In The Newspaper...

Budget Delays Hurting Our Region

While I’m serving in Iraq, I have kept a close eye on developments in Springfield.  It looks more and more likely that 2008 will be a repeat of 2007, which was the longest overtime session of the General Assembly in recent history.  The State is facing serious fiscal problems, with a $750 million budget shortfall in the current fiscal year.  Meanwhile, Governor Blagojevich continues to push a massive health care expansion that will cost billions of dollars – an expansion that the General Assembly has rejected.

Governor Blagojevich has chosen to withhold promised funds to a variety of programs in an attempt to deal with the budget shortfall.  He has frozen over $40 million in Fiscal Year 2008 appropriations to statewide agricultural programs.  Groups such as the U. of I. Extension, Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCD), the Council on Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR), AgriFIRST grants and Partners for Conservation remain on the verge of closure without receipt of the promised state funds.

The Governor’s budget delays are hurting our region and our economy.  Agriculture remains the backbone of Illinois’ economic engine.  If the $40 million in state funds are not released, nearly 450 Extension employees could be laid-off around the state.  More than 2.5 million Illinoisans take part in Extension programs each year, including nearly 300,000 who participate in 4-H youth programs.  Illinois’ 98 SWCDs have 250 employees who live and work in every county of the state.  Many, if not all, of our SWCDs will be forced to shut their doors if their promised funding isn’t released.

Other public safety and infrastructure initiatives have also been withheld, including funds appropriated in last year’s budget for a new sprinkler system at Jacksonville High School.  I join with my fellow House members in calling on the Governor to release all of these much needed funds.  

Meanwhile, it’s more of the same in Springfield.  Earlier this month, a $3 billion income tax increase was called for a vote in the House.  This proposal included absolutely no property tax relief for Illinois homeowners.  Fortunately, House Republicans voted against this tax hike and it was defeated.  Also sent to the House floor was legislation reinstating the Structural Work Act.  This onerous Act is strongly opposed by Illinois’ business community and was repealed by Republican majorities in 1995.  Illinois is already known nationally as a bad place to do business.  Higher taxes and burdensome regulations will only serve to drive businesses and jobs out of Illinois.

I wish I could say that this year’s session of the General Assembly will end on time and with a fiscally-sound budget.  Unfortunately, it appears we are headed towards another budget stalemate and overtime session.  The Governor and the legislative leaders need to put aside their differences and work on a reasonable budget that will benefit the people of Illinois.

   - This editorial written by Rep. Watson appeared in the Jacksonville Journal Courier