Officials want lawmakers to restore funding
SPRINGFIELD -- In Prospect Heights, state budget cuts jeopardize a flood-control project.
In Downers Grove, they mean an agency working with the developmentally disabled will go without a raise in state funding.
From across the state came similar tales of woe Monday as for nearly five hours, a parade of officials lamented Gov. Rod Blagojevich's budget cuts and urged lawmakers restore the funding.
"Levy 37 is not a bridge to nowhere, nor is it a pork project. Levy 37 will protect the property of thousands of members of my community," said Patrick Ludvigsen, acting mayor of Prospect Heights, which lost a $100,000 flood-control grant.
But Blagojevich said there are higher priorities.
"Because the budget passed by lawmakers failed to adequately fund health care, the governor cut funding for pork projects and other less critical needs," said Deputy Gov. Sheila Nix.
Based on the testimony heard Monday, the Daily Herald asked the governor's office to respond to three central questions. Budget office spokesman Justin DeJong provided the answers, and we sought reactions from individuals involved.
Q:How did you decide what to cut? Did politics play a role?
Governor's office: "Some of the projects lawmakers included in the budget did not have anything to do with the mission of state government like constructing beach volleyball courts or paying for a dance festival. And while there were some worthwhile projects, we simply can't fund the state's top priorities -- education and health care -- as well as countless member initiatives because the General Assembly did not pass enough new revenues to pay for all the things we may care about."
Reaction: "But what was the real motivation?" asked House Democrats' budget director John Lowder. He pointed to a Wayne Township bridge project in which the governor cut half of the funding, but oddly left the other half. "Identical projects for nearly identical purposes for nearly identical amounts. The only difference is which caucus sponsored the project."
Q:Where's the money going?
Governor's office: "There is a serious health care crisis that is impacting families throughout the state leaving many struggling to afford or have access to care. This crisis was completely ignored in the budget passed by legislators."
Reaction: "He's actually cutting health care to provide health care of his own choosing," said state Rep. Lou Lang, a Skokie Democrat, citing cuts to several health care and community care groups.
Q:How do you define pork spending?
Governor's office: "Member initiatives that didn't go through the appropriations process, but instead were inserted into the budget at the last minute without any public discourse or hearings as a means for Speaker (Michael) Madigan to buy votes from his members for a budget bill that they hadn't seen."
Reaction: "Perhaps the governor needs to revisit the definition of pork," said Cathy Ficker Terrill, chief executive of the Downers Grove-based Ray Graham Association, which lost a funding increase. "Pork is unnecessary and frivolous. Pork is not helping people with disabilities to live and work in the community."