shot directly at Blagojevich. But compared to his speech at Southern Illinois University, in which he offered an exhaustive and nuanced criticism of Blagojevich’s budget practices, this announcement didn’t strike me as too constructive. It seemed like boilerplate campaign rhetoric in which one candidate attacks another candidate in an attempt to garner some publicity, but then doesn’t really say how he or she would do things differently.

I sent a few questions by e-mail to Hynes spokeswoman Carol Knowles:

Does Hynes dispute the governor’s statement that the state has a $750
million deficit in the current year? If so, then does Hynes believe that
there is a deficit? And if so, how large does he believe that it is?

If Hynes does not dispute the governor’s deficit figure, then where does
he suggest the administration find the promised money for higher ed?
Would Hynes prefer to see across-the-board cuts or some alternative
approach to reconciling the budget deficit?

She responded:

The Comptroller doesn’t know where/how the governor’s Office/GOMBY came
up with that figure.
As you are aware, the Comptroller has said repeatedly, over the last
several years that the state’s budget is not balanced because of
Medicaid carryover.
The Comptroller would point out that the cuts the governor has
threatened will not really address the long-term funding concerns for
education, pensions and health care and that entities such as the
universities and the U of I Extension are being unfairly targeted.

The comptroller has indeed been steadfast in his dour assessment of state finances. The governor, for his part, has been anything but focused on reconciling the state’s massive debt load. Still, do you think it is fair of the comptroller to continually rail against irresponsible budget practices, then criticize a particularly spending cut and then not provide a specific alternative cut? You tell me.

Entry Filed under: DanHynes, Rod Blagojevich, Illinois politics