Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today released the following statement after President Obama proposed extending tax cuts for Americans making less than $250,000:

"The Bush tax cuts for the rich are a big reason why our nation is facing record budget deficits today.  Extending middle class tax cuts will keep money in the pockets of more Iowa families, helping to drive job creation and economic growth.  Rolling back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans will help close the deficit.  This is a fiscally responsible compromise that deserves bipartisan support."

 

According to the Iowa Department of Revenue, in tax year 2010, 99.2 percent of Iowa taxpayers reported income under $250,000.

The cost of extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans (those making over $250,000 per year) is estimated at $850 billion over 10 years.

 

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Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today issued the following statement in response to the Department of Labor's announcement that the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 8.2 percent in June and 80,000 jobs were added.

"Today's job report makes one thing very clear- we have a long way to go to get the economy back to where it should be. To make matters even worse, Republicans have so far shown no interest in even discussing a comprehensive jobs package.  Instead, they continue to play political games, in which the real losers are Iowa's middle class families.  I have long said that fixing our economy should not be a partisan fight.  If there is one thing that should bring the two parties together, it is working to create jobs. I have been willing to sit down and work together and the fact that it hasn't yet happened is disappointing.  It's time for Congress to put our country and families ahead of politics and get down to the real work that Iowans need to see get done."

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July 2, 2012                                                            

Moline, IL... Representative Rich Morthland (R-Cordova) partnered with
Riverdale Superintendent Ron Jacobs, Silvis Schools Superintendent Ray
Bergles, United Township High School Superintendent Jay Morrow, Rock
Ridge Superintendent Chester Lien, Whiteside County Regional
Superintendent Bob Sondgeroth, and Rock Island Regional Superintendent
Tammy Muerhoff, today to dispute claims from the Quinn administration
that schools can afford a pension shift. The data released in June by
the Illinois State Board of Education affirms that the proposed shift
would devastate already struggling school districts.

"This is an attack by the Governor's Office on downstate and suburban
tax payers. There is no reason to do this. This shift will either lead
to a $20 billion property tax increase or more cuts in the classroom,"
said Morthland. "Our schools have already been forced to make cuts to
athletic and music programs, close buildings, and pass on filling
vacant positions. They have little left to cut and we cannot afford to
shift more of a burden to our community and once again the plan asks
nothing of Chicago. How much more of this do they think we can take?"

As of July 1st, every school district in Illinois will be owed money
by the state that totals $800-$900 million.

"The Governor's end of the year fund balance numbers falsely suggest
that schools have millions in reserve. It is extremely misleading to
include early property taxes and restricted funds that cannot be used
to pay for pensions. The truth is that many school districts are
running deficits. What reserves they had are quickly being devoured as
they are forced to bail-out the state budget. School districts cannot
afford to prop up the state's pension system as well. Quinn and other
Chicago politicians are using this as a tactic to stall making any
meaningful pension stabilization reforms until after the November
election. This pension crisis in Illinois has been created over many
years; it is time we take responsibility and fix this mess. We need to
head back to Springfield and clean this up."
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Cuts Spending; Reforms Medicaid; Pays Bills 

CHICAGO ­- June 30, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today reduced the budget he received Friday from the General Assembly by $57 million. After a careful review of the budget bills, the Governor enacted a $33.7 billion balanced budget. This budget cuts discretionary spending by $1.4 billion from fiscal year 2012, pays $1.3 billion of old bills, closes and consolidates 57 facilities, and restructures the state's Medicaid program while preserving the state's vital services. Governor Quinn also cut his own office budget by nine percent.

"Cutting the budget is never easy but we must make the difficult decisions necessary to restore fiscal stability to Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "This budget is a serious fiscal plan that pays our bills, closes facilities and prevents the collapse of our Medicaid system."

Reductions

Overall, this budget reduces discretionary spending by approximately $1.4 billion from the previous fiscal year.  The fiscal year 2012 discretionary budget was $25.3 billion compared to $23.9 billion for fiscal year 2013. This budget reduces overall spending at agencies under the Governor's control, including a 9 percent reduction in the Governor's office.

Governor Quinn reduced the budget through the closures and consolidations of 57 state facilities in order to improve state government efficiency and the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges.  These actions will save the state approximately $82 million in fiscal year 2013, and will result in an annualized savings of at least $136 million beginning in fiscal year 2014. Illinois can no longer afford outdated, half-full, very expensive facilities.

 

Department of Corrections

Reductions to the department will be achieved through the closures of Tamms Correctional Center, Dwight Correctional Center, Southern Illinois Adult Transition Center, Decatur Adult Transition Center and Westside Adult Transition Center.

 

Department of Juvenile Justice

Reductions to the department will be achieved through the closures of the Illinois Youth Center Murphysboro and Illinois Youth Center Joliet. 

 

Department of Human Services

Reductions to the department will be achieved through the closures of Tinley Park Mental Health Center, Singer Mental Health Center and Jacksonville Developmental Center (JDC).  The Department of Human Services will begin the process of closing Murray Developmental Center once the closure of JDC is complete.  The funding in these lines will be used to ensure smooth transitions and coordinated care as individuals move from costly institutions to supportive community settings.

Governor Quinn strongly objects to the General Assembly's cuts to education and the Department of Children and Family Services, which is dedicated to protecting and saving children from abuse and neglect.  The governor will seek to reallocate funding in the fall towards protecting children.

"Our priority should always be the safety and well-being of our children," Governor Quinn said.

 

For a more detailed explanation of reductions, please see attachments.

Pension  

Under Governor Quinn's leadership, the state of Illinois has made the statutorily required pension payment every year since 2009.  The fiscal year 2013 budget continues to fully fund the pension systems.

Without major changes to our pension systems, pension costs will continue to place a tremendous strain on Illinois' budget. In fiscal year 2008, the state's pension payments were $1.8 billion, and have since grown to $5.2 billion in fiscal year 2013. These rising costs continue to squeeze all other areas of state government including education, public safety and services relied on by some of the state's most vulnerable residents.

Governor Quinn laid out a pension plan to address these rising costs and eliminate the state's unfunded liability; however, any changes require legislative action. The Governor continues to work diligently with legislators on both sides of the aisle to solve Illinois' pension challenges that continue to impact taxpayers on a daily basis.

Reforms are also needed immediately in order to make certain the men and women who have faithfully contributed to the system receive their benefits. Governor Quinn is committed to making sure the pension systems are 100 percent funded by 2042 while saving taxpayer funds. The Governor is committed to continuing to work on the issue until pension reform is accomplished.

 

Today, Governor Pat Quinn took action on the following bills:

Approved

SB 2378    General Services appropriations

SB 2413    P-12 Education appropriations

SB 2443   Higher Education appropriations

SB 2454   Human Services appropriations

SB 3802   Budget Implementation Act

Line Item and Reduction Vetoed

SB 2474   Public Safety appropriations

Reduction Vetoed

SB 2409    General Services appropriations

Line Item Vetoed

SB 2332    Capital re-appropriations

The fiscal year 2013 budget takes effect July 1, 2012.

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