The state budget crisis

07/01/2009 10:00 PM


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Last week we did two things we rarely do here at Chicago Journal: Delve into state politics and publish an editorial on our front page.

We made these calls because the state’s budget is fundamentally a local budget. And if social service providers in our neighborhoods start slashing their programs, we all will feel the impact. Fewer parents will have daycare. Drug addicts seeking a way out won’t get the help they need. More teens will be on the street. And on and on.

The situation in Springfield, as noted in contributing reporter Nicholas Moroni’s piece this week, remains fluid. By the time you read this, there could be a budget deal.

Or not.

Which is why we call once again for the stiff drink of the income tax increase that Gov. Quinn wants. There is simply no way to fund the state’s budget without additional revenue, and an income tax increase is the most fair way to get us out of this mess.

Call your legislators to reaffirm your support for the tax increase. The politicians need to hear it. And, sadly, we need to pay it.


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By Bill E Morrison from West Loop
Posted: 07/03/2009 6:23 AM

It's difficult to get on board with yet another tax increase and there are several reasons why. For one, local and state media report on almost a daily basis about questionable spending and corruption on the part of city, county and state governments. It is hard to reward this behavior with more revenue. Also, government officials have so far done an inadequate job convincing me (and apparently others) that budget-cutting measures have been exhausted and a tax increase is the only alternative.