Leadership needed to get state moving
The election is weeks over. The time for discussing how to solve the state's financial problems is long past. The time to act is upon us and, more importantly, upon the legislature.
When they return from the Thanksgiving holiday, our representatives in Springfield need to finally come up with solutions. But as staff writers Mike Riopell and Kerry Lester reported Sunday, there is little consensus on just what to do.
That's disappointing.
Gov. Pat Quinn thinks he has a mandate to pass his income tax increase. He says “a lot of good things” will happen when the fall session resumes.
That depends on your perspective. If he's right and he gets his tax hike, it won't be so good if legislators can't figure out how to also cut spending. That's the key, in our view. Where to cut and, how much to cut can be debated, but cuts are necessary. What we need now are specifics.
We also need some leadership. We are heartened by the Senate forming bipartisan committees to study workers' compensation and Medicaid issues as places to start. We agree with Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno of Lemont who said the only way to solve the massive financial problems is through such a bipartisan effort. We urge House leaders on both sides of the aisle to do the same.
Many Republicans have called for a state audit to figure out where cuts could be made. We agree that will be helpful, but some decisions need to be made now, not after a major study.
We are not enamored by the proposal from state Sen. Terry Link to broadly expand gambling in the state as a means to increasing revenue. The Waukegan Democrat is pushing to create five new casinos, add gaming spots at existing casinos and allow for slot machines at Arlington Park. He estimates it would bring in $1 billion more a year for the state.
The state gaming board chairman last week criticized the legislation as having “everything for everyone.” The chairman, Aaron Jaffe, urged caution, saying the gaming board is having a hard enough time regulating what is allowed today and getting ready for the video gambling machines that will be allowed in bars throughout the state.
We agree with Jaffe that caution is needed. We are not pleased by Link's assertion that he has to please everyone to get his proposal passed. We also again reiterate our objection to the state allowing slots at Arlington Park without local input. And we think it's a bad plan, as Link's current proposal does, to wipe out the current gaming board and replace everyone at the same time gambling becomes even bigger business in the state.
Next week will be interesting in Springfield. We will be watching and looking for leadership to get the state out of this mess.