January 26, 2012

Senate Republicans are looking forward to Gov. Pat Quinn’s annual “State of the State” address on Feb. 1, which they hope will provide insight into the Governor’s priorities for the upcoming legislative session.

State budget forecasts recently released by the Quinn Administration and Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka underscore the importance of addressing Illinois’ multi-billion dollar deficit and burgeoning bill backlog. But while the state’s budget woes remain a top priority for lawmakers, media reports indicate the Governor will likely turn his attention to other important—and contentious—issues like public pensions, taxes, and the Medicaid system.

Illinois’ obligations to its state workers and retirees, and to its taxpayer-financed health care programs, are gobbling up state revenues at an unsustainable rate. Those commitments are increasing each year, and without serious changes threaten to overwhelm available revenues. Senate Republicans are interested in learning more about Gov. Quinn’s plans to tackle Illinois’ Medicaid and pension system obligations.

The Caucus also hopes the Governor explains how he intends to meet his pledge to roll-back the 67 percent tax increase as scheduled, and what spending cuts the Governor will support in order to avoid the $800 million FY 2015 deficit that his budget office is projecting. In order to address that deficit, members are eager for more details about the Governor’s plan to hold education and health care spending level through Fiscal Year 2015.

Senate Republicans stressed they are willing to work with Gov. Quinn and the state’s Democrat legislative leaders to right Illinois’ budget wrongs. Last March the Caucus introduced a “Reality Check” budget proposal that outlines difficult, yet achievable, ways to reduce state spending, return the state to solvency, and roll-back the 2011 tax hike.