Quinn Presents DOOMSDAY BUDGET Scenario: 14,300 Teachers Laid Off, 650,000 People Lose Health Care

CHICAGO (AP) -- Gov. Pat Quinn is trying to scare lawmakers into supporting an income tax increase by warning Monday that teachers and state troopers would lose their jobs, health care would be cut and college students would lose financial aid without the additional money.

The Chicago Democrat is under mounting pressure to get skeptical lawmakers on his side because time is running out to pass a state budget before the General Assembly adjourns May 31 for the summer.

Quinn laid out what a "doomsday" budget might look like if lawmakers "slash and burn" their way to close a deficit of at least $11.6 billion instead of going along with his plan to boost taxes.

"In a tough time we don't want history to say the people of Illinois threw a lot of their fellow citizens overboard because they didn't want to make any sacrifices or tough choices," Quinn told reporters after detailing a litany of possible cuts to more than 300 people at the City Club of Chicago, a local civic club.

According to Quinn, cutting the budget he proposed would mean laying off more than 14,000 teachers, lopping the Illinois State Police force in half, eliminating services for seniors and the disabled, and ending health care for 475,000 children and parents. It also would mean closing state parks and museums and no money for state fairs in Springfield and DuQuoin.

But Quinn's plan to scare lawmakers into his corner could backfire.

"We understand why he wants to do it to create a picture of where we are, but we're not sure it does the job of encouraging lawmakers to vote for the income tax," said Rikeesha Phelon, spokeswoman for state Senate President John Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat.

Some lawmakers have criticized the governor for resorting to an income tax increase without making more cuts in the budget first.

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One key budget negotiator, Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago, said it was helpful for Quinn to illustrate the kind of spending plan Illinois might have to adopt if a tax increase isn't approved. He said it might serve as a wake-up call to some legislators who don't realize what's at stake.

"This is telling the people of Illinois that we're in dire straits," Trotter said. "If members start hearing from these veterans that are going to be out, if they hear from state troopers and their families and ... all these people with disabilities, then maybe there will be some action."

Quinn has proposed raising the state income tax rate to 4.5 percent, up from 3 percent, but he wants to offset it with tax breaks for the poor and working class. On Monday he indicated he was open to considering more relief, including a higher property tax credit.

Former Republican Gov. Jim Thompson said an income tax increase is needed because Quinn inherited a budget in tough economic times. But Quinn's plan to boost exemptions makes his tax plan a harder sell to lawmakers and Thompson couldn't predict if it would pass.

"It's a very tough vote, especially when his proposal to increase the exemptions reduces the revenue. And it's very hard to ask legislators to vote for a tax increase if they don't think it's producing enough revenue because then you get the political pain without the gain," said Thompson, who backed income tax increases when he was governor. Thompson attended Quinn's speech.

Any of the cuts spelled out by Quinn would be devastating, advocacy groups said. The Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association said a doomsday budget would end services for hundreds of thousands of people in Illinois who need help fighting addiction.

"Crime rates, domestic violence incidents and traffic accidents will explode across Illinois," said Sara Moscato Howe, the association's CEO.

Leading employee unions in the state quickly called on lawmakers to find the needed money.

"The people of Illinois may not be happy with a modest tax increase, but they will be outraged with cuts that decimate education and public services. Lawmakers must do the right thing and raise the revenue this state desperately needs," Illinois Federation of Teachers president Ed Geppert Jr. said in a statement.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the state's largest employee union, has worked to build support for a budget that includes new revenue and has rolled out a grass-roots effort to get members to call their lawmakers, union spokesman Anders Lindall said in an e-mail.

AARP Illinois will alert its members - 1.8 million in the state - about potential doomsday cuts. It also has volunteers talking with lawmakers about passing a budget that's good for seniors, although the group has not gone on record about Quinn's proposed tax increase, said Nancy Nelson, advocacy manager.

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Associated Press Writer Christopher Wills contributed to this report from Springfield.

-ASSOCIATED PRESS

Comments

[rwext]

Illinois is INCREASING SPENDING BY 6.5 %.....W>T>F> .....every special interest group yanking his chain and he is caving....W>T>F ......STOP SPENDING OUR MONEY AND LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS ...you know, make state employees, all state employees , work until 65 and no double dipping pensions and a little contributions .

[Cogs]

The state government is bloated with bureaucrats who sit on advisory boards and draw six figure salaries. Millions are allocated to fund these non-vital appointments and unnecessary committees. Money is also wasted on contracts paid to well-connected consulting firms for reports that are neither practical nor feasible. Cut them out of the action before laying off teachers, law enforcement and public service providers. There's plenty of dollars to be saved by prioritizing the budget. Any income tax increase should be fazed in over the new few years.

[Sinick]

I would be willing to listen to Mr. Quinn if he could: 1) ensure me that everybody was taxed equally (including corporations, businesses, investors and those that can afford tax accountants); 2) explain where all the tax dollars went; 3) tell me how many tax dollars are lost due to fraud, misuse, tax loopholes and tax shelters; and 4) convince me that he was going to make sure that everybody paid their fair share of taxes levied on a level paying field.

Personally, I don't mind paying taxes as long as everybody else pays their fair share and I can be confident that my tax dollars are being judiciously used for the common good.

In New Jersey, it's almost like they take our tax dollars, throw it up in the air in the Statehouse, and whoever grabs it gets to spend it on his or her own pet project.