The real question is spending

If I should get an instant 66 percent raise all my financial problems now and in the future would be over. I am sure everyone reading this would be in the same boat.

When the state of Illinois raised the income tax from 3 percent to 5 percent our lawmakers did just that - gave the state a 66 percent raise. That kind of windfall most surely would fix any financial problem. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that it didn't.

Instead of acknowledging that this windfall was not used to fix the problems our lawmakers are debating whether or not to make the 5 percent tax rate permanent. They really have no choice but to make it permanent. They should be questioning what they are spending it on. Some of it might be pensions, but mathematically it can't all be that.

Our leaders need to get our financial house in order or there will be another 66 percent raise in the future. I know I can't afford that, and I bet no one else reading this can.

Brian M. Berg Jr.

Schaumburg