State's Budget Crisis Affects You and Neighbors

Now that the elections are over, let's get down to business and tackle the state's budget crisis! The League of Women Voters - Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Area is hosting an Illinois budget program on Tuesday, November 9, 7:00 p.m. at the Gorton Community Center (400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest). State Senator Susan Garrett and John Bouman are two expert speakers who will provide their views about various options addressing the state's budget crisis.

State Senator Susan Garrett is currently serving her third term in the Illinois Senate (2002-present) and has recently been named Majority Caucus Whip for the 96th General Assembly by Senate President John Cullerton. Prior to serving in the Senate, Sen. Garrett served two terms in the Illinois House of Representatives (1998-2001). Sen. Garrett chairs the Senate Environment Committee and is vice-chair of the Commerce Committee. She also serves on the Revenue, Education, Public Health Committees and the Joint Committee on Government Reform.

John Bouman, president and advocacy director of the Shriver Center, is widely recognized as one of the most effective and thoughtful public-benefit advocates in the country. He currently is working on state-based implementation of federal health care reform, and is chairman of the Responsible Budget Coalition in Illinois, an effort bringing together more than 200 diverse organizations to advocate for state revenue and budget reform in Illinois. Among his honors, he has received the Kutak-Dodds Prize from the National Legal Aid and Defender Association, John Minor Wisdom Public Service and Professionalism Award from the American Bar Association's Litigation Section, Child Health Advocate Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics, and Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Service Award from the United States District Court and Federal Bar Association. John serves on the boards of the Chicago Transit Authority, the Donors' Forum of Chicago, and the Center for Law and Social Policy (Washington DC).

The State of Illinois is operating at a deficit. It cannot pay its bills as they come due. Schools, health care providers, social service providers and other businesses are not being paid on time by the state for work they have performed. This deficit continues despite the state's long- and short-term borrowing and many cuts in services. The state must make more cuts or raise more revenues or do some combination of cuts and tax increases in order to balance its budget.

The slow recovery of the national economy and state's failure to deal with its structural deficit have put the entire state budget and revenue raising structure on the table for discussion and reform. The League will work to ensure that tax, fiscal, and spending policies are fair; promote economic growth; and provide adequate and consistent funding for public schools and other programs the League supports.

The League of Women Voters is a member of the Responsible Budget Coalition along with over 200 other organizations including Allendale Association and PADS of Lake County. As part of the coalition, the League will be surveying some of our important community services, both governmental and private, about how the crisis affects you and your neighbors. Come listen to the options and voice your concerns. Be part of the solution. If you have any questions, please call 847-282-0598.

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. If you are interested in joining The League of Women Voters, where hands-on work to safeguard democracy leads to civic improvement, please call 847-282-0598 or go to our website www.lwv-lflb.org.