A former Illinois state senator-turned-U.S.-president once said: “A budget is more than just a series of numbers on a page; it is an embodiment of our values.” This statement captures the fiscal decisions the Illinois General Assembly has taken recently. There has been plenty of news coverage of the tax cuts, tax relief, budget stability and checks to help Illinois taxpayers, but we should take a deeper look at what our lawmakers have prioritized.
On one hand, the state is suspending its 2-cent gas tax for a few months and freezing its 1% tax on groceries. More significant are the permanent expansion of the earned income tax credit, which will help Illinois families for years to come; the proactive move of adding $1 billion to the state’s rainy day fund; and payments into the pension systems.
We should expect that with billions of dollars in federal pandemic relief, our lawmakers would identify areas that need the most help, be fiscally responsible and work tirelessly to serve the best interests of those who put them into office. After all, this funding is not a gift; lawmakers are not doing us a favor as they spend our hard-earned tax dollars.
How are Illinois taxpayers being shortchanged when they are in line to receive checks and tax cuts? Much of it has to do with the one-time $50 giveaway that people all over the state will receive. The state could choose to spend that money differently, such as on a fix for Illinois’ unemployment system, an increase in state benefits for senior citizens or others who rely on state medical care and help for recovering small businesses, which would improve local economies.
Many Illinoisans have had to call the state’s unemployment offices during the pandemic. Can those who lost a job have faith in that system? Is there sufficient personnel and is the system user-friendly?
Because of the unemployment crisis, Illinois took out a substantial federal loan to cover all those who needed unemployment assistance. This loan needs to be repaid in full, and our lawmakers took steps this session to partially do so. If it does not get paid in full by later this fall, both federal and state payroll taxes will need to be used to pay for it, which could have detrimental effects on Illinois’ small businesses and employers and lead to cuts to unemployment benefits. This shortchanges Illinois taxpayers.
Ask any senior citizen about how much they can afford and what our state can do to improve senior benefits and services, and you probably would get an earful. There is much that can be done systematically, but lawmakers did not address these needs with the influx of federal tax money designated for health improvements. As Barack Obama said, budgets reveal values.
Another way Illinois lawmakers expressed those values is how they cut their work schedule short. For months during the early part of the pandemic, while other legislatures were working virtually, our lawmakers were inactive. Statewide decisions were put on hold, and it wasn’t until budget deadlines loomed that state lawmakers started using Zoom meetings to perform their constitutional duties. Because of that delay, last year’s budget was rushed and didn’t allow ample time for lawmakers to read last-minute proposals, which led to some ineffective laws that have since had to be revised.
This year, lawmakers ended their spring session early, citing the need to campaign for their reelection since the primary elections this year are in June. It was a shame to see such important decisions made in the waning hours of the night. Neither lawmakers nor the public had enough time to see what is in our state budget before it received final approval. Legislators should work in a transparent manner and not rush the process, even if that means they must extend the time they take to perform their duties.
To add insult to injury, Illinois lawmakers voted again to give themselves a salary increase, even though they worked fewer days.
As Obama said, budgets express our priorities and show what we choose to value. While the legislature has made progress in some respects, there are definitely areas where Illinois taxpayers would be better served.
Froylan Jimenez is a civics teacher and Chicago Teachers Union member.
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
