Governor Pat Quinn is ready to announce one-billion dollars in budget cuts Tuesday. During a visit to Salem over the holiday weekend, Quinn told WJBD News the big shots of State Government cannot stand on the side of the road.
"We don't want some bigshot in state government to say, 'Well I'm going to cut the budget on somebody else,' especially poor people or people who are fragile or who are disabled, and that person not take the same kind of approach to their own situation. The bigshots are going to have to tighten their belts like everybody else," Quinn said.
However, Quinn says his cuts don't mean the need is gone for a state income tax increase. Quinn said, "We need revenue and we have to get it in order to maintain programs for our veterans, our children, our schools, our healthcare system, our common defense. Everything is core priority and that's all. Nothing more. So we, in my opinion, need the revenue to do that so we'll be working on that in Springfield."
Quinn says he has a legal requirement to balance the budget, but adds the cuts have to be fair and decent. Illinois is currently without a budget for the fiscal year that began July first. The State Legislature isn't scheduled to return until July 14th when further action could be taken.
