Editorial: Without budget, Illinois can't fill gaps feds may create
Recent weeks of federal chaos might have some in the suburbs looking around for a bulwark to respond to changes that may occur under President Donald Trump on environmental protection or trade or health care or public education.
They might logically look to the government of Illinois, a blue state that went 56 percent for Democrat Hillary Clinton in November. But the state is woefully unprepared to step into such a role.
That's because a fight between the Democrat-led legislature and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has left Illinois without a full-year budget since 2015, setting a record among the states, pushing the deficit to a projected $5.3 billion by June, leaving $11 billion in unpaid bills to social service agencies and vendors, dragging the credit rating to the worst in the nation and racking up $130 billion in unfunded pension liability.
A state budget deal is in discussion this week in Springfield. And while we don't love some of it, and haven't seen all of what could be coming, we view this bipartisan approach as a real chance to end the impasse.
The plan negotiated by Senate President John Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat, and Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno of Lemont hit a snag on Wednesday when a key pension provision failed in the state Senate. Yet, we're glad to hear Cullerton spokesman John Patterson's declaration that the deal isn't dead.
Among the many pieces of the plan: an income tax increase and changes in how Illinois schools are funded.
The devil is in the details, of course, with some elements not sitting well with suburban constituents. But it's imperative that our elected representatives in Springfield work in concert to agree on a budget and set our state on a path toward operating as it should.
So, if Congress acts to get rid of the U.S. Department of Education, as a bill introduced Tuesday by Kentucky U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie would do, Illinois would be in a position to help schools react.
And if threatened cuts materialize for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Illinoisans would find some salvation in the state counterpart, which last year ran out of money to remind drivers their vehicle emissions tests were due.
Even in the best of financial circumstances, Illinois couldn't just step in and solve all such issues. These are complex programs that demand nuanced attention. But there will be no hope for addressing any of these needs if the state agencies that will inherit them don't have some funding to work with
If the federal government is going to dispense with some federal duties and outsource others to the states, we need a state that can meet that challenge.
Right now, we don't have it.