Luechtefeld: Quinn can't claim dire need for tax extension, then head out on a new spending spree
Gov. Pat Quinn used his March 26 budget address to push for a permanent extension of his 2011 income tax hike, painting a dire picture of severe cuts to state programs if the 67 percent tax increase is phased out as he promised it would be in 2011.
But, State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville) said ever-changing numbers and wildly divergent predictions undermine the credibility of the governor and his legislative allies and raise doubts that the promised phase-out of a portion of the tax hike would be as catastrophic as tax hike advocates claim. The senator says:
"Republicans said Quinn is shifting budget figures to substantiate his claims, just as he cherry-picked economic statistics to try to make his management of the state's economy look better.
"During the budget speech, Quinn attempted to paint a rosy picture of the state's economy under his watch. It was an image that sharply conflicts with what many Illinoisans are experiencing in a state that now has the second highest unemployment rate in the nation.
"Under Quinn, Illinois has seen its poverty rate climb by 20%. The state has been cited as having one of the poorest prospects for job growth in the coming year, has been cited by moving companies as a state where more people are moving out than moving in and currently holds the worst credit rating of any state in the nation.
"While the Governor claimed to have cut spending, Illinois is actually spending more than at any other time in its history.
Critics say Quinn has a long history of questionable credibility. They point out that when Quinn approved the tax hike in 2011, it was after breaking a pledge to reject any increase above 1 percent and to require that all tax dollars go to education.
"This year's budget address was delayed by more than a month because Quinn asked for additional time to submit a detailed five-year budget plan to the legislature. However, when the budget address came, his vaunted five-year plan consisted of just two single-page spreadsheets.
"Lawmakers pointed out that the Governor painted a "doomsday" picture of what the state would suffer if the tax increase were allowed to expire as promised, and then laid out a budget with massive new spending proposals and giveaways if the tax hike is extended. They wondered how the state could afford such lavish spending, if the budget situation were truly as tight as claimed.
"Republican legislators have grown frustrated over the years, as the Governor and legislative Democrats ignored their warnings that significant spending cuts were needed to assure that the 67% tax hike would be temporary.
"They recall that when the tax hike was adopted, the Governor and legislative Democrats promised it would: pay off old bills, generate jobs, and improve Illinois' credit rating - all of which have yet to come to fruition.
"In fact, the bill backlog is still in the billions, and Illinois lags behind its neighbors and peer states in economic growth. Of note:
"Illinois has a bill backlog exceeding $6 billion-despite 2011 assurances by the majority party that the tax increase would be used to pay down that backlog and get the state's fiscal house in order.
"Illinois has the second highest unemployment rate in the nation-higher than any neighboring state and higher than any comparable state;
"Illinois has the worst credit rating in the nation-the state has received 13 credit downgrades during Quinn's tenure, more than all other Illinois Governor's combined.