Letter to the Editor

Fiscal health article on target: state in serious financial trouble

I am writing to applaud Charles Wheeler’s recent article “Grim prognosis: Illinois’ fiscal health is in a sorry state,” (see Illinois Issues, April, page 18) regarding Illinois’ chronic revenue shortfall and bleak fiscal outlook.

Over the past five years, I and many of my Senate colleagues, as well as respected state leaders and financial watchdog organizations, have warned that the Blagojevich administration’s borrow-and-spend policies, in conjunction with the burgeoning costs associated with the state pension systems and public health care, will have serious long-term economic consequences.

Mr. Wheeler’s article substantiates what we have been saying: Illinois is in serious financial trouble and must act quickly to address the state’s considerable debt. Failing to do so could have devastating results, from retiree pensions going unpaid, to future tax increases and drastic cuts to state programs down the road.

I have consistently advocated reassessing the structure of the state’s pensions and public health care system, and I have repeatedly stated my interest in setting aside partisan politics in order to aggressively tackle this substantial problem.

Unfortunately, the governor’s office continues t insist that the budget is balanced and the state’s fiscal condition has been blown out of proportion. As state lawmakers head into the final month of the 2007 legislative session, wi will be expected to vote on a budget that is currently based on the largest tax, spending and borrowing increase in state history.

As Mr. Wheeler accurately stated, without fiscal restraint and commonsense reforms Illinois’ debt will only continue to grow — to the detriment of all future taxpayers and all Illinois citizens.

Christine Radogno
State Senator
Lemont

Illinois Issues, May 2007

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