Leaders must be courageous on budget

A few days before the holidays, former Gov. Jim Edgar expressed publicly the dire need for Gov. Bruce Rauner to address the state's crisis. It is not the first time he has urged the governor to set aside his "Turnaround Agenda" to pass a budget in our state.

Perhaps the potential loss of Eastern Illinois University has moved this alumnus to take on this battle. He further elaborated, it will require increased revenue. we cannot cut our way to prosperity.

An Oct. 21, 2016, Daily Herald article penned by Alejandra Cancino of the Better Government Association exposed 257 separate categories of 2015 tax breaks that cost taxpayers $9.4 billion: (1) Manufacturing Equipment and Machinery, $137 million; (2) Economic Development For Growing Economy, $48.6 million; (3)Net Operating Loss Deduction, $48.6 million; (4) Retirement Income, $2.3 billion (5) Earned Income Tax Credit, $234 million. It would seem a logical place to begin to fill the void.

In the non-profit arena, some 200 agencies that serve seniors, disabled, homeless, unemployed, working parents, child care, health clinics and a plethora of other service will close. Forty percent of Catholic Charities and fifty percent of Lutheran Services have already laid off staff and closed their doors.

As a retired member of this community, increases will affect me but, I view this crisis, created by power-hungry individuals willing to win at all costs, deplorable.

It will take a courageous legislator willing to risk an election to make this right with the people of Illinois. That will only happen if people call their representative in Springfield to say, "Let's put a budget up to vote with no attachments and we will support you in the next election."

Sue Walton

Arlington Heights