Quinn Budget Puts Policy Goals Above Fiscal Crisis Fixes: Civic Federation

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- A respected civic group announced its opposition to Gov. Pat Quinn's budget proposal Monday, saying the plan would take more money from taxpayers without fixing the state's fundamental problems or spelling out the details of a massive public works program.

"The governor's proposed budget does not focus sufficiently on overcoming the fiscal crisis, diverting money into policy objectives instead," the Chicago-based Civic Federation said.

The group offered its own proposal that includes more spending cuts and a smaller income tax increase, with all the money dedicated to reducing state debt. It also suggested Illinois consider taxing retirement income or applying the sales tax to food and drugs.

The Civic Federation is just the latest group to complain about Quinn's budget, which attempts to close an $11.6 billion budget deficit while providing some additional money to schools and launching a construction program meant to create jobs.

Conservative lawmakers and organizations complain that Quinn's plan would not cut spending enough and that it raises taxes during a recession. Meanwhile, unions and social service groups say it would take too much away from workers and from people who depend on state services.

Quinn's office would not discuss the federation's analysis, but it defended the Democratic governor's proposal as "the most comprehensive, fair and realistic answer to the states massive financial problems."

Quinn proposes raising the 3 percent personal income tax rate to 4.5 percent. He also would triple the personal tax exemption, lowering the tax bills of many families.

The tax increase would generate about $3.15 billion. The money be used for a variety of government needs, from paying overdue bills to helping support a $26 billion public works program.

The Civic Federation objects to using the tax money for anything but paying off the state's billions of dollars in debt. It also objects to a construction program unless officials say ahead of time what projects would be approved.

Quinn's plan would increase the size of the state's operating budget by 6.4 percent, to a total of $52.9 billion in the fiscal year starting July 1, the federation found. That total includes $1.3 billion in spending cuts, which the federation says is "inadequate."

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On the Net: http://www.civicfed.org

Comments

[Cogs]

Quinn seems overmatched.