Make the tough cuts before raising taxes

Ms. Ryg, president of Voices for Illinois Children, in arguing that "the modernization our revenue structure needs to capture economic growth where it exists and improve fairness for working families," fails to mention two points.

First, other than privatizing existing services, borrowing, lotteries, gambling or receiving grants from the federal government, the only other source of revenue to the state comes in the form of state taxes. Period.

The state's main revenue sources, though, come from sales and income taxes. So, when Ms. Ryg talks about modernizing our revenue structure, she is talking about changing the tax structure. When she says the state is "missing recurring state revenues that would more adequately maintain strong schools and public services," Ms. Ryg is saying the state needs to raise taxes.

The second point Ms. Ryg fails to mention is how those taxes will be raised, and against whom will they be assessed. There have been a spate of stories decrying how Illinois' corporate taxes are driving businesses from the state; so, raising corporate taxes probably won't do much to "capture economic growth."

I certainly agree that "appropriate, strategic spending restraints are absolutely in order." Let's not speak euphemistically, though, about our problems or disguise our personal agendas by wrapping them in concern for our children and our public service, or push our "solutions" onto someone else's shoulders. Let's all be clear in what needs to be done. We need to cut spending dramatically and over all programs, services and benefits, not just the ones that are not part of our own safety nets or vested interests.

The sad truth is that there can be no sacred cows when trying to rein in Illinois' terrible budget woes. And only after we've squeezed every possible superfluous dollar from the budget, should we even consider raising taxes.

John Gillies

Schaumburg