SPRINGFIELD, IL (KTVI-FOX2now.com)—
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is proposing massive spending cuts. Once again he is calling for a tax increase, but this time his sales pitch includes a threat. With the state facing a record deficit of $13-billion, Governor Quinn is coming to lawmakers with a budget built on tough love. Perhaps toughest of al, he is proposing a tax increase in an election year."These cuts are the unavoidable consequence of a bipartisan refusal - year after year -- to confront fiscal reality," Quinn said in a speech.
He has been juggling fiscal chainsaws ever since inheriting the job last year. But now Governor Quinn says the only way to avoid taking a chainsaw to the budget is an income tax increase of one percentage point.
The "or else," is to cut state spending on elementary and secondary education by 17 percent which would save $ 1.3 billion.
After his speech, however, outward support of the tax increase was hard to find, even among members of Quinn's own party.
Quinn's budget also includes saving money by furloughing state workers, reducing the amount of money the state shares with local governments, and, though it was not mentioned in the speech, cutting prescription drug benefits for the elderly in half.
But clearly the governor is banking on the emotional appeal of saving public education to override the public's distaste for raising taxes, especially during a recession.
