Are financial woes real if revenue up?

The Burt Constable piece on 11/25 outlining the ripple effect caused by the state's nonpayment of bills to health care and human services providers should anger everyone. On it's face, it's hard to understand how the state can justify raises for themselves, allow for insiders to accumulate multiple pensions, and continue to waste taxpayer money in numerous other ways, while keeping occupational and developmental therapists and social workers serving those most in need at bay by withholding payments.

What's worse is that government leaders are using these people and services as pawns in a cruel game designed to justify increases in taxes and fees. Most people, including service providers quoted in the story, truly believe that "The state is pressed for finances and resources... " Minimal checking into public information on the state's financial history shows that the Illinois revenues for 2007 was higher than ever! There is plenty of money, but the sad reality is that those in control have either totally mismanaged it, or they are creating various crisis' (what better than to tease human services with payments needed to survive and to garner voter sympathy?) in order to play on taxpayer emotions leading to tax and fee increases.

Beware the wolf in sheep's clothing and hang on to your wallets!

Keith Gray

Waukegan