Doomsday Budget?

Yesterday I received an email about the budget cuts that are expected to affect Options & Advocacy, a not-for-profit McHenry County organization that serves a developmentally-disabled clientele. This morning's paper forecasts gloom and doom for Illinois Federation of Families, Pioneer Center, Family Service and Community Mental Health Center, and perhaps up to 10,000 state employees.

Everybody seems to be bashing Gov. Pat Quinn, but isn't he a beacon for fiscal responsibility in Illinois? How can we continue to blow more money out the door than is coming in? But, of course, that's what most people do: spend beyond their means.

Illinois' money problems cannot be solved only by cutting allocations and disbursements of state monies. The income tax must be raised to close the gap between outgo and income.

Wasn't it just about two weeks ago that the Northwest Herald carried an article about the pork to be distributed by state legislators? Just how much will be doled out right here in McHenry County alone by Representatives Franks and Tryon and Senator Althoff? I guess three phone calls today will be in order.

What are these dollars called? Pork? Earmarks? Legislative privilege? You know, like full scholarships to high school graduates for tuition at a state university? Are they the neediest among our state population?

Can we afford to turn our backs on the segment of our population that cannot help itself? Illinois ranks in the bottom 10% of the States for how it funds services for children and adults with disabilities. Maybe we don't have to be first in services to them, but we certainly don't have to be in the bottom 10%!

Contact your elected representatives today and demand that they balance the budget by responsible cuts and by a reasonable increase in state income tax.