Comptroller Hynes: Illinois in a world of hurt

2 comments February 4th, 2009

One state official who’s been telling it like it is for years is Dan Hynes, the state comptroller. Today he’s got really bad news for all of us in Illinois. Remember how we’ve been saying that the state’s budget shortfall is $4 billion? Well, scratch that. It’s more like $9 billion, says Hynes in a dire report. Even when help from the proposed federal stimulus plan is factored in, we’re still left with a $6 billion shortfall. And Hynes estimates that revenues will not increase. Usually the state can count on a natural revenue increase of up to $1 billion each year. Instead, the state will be lucky to take in as much revenue this year as it did last year.

Gov. Quinn has until March 18 to come up with a budget to  present to the Legislature. It won’t be a pretty one.

Quinn fires Blago’s DNR hack; will name a pro to run DNR Thursday

1 comment February 4th, 2009

Gov. Pat Quinn said in his first news conference, in response to a question I put to him, that he believed the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) should be run by a natural resources professional. The department had been decimated by disgraced former governor Blagojevich, and Blago just a few weeks ago named a crony and former state rep. Kurt Granberg to the director’s post.

Quinn fired Granberg Wednesday and said he’ll name a professional to replace him Thursday.

Thanks, governor. Now get those parks re-opened.