Tax time and the state budget impasse
This weekend I'm going to do my taxes. At the same time that I'm filing my state taxes, I will be reminded that the state is in the midst of Budget Impasse No. 2. I have to pay my taxes or else I violate the laws of the state. Our lawmakers - both parties - continue to leave the state in the lurch with no operating budget and suffer no potential repercussions, either legally or constitutionally.
Anything wrong with this picture?
Many would like to find some kind of middle ground and end the endless gridlock, recriminations and fears of losing votes and money and privilege and office.
One small suggestion: if our lawmakers can't find any common ground, what about seeing if we citizens can? Could the media together help our state find some common ground in all the issues that the state faces?
Obviously, the media must report what's going on. But what might happen if the media combined forces to make a truly concerted effort over the next several months to help the average citizen (and maybe our lawmakers) find that common political ground on all our hot-button issues: education, tax reform, services benefiting the poor, infrastructure, unpaid pensions, etc.
We pay the bills. Obviously, we should have something to say in this matter too.
Bill Decker
Des Plaines