Gov. Pat Quinn's administration launched a new state Web site feature offering information on the state budget in advance of the governor's March 10 speech and letting the public weigh in with comments or suggestions. Here are some comments posted Wednesday at www.budget.illinois.gov.

"Gov. Quinn - I suggest you privatize the Illinois Toll Highway

Authority and use the funds to help pay the state's obligations."

- Charles Lampton, of Naperville

"Please no more taxing the middle class. You must find a way to tax

the rich, they can afford it." - Cecilia Shapiro, of Bartlett

"Cut these insane union pensions! This is unsustainable!" - Steve

Watts, of Oswego

"Cuts to prisons and hospitals require the services to help make

people successful. Plan cuts ahead to avoid future expenses. Discharge

planning and post-institutional services save money." - John Fallon,

of Waukegan

"Why does our public sector have to drive the newest cars? Make it

state policy that a government vehicle must be kept for minimum five

years. No new cars every year!" - Dave, of Palatine

"Given the recession and the major unemployment situation, raising

taxes should not be an option. The people of Illinois should no longer

be required to compensate for government overspending by having their

taxes raised." S. Rotter, of Elgin

"The University of Illinois greatly needs and deserve the funding

allocated to it. The state has a responsibility and obligation to

provide the funding it promised. Affordable higher education must be

accessible to the middle class for the citizens of Illinois to

maintain and improve their quality of life." - Eric Wedgewood, of

Naperville

"We all know that the state cannot cuts its way out of this recession,

but a combination of reductions and increases in taxes may balance the

budget over time. May I suggest that we put a 1 cent state sales tax

on the sale of each fast food item sold?" - Gary Ofisher, of Elk Grove

Village