GOP leader: Gov. Quinn 'shameless' in tax hike push

Under pressure from social service providers facing the threat of draconian budget cuts, Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno called on Gov. Pat Quinn to halt what she calls a "shameless" political ploy.

Quinn has been touring the state highlighting the tens of thousands of residents who will lose funding for alcohol, drug and mental health treatment as well as adoption and child abuse prevention.

The Chicago Democrat tells the public to expect a higher crime rate and more unchecked abuse of the state's poor, prompting a growing call for tax hikes from those who count on the state subsidies.

In all, Quinn says that because lawmakers have failed to send him an income tax increase - and instead passed a budget that covers just six months of the fiscal year - his office will be forced to slash human service spending by about half.

Appearing on 780 WBBM-AM's At Issue program Friday, Radogno said Quinn and his fellow Chicago Democratic leaders are attempting to scare those who depend on the state the most to build support for an income tax hike.

"It is a shameless use and abuse of human service providers and the constituencies they serve," said the Lemont Republican.

In fact, the state is facing a $12 billion budget shortfall over two years.

Quinn is pushing for a 50 percent increase in the income tax rate to cover part of it, but lawmakers have so far balked.

Radogno argues even without the tax increase, Quinn could find other places in the budget to cut instead of social services. Quinn says that is not the case and he is going off a stopgap budget sent to him by lawmakers.

Negotiations are ongoing.

Republicans want to see more cuts in state health coverage and pensions for public employees and teachers. However, meetings between Quinn and the state's legislative leaders appear to have gone nowhere. Radogno, who is in on the meetings, says they have been productive, albeit modestly.

Radogno, however, did concede Friday that cutting the state budget alone will not come up with the cash needed to make ends meet.

"Cuts are one piece of the puzzle and they may not be enough to entirely solve the problem," she said on the prerecorded program that airs today (Sunday) at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

But she said Republicans won't consider voting for a tax hike until Democrats concede to a new pension system for incoming public employees as well as an overhaul of Medicaid spending.

"I think there is a consensus that these things need to be addressed," she said.

The governor and legislative leaders are next set to meet on Wednesday.