FY 09 Budget

The Chicago Tribune had a great editorial this past Sunday about the failure of our state elected officials (both legislative and executive branches) to work together for the common good of the State of Illinois. Many demands are being brought forth on the state due to past years of neglect in repairing and stabilizing the financial integrity of our state. Over the past five years, Governor Blagojevich has plundered the state treasury, neglected required pension payments and created new expensive programs without legislative approval. We are in a mess that will not be solved or even improved without the cooperation of all branches of government and all political parties. It is not an exaggeration to say that Illinois is at a crisis level in terms of finances. The good of the people has been ignored for too long and the necessities of solid infrastructure, medical care, public safety, communications, education, and long term capital programs are sorely lacking.
Governor Blagojevich makes his annual budget address to the Illinois General Assembly on Wednesday, February 20th at noon. Listen in at www.ilga.gov or on your favorite radio station to see what leadership he might demonstrate to move us forward from the brink of pending disaster. We need to demand that our elected officials begin to act in our behalf rather that for special interest groups and political parties. Stay tuned as the development of the FY 09 budget is going to be a very difficult task.