Pat Quinn Starts Website, Wants Illinoisans Advice On Fixing The State's Nasty Budget Problems

With the state's finances in shambles and an election year upon us, Gov. Pat Quinn did something politicians rarely do when it comes to managing money: asked state residents for help.

Earlier this week, the Civic Federation issued a report stating that the only way to help fix Illinois' $13 billion deficit is to raise taxes and cut the budget by an additional $2 billion--solutions that would go over like a lead balloon amidst a deep recession.

Instead of making these tough choices and dealing with the public wrath (which will probably come anyway), Quinn's office launched a website asking Illinois residents to prioritize: should the state cut education funding and give more to health care? Should both be cut to make way for more road construction? Quinn's budget director David Vaught asks voters to decide on the site.

The site also asks whether the state should raise taxes and by how much--and allows voters to "suggest a solution" to state budget problems.

Quinn is set to address lawmakers about the budget on March 10.

Comments

[lulubeans]

01:29 PM on 02/25/2010

decriminalize marijuana & tax the hell out of it! lose the Cheech & Chong mentality and get serious about it!

[Bude]

03:54 PM on 02/25/2010

Yes.

[crookedcountyillinois]

01:44 PM on 02/26/2010

That could actually work.

[Bude]

11:45 AM on 02/25/2010

When politicians want advice to fix the budget it is a refined form of pandering.

I will be voting for his opponent in November. Whoever it is.

[keng52]

08:44 PM on 02/24/2010

It is my understanding that if a man is a state employee in Illinois, he gets 6weeks of paid paternity leave after his wife gives birth. This is above and beyond his paid sick leave and paid vacations. That's nice for him and his family, but it is RIDICULOUS to us taxpayers. Get rid of that crap!!!

[lulubeans]

12:53 PM on 02/25/2010

yes it IS very nice for him & his family and I gladly allow my taxes to go towards this. everyone should be as lucky!

[FilmCriticOne]

01:38 PM on 02/25/2010

I worked for the State of Illinois in 1999 and got 2 weeks off when my wife had a baby. The guys at worked like it too - they all got fat on overtime. But it was only 2 weeks.

Six weeks is possible, however, depends on the agency you work for. My agency gave 2 weeks.

I can see some time off for the woman -- but they went politiclly correct and give it to men too.

Plus you get the same time off if you adopt.

Yes -- its crazy. They should just let the woman use her sick time -- and if she wants more time off let her off without pay for up to six weeks..

[lulubeans]

01:57 PM on 02/25/2010

you'd feel totally different if it was you that had to carry and deliver that baby. can most people afford time without pay? a baby is a HUGE adjustment; it's not like getting a new pet...

[crookedcountyillinois]

07:02 PM on 02/24/2010

Advice?

1. Cut government pensions.
2. Lower taxes.
3. Offer tax incentives to companies willing to re-locate to Illinois.
4. Abolish public unions.
5. No campaign contributions from Illinois.

There you go - Illinois's problems are solved.

[FilmCriticOne]

01:41 PM on 02/25/2010

Abolish public unions? Good idea -- do I have a right to speak or vote?

No campaign contributions is good though. Tell that to the fat cats and lobbyist.

Have publically available web sites for each candidate. Let people go to those web sites and look around to chose. Right now most of the money is going to TV stations and mass mailings.

[crookedcountyillinois]

01:42 PM on 02/26/2010

Right. And mass media 30-second advertisements and two-sided postcards are the two most intellectually dishonest ways of influencing people's decisions.

However, they've clearly proven that people are dumb enough to make one of life's most important decisions based on faulty information that was paid for by the person who's asking for your vote.

I just wish the morons could have their own country so they could get what they deserve, while they few of us who pay attention, have a different set of elected officials.