* Our quote of the day goes to Chris Mooney, a professor of Political Studies with the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois Springfield speaking about the governor’s new budget.illinois.gov website, which allows people to post suggestions about ways to cut the state budget…
“I think blogs are a terrible thing in the American public because there is no responsibility,” Mooney said. “It’s interesting and a good thing that many people [on the governor’s budget site] are owning what they say, which is unlike a lot of blogs.”
Actually, the worst commenters are found mostly on newspaper websites, not blogs. Whatever the case, Mooney’s thesis is not wholly correct. There are lots and lots of pseudonymous and anonymous comments on the governor’s budget site. Have a look for yourself. And quite a few of the ideas are a little silly…
“It won’t save millions of dollars, but is it really necessary to use a new pen, that I’m sure isn’t a 10-cent Bic pen, every time the governor signs his name on a document?” Kevin Taylor, Chicago.
Here’s a clueless one posted this morning…
Susan Nikka Chicago Since most of the budget goes to the employee payroll and all benefits, I suggest taking back the last pay raises of ALL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, which means local and state-wide, administrative, congressman, alderman — EVERYONE!
“Most” of the budget does not go towards employee payroll and benefits. And how is cutting congressional and aldermanic salaries gonna help the state budget?
Finke finds evidence of astroturfing on the governor’s site…
Several commentators wrote to promote hospital funding. They appeared to be form letters. Suggestion to writers: Don’t use form letters. Quinn may be an exception, but many politicians routinely ignore form letters.
* Another Mooney quote…
“How could anything on this (Web site) have an impact on what is going to be said?” Mooney said. “The budget is put together over the course of an entire year and has the input of hundreds of people and specialists. And now two weeks before, (Quinn) sets up a blog to get input?”
What Professor Mooney fails to grasp is that Quinn can use some of the more lucid suggestions for political cover in his budget address. He can incorporate the suggestions into his speech and portray himself as a man of the people. Used properly, it could be an effective little gimmick.
* The Chicago Tribune laid out its own budget cut proposals yesterday. The paper wants a two-year solution with not tax hikes. One item on the list was the pension funds…
The most ambitious initiative to rein in costs now and in future decades comes from the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, which has proved up its legal and financial implications. The plan would freeze, and guarantee, pension benefits already earned, but would set somewhat lower benefits going forward for current state employees and new hires. Retirement ages would increase, while accrual rates and annual cost-of-living bumps would decrease. An offsetting drop in employee pension contributions could put more money in some workers’ pockets.
These changes appear to be constitutional and parallel how private-sector employers have moved tens of millions of workers to less costly retirement plans, such as 401(k)s. One huge difference: The Civic Committee proposal keeps all employees in a defined-benefit plan — a golden nest egg that many private-sector workers no longer have. None of this would affect current retirees, whose pensions are constitutionally guaranteed for life. Actuarial studies estimate that these changes would reduce the state’s unfunded pension obligations, now approaching $95 billion, by about $20 billion. Budget savings: At least $2.1 billion.
A $2.1 billion savings right away? I haven’t been able to find anything at the Civic Committee’s website with that number, but I’ve been told an answer will be forthcoming. I’ll share the info when I get it.
That editorial also called for cutting local government revenue sharing in half, which would only transfer the problems to somebody else.
* Related…
* Dems must OK cuts to get tax increase: If, in the end, the Republicans refuse to play ball, Madigan should move forward without them, the political price be damned. He owes it to Illinois to use his power to deliver for the state — not just to accumulate even more power.
* Quinn: Lawmakers not cheering for tax increase: But Quinn has said he won’t back down from an income tax increase if House Speaker Michael Madigan and Illinois Senate President John Cullerton ask him to do so because lawmakers hesitate to support one in an election year.
* Range of services at risk due to city, state budgets: Like a frog in a gradually warming pot of water, not everyone notices the trouble brewing. But budget problems have already hurt the Chicago area’s way of life — public transit is shrinking, library hours have been cut, and public schools are laying off employees by the hundreds. And it looks like things can only get worse.
* By the numbers: How Illinois’ fiscal picture adds up
* Ideas to fix Illinois budget run from the ordinary to the exotic
* Take your own whack at state’s budget mess
* Online budget plan has obvious holes
* A Titanic mistake or nothing at all: This ship of state is steaming full speed ahead as people scream, “Iceberg!” That’s what this State of Illinois budget mess looks like to me.
* College tuition costs causing heartburn: One year at Illinois State University, my alma mater, costs more than $16,500. If prices kept pace with inflation from the time I graduated, one year at ISU should cost $10,000. Instead, the price more than doubled.
* Time to reform pensions, not add more sweeteners