Trenches of Democracy

Illinois Works

While Illinois’s economy slows, Gov. Blagojevich responded last week with an unprecedented capital spending program, Illinois Works. Blagojevich’s $32 billion dollar budget eclipses the legacy of his big spending predecessor, convicted Gov. George Ryan.

Meanwhile, these grand visions for government spending fall on a backdrop of fiscal chaos. Illinois is already heavily in debt, unable meet it’s present financial commitments. Dennis Byrne of the Chicago Tribune comments:

Gov. Rod Blagojevich did it again last week. The roof is leaking, the electricity has been shut off, they’re coming to repossess the car, and he’s talking about adding a swimming pool and taking a Caribbean cruise.

Illinois is perhaps in the worst financial shape in memory and has the largest budget deficit of any U.S. state. But he’s proposing new programs and bigger giveaways. Blagojevich’s state of the state speech should have been delivered by Mad magazine’s Alfred E. Neuman. What, me worry?

To mask the state’s frightful condition, the governor reverted to the usual political blather that everything he’s doing is about the kids, families and people. The premise being, of course, that if you oppose his headlong dash into the financial bayou, you’re against kids, families and people… (read more)

Comptroller Dan Hynes complains “With the General Revenue Fund cash balance so low, there simply is not enough cash on hand to pay all of the bill presented for payment on any given day… it provides Illinois the dubious opportunity to retain its status as having the worst deficit in the nation for the fourth year in a row. (Tribune)”

Prosperity through Gov’t Spending

Convicted Gov. George Ryan’s massive pork barrel project, Illinois First, cost $12 billion in 1999. Now, Gov. Blagojevich’s Illinois Works program approaches $25 billion. Blagojevich rationalizes “I like the idea of a capital bill of the size and scope I am proposing because first and foremost, it means that we will put more than 700,000 people to work. More than 700,000 jobs. Good jobs. Jobs that pay good wages. Jobs that have good benefits. Jobs that help families. Jobs that help businesses. Jobs that strengthen our economy. . . (budget speech)”

There’s no such thing as a free lunch. The question is, how many jobs will a $25 billion dollar tax bill cost us? Which tax payers will eat this bill? Who will appease the big construction union, Local 150, the International Union of Operating Engineers?

Tags: Blagojevich, Illinois Works