| Full Name | City/Town/Village | Comment | Comment Category | Attachments |
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| Jim Bostick | O'Fallon | No easy fix no matter which way you look. Some possibilities:
Revenue Enhancement: 1) Sell all
non-critical state property – equipment,
buildings, airplanes, land. 2) Raise state
income tax by ½ percent for the next 5 years
(ugly, but necessary). 3) Raise the gasoline
tax by 2+ cents per gallon. 4) Raise the
state sales tax by ½ percent (also ugly)
5) Increase policing of tax cheats and
increase penalties for those who cheat
Spending Cuts: 1) Eliminate state employee
bonuses, if any. 2) Freeze state employee
pay (including elected officials) for
2+ years. 3) Eliminate non-essential state
legislature expenses – decorating, travel
(no charter airplanes, no first-class, no
“conventions” without a specific tie to
state business. 4) Improve process
efficiencies across the government, allowing
cost savings and resultant budget reductions
(i.e. cut the red tape, streamline the way
business is done, do it cheaper). Offer
incentives for employees that identify cost
savings that are adopted. 5) Require people
drawing unemployment to work for the state in
non-critical positions, where physically able
to do so. This would allow many routine
tasks to be performed and free up state
employees to work essential tasks.
6) Eliminate non-competitive solicitations
(all contracts competed and conflict of
interest strictly controlled).
Job Growth: The State is going to have to
actively seek to attract more business to
Illinois, either new or established companies
moving in or expansion of the business base
of already-resident companies. Such growth
would also provide revenue enhancement in
the form of increased income tax.
| General |
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| Therese F Tierney | Champaign | To whom it may concern:
When discussing the budget shortfall with other Illinois residents, the general consensus seems to be that we are ready and willing to pay higher taxes. Illinois residents are sensible as well as practical. I would rather pay higher taxes (based on a sliding scale) than continue to borrow billions from China. | General |
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| Paris Collins | Chicago / | I am a proud Real Estate agent for Ford Desired Real Estate Inc. LaShawn K. Ford
is one of your supporters. I want to suggest that we raise fee's $3. more
for License Plates for a car's and trucks, ect. But, that we instead of issuing
2 plates. We issue 1 plate. You cut the coast in half.
Police in Chicago will say having the front plate helps fight crime.
My father was a Chicago police sargent before retiring after 44 years.
He say its hogwash. Crimes dont get solved by front plates.
And it does not stop crime in any fashion.
Second.
Change the renew for Real Estate professionals.
Sales Agents, Brokers, Leasing agent's, home inspectors, ect.
Example:
Currently Sales Agents have to renew our license every odd number year
Brokers every even year. The next time for sales agent's will be April 30 2011.
At a cost of $125.00. We renew every 2 years. This is not right.
Most states in witch we share reciprocity with renews every 4 years.
4 years is the norm almost every where else. What you can do is instead of us
paying $125 in 2011. We pay $250 or $300. That way you would get extra fees NOW!!
All real estate sales agents for 2011 wont have to renew till 2015.
The trade for the higher fee is a 4 year renewal. Trust me We want this!!
Now the economy is bad. So we give agents a little longer to pay.
Instead of April 30, 2011. We give them till September 1, 2011.
Charge higher fees now and double the renewal time.
I believe this pricing can work also for Security Officers who have a Blue Card
or P.E.R.C. CARD to work in security. Currently its $45 to renew every 2 years
on the odd year. That would be next year May 31, 2011. Instead of $45 for 2 years
Charge $75. for 3 years or $100 for 4years of-course giving them a little
more time to pay. Say till November 1, 2011. This state ment is over used but,
I will say it anyway. It's a WIN , WIN!!!!!
| Revenue Enhancements |
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| Leland Perry Nunamaker | Mattoon Illinois | Congressional salaries should be equal to the average annual income of the residents of their district. | Spending Cuts |
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| Tammy Edmonds | Illinois | Put all citizens of the state, along with their address who
are receiving public assistance. Then taxpayers could
assist the state in identifying fradulent claims, i.e.,
several adult abled bodied individuals living at the same
residence collecting state assistance.
| General |
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| | Minonk, IL | School Reform:
1-Do away with tenure for teachers . . we all have to do the
very best at our jobs so that we can keep them secure.
Why do teachers get tenure to secure theirs? Does this make
them better teachers? I THINK NOT! Why can't teachers grade
their own papers? Oh, that's right . . 3:05 comes and they're out
the door! Yes, we have some very dedicated teachers out there but
we also have more teachers that aren't and they aren't doing their
jobs! TAKE AWAY TENURE FOR ALL TEACHERS! MAKE THEM WORK LIKE THE
REST OF US TO INSURE WE HAVE A JOB!
2-Do away with the schools having to pay for TEACHER'S AIDES.
Our teachers all did their jobs, and then some . . and I
add . . terrific jobs plus committed themselves to staying after
school to help a child get a little extra help because they didn't
understand the concept of something new or was sick a couple of days
that week!! The schools are going broke because they're adding
these jobs that the teachers are supposed to be doing (teaching/grading).
Isng that in their job requirements! If something needed to be run down
to the office . . send a student like we did. Save the money being
thrown away on these useless teacher aides!
3-Cut back on sports activities . . all the busing to these activities!
It's the parents wanting to live their lives again through their children
that are behind all the sports. A few sports, yes, numerous sports, NO!
Play against teams in surrounding areas . . not all over creation and having
to bus not only the players but students attending, also! Waste of gas,
precious time with their families spent at home doing homework! The schools
have taken over precious time with their children . . children are being
thrown so much at them because of lazy teachers and useless teacher's aides!
PLEASE CHANGE THESE THINGS TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OUT OF THE RED! It's the school's
own fault. Take away tenure and do away with useless, money wasted teacher's aides! | General |
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| Thomas J. Gerstenecker Sr. | Collinsville, IL. | Close loop holes in pensions and double dip state pensions. 2. Illegal imigration helps unemployment rates rise. 3.open up conceiled carry firearms to generate revenue from permits. | General |
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| Good site | http://ponlelun.t35.com | site about iteresting
| Job Growth |
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| Romulus Biris | Monee | The current budget must include cuts in the pensions for ALL STATE Employees not just the new hirees. Illinois must cut the current recipients pensions by 50%. Also, the pay must be reduced by 20%, otherwise the state will never get out of this financial mess. | Spending Cuts |
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| Tori Griffith | Nashville, IL ,but not for long if a budget is not passed | At the very least cut the budget into individual bills to pass it.
Politicians will be more likely to read individual bills than one large
bill.
Pass the education portion of the bill ,so that teachers can plan
for the 2010-2011 school year. We may only get paid for 9 months ,
but we usually work year round. Give older teachers incentives for retirement
to make room for the next generation of teachers. Two young teachers can work for the
price of a teacher who is within five years of retirement.
| Job Growth |
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| Roger Lyon | Elgin | I noticed two specific line items that do not have more specific information. They are: Personal Services and Fringe Benefits, Contractual Services. Is it possible to get a more detailed statement of what the money is being spent for on these items? A quick tally seems to be in the neighborhood of about 1.5 billion dollars just for the personal services and fringe benefits. | Questions |
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| John E. Sharp | Springfield, IL 62703 | Simplest solution is start with eliminating 2 state capitols and moving all agencies back to springfield with nothing more than a field office in Chicago.
Thus you have eliminated the cost of the large offices in Chicago and forced everyone to be in Springfield where the legislature is and eliminated travel costs.
Then you get rid of the state airplanes and anything else that is not human that you can. Eliminate fancy new office redecorations and similar type cost.
Go back to the 60's before we had offices in Chicago, we did not have that bad of a budget deficit.
The governor can stay in Springfield with his family all the time. Same goes for department heads and their immediate assistants. How much of a reduction in salary has been made there?
As a federal auditor whose job it was to cut costs, I saw people ignore our recommendations and pay excessive cost as it was someone's pet company.
That can not be allowed to happen in IL. | General |
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| Bradley Walker | Edwardsville | It seems to me that a reasonably painless way to generate revenue for our state would be to raise the automobile gas tax by a few cents. It would be a small increase in cost at the pump for the consumer, and it could raise a considerable amount of revenue. It might even encourage people to reconsider owning their inefficient vehicles. Also, making the major interstates that transit the state into toll roads would also generate considerable revenue; I 65, I 70 and I 80 are major east-west routes for all industries, as well as for private vehicles travelling across the midwest, and I 55 is a major link between the Great Lakes region and the gulf coast. Couldn't stimulus money, or revenue from a gas tax provide for the construction ot toll areas similar to those in Chicago? And couldn't such a system be implemented throughout the state? One thing Americans will continue to do is use the Interstate System. I've travelled over toll roads in Pennsylvenia, Kansas and Oklahoma (as well as in Chicago); and they are both not inconvenient, and totally painless for the traveller. Local patrons could use a pass system. | Revenue Enhancements |
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| David M. Silvernail | Green Valley | A lot of the state employees are paid via direct deposits
to a bank account. However, the comptroller still spends a
lot of money and time generating pay stubs to be mailed or
handed out to the employees.
My suggestion to save money would be to have the comptroller
create a secure database that would have a login for each
employee. The employee could then access their pay stub in
PDF format to download or print at their discretion.
This should save in postage, paper and manpower to generate
these documents.
| Spending Cuts |
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| A Veteran | Wheeling, IL | eliminate ALL aids to children/adult day
cares..Yes ADULT Day Care...its not the taxpayers responsibilty
to take care of others peoples kids and
parents. Investigate home health fraud.
consolidate the schools systems and the local
townships..
| Spending Cuts |
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| kenneth c friedberg | Elmwood park | I want a law for speeders,suspends licence,have car equipped with a speed control deviceor revoke licence | General |
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| | Chicago | Why are we using hard earn tax money to keep the average working class
citizen in crisis.The city is spending more money to take a citizen car,
and is doing it very under handed.Why uses the chicago police to write parking tickets when they need
to spend more time serving and protecting,getting guns off the streets and focus on doing real police work.Why have the city revenue if the chicago police are doing the same job.
We have to many organization setup for a specific job doing work outside of what they are hired for and we the tax payers are the ones getting hit with the bill.
| General |
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| Gabrielle Hunt | Glen Ellyn | In regard to the Health and Human Services home care for older
adults, child care and community mental health services being
reduced by $276 million. Scaling back prescription drug
assistance and group health coverage for state retirees,
combined with a managed care pilot program for seniors and
adults disabilities who are enrolled in Medicaid. Doing all of
these drastic things would hurt so many people who need
these services and are very vulnerable due to disabilities.
Other means to fill budget needs should be implemented in
areas that will not impact the elderly or disabled. One area
were money could be allocated for budget needs is to stop the
useless and frivilous issuance of food stamps/snap benefits
for newly released violent offenders from prison in half
way houses. | Spending Cuts |
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| Carol D. Johnson | Westmont | I am a person living with mental illness and who depends on the DuPage County Health Department for my out-patient services. I would not like to see these services cut but would prefer to see cuts in the everday office spending. | Spending Cuts |
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| Roy Crump | Chicago | Mr Governor Quinn, I know that we need to cut spending, Many people through out the
United States and in our great State of Illinois have felt budget woes. Many Companies
have had to make pay cuts, and yes where i worked for twenty years and now i am laid-off.
Before i was laid-off we had over 10% in pay cuts in 2008 and that helped but it wasn't
enough.
The Hard Workers who are employed by Illinios need to help in this budget short fall.
We need to act, The hard working employees of Illinois are paid very well.
They need to help in this budget crisis, Our taxes are to high, taxing is not the the way
to go. They can't go higher. This is my plan Anyone making less then 42000.00 a year
or a 2% cut. Over 42000.00 to 60000.00 an 8% pay cut. Over 60000.00 to 80000.00
a 10% pay cut. And then any one
over 80000.00 a 15% pay cut. We must use these same numbers for all the States Pensions.
These numbers are hard to swallow but we need to act before we get deeper in this mess.
We all need to help in this budget crisis, And yes it hurts,
but we need to do this In our great State of Illinois.
| Spending Cuts |
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| Jonathan Kerns | West Chicago | I noticed that the State of Illinois was considering cutting the
budget for Health and Human services by $276 million. I am a
recipient of these services and this would have a negative
effect on my ability to retain them. I am also concerned that
the cut in funding would negatively affect several thousand
people in Illinois. Please reconsider the cutting of this area
of the budget. Many people in Illinois do not have their own
sources for these much needed services. Thank you.
| Spending Cuts |
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| | Southern Illinois | I think that Governor Quinn needs to start worrying about July 1st approaching. There are
many people, that may lose their jobs come July 1st. It really isn't just about us losing
our jobs, it is about the customers (which are children) that we serve. Do you just expect us
to quit our services to these kids? We may be the only support that they have. They (the
kids and their families) know that they can count on us and now what are they supposed to do
until we all get contracts to continue to work. Instead of the Governor traveling around
the state giving money out left and right (NEWS FLASH!!! We don't have any money to give
out!!!), he needs to be up in Springfield signing contracts and the budget before July 1st.
In my opinion, he is not worried about all of us that may lose our jobs come July 1st! He
will still be drawing a paycheck, so who cares! Mr. Governor I hope that you think about
STUDENTS, TEACHERS, SENIORS and EVERYONE else that needs support!!! | General |
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| Vinod Gupta | Springfield , Il. 62711 | Give State employees an option to work shorter hours and have their salary adjusted. Older State employees and employees with long service might like to take advantage. | Spending Cuts |
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| Charles R Decker | Normal | I believe the state should withhold IL tax from independant contractors
It could be administered much like withholding from wages.
This also would help resolve a large part of the tax gap that exists for
the state of IL as well as the federal government.
Rather simple solution I think.
| Revenue Enhancements |
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| Jack Sullivan | Chicago | Since no one ever uses it, sell the governor's mansion | |
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| George Schlenk | Carbondale | Employers Race for Retiree Funds
Sponsored by
by Janet Adamy
Thursday, June 17, 2010
provided by
Big employers shaped the health overhaul bill to tap a $5 billion fund to offset the cost of health benefits for early retirees. Now, some companies worry the early-retiree fund will be exhausted quickly.
Starting this month, employers can tap into a federal fund that will reimburse up to 80% of certain health costs for retirees between the ages of 55 and 64 until 2014. The provision was designed to encourage employers to continue offering insurance to early retirees who aren't yet eligible for Medicare. General Electric Co., the state of California and a group that manages benefits for retired union auto workers are among those preparing to apply.
More from WSJ.com:
• Doctors Chafe as Medicare Cuts Loom
• Draft Health Rules Set Hurdles
• Pilot Plan on Health an Option for States
The program illustrates how employers shaped the sweeping legislation in ways that are only now coming to light. In early versions of the bill, retirees were the only ones who could receive the money, and employers were explicitly prohibited from using it to offset their health-care costs.
But a coalition including Verizon Communications Inc., United Parcel Service Inc. and other employers persuaded House and Senate Democrats to remove that restriction so companies could use the money, too.
Consultants who have helped hundreds of employers prepare applications for the money say applicants anticipate the funds will run out before the program is scheduled to end in 2014. They're pushing employers to get their applications filed as soon as a final application form is released, with the hope that early filers have the best chances of securing money.
| Federal Assistance |
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| Marc C | Chicago | In the media, every few years we read about presidential appointees of both parties failing to pay their nanny taxes at their confirmation hearings. Finding information about nanny taxes (including Social Security and Medicare tax, Unemployment and Workers Compensation insurance) is incredibly difficult. It is no wonder that most domestic/household employers fail to pay their nanny taxes and obtain Workers Compensation insurance. I don't think this is out of malice, just a failure to understand a complex issue, the implications for not doing so and the benefits for all parties in doing so. There is a relatively large percentage of families in Chicagoland who use a nanny. The Illinois Department of Employment Security and Department of Revenue have set up a web site (http://www.ides.state.il.us/employer/household-employers.asp) and made it easier in the last few years for domestic/household employers to pay their taxes, but even this site is a little short on information and does not even mention the requirement for domestic/household employers to have Workers Compensation insurance if their employees work 40 hours a week or more. My suggestion is to make a cross Department informational web site and pamphlets for distribution with information for both domestic/household employers and employees covering what is required and why both parties would want to do it. For employers, protection from liability, peace of mind, attract strong candidates, legal requirements, etc. For employees, Social Security and Medicare benefits, ability to collect unemployment, wage protection if injured under Workers Compensation, legal requirements, etc. In reality, complying with the legal requirements adds very little to the overall cost of hiring a nanny for employers. Once you provide all of the information and make both the incentives and legal requirements clear, you will make it easier for people to make the right decision. Include information about alternative arrangements such as part time nannies and nanny shares. This is would be a low cost way to increase tax revenue. | Revenue Enhancements |
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| Rebecca Linares | Normal | Suggestion for increased revenue:
I am a mother of a college graduate and I am 34-year IT professional. I have many friends in these same positions. I am making the follwing suggestions simply because they seem realistic:
1. Legalize marijuana and tax it heavily. People in all sectors of life and age groups are smoking marijuana. Consider the recent movie with Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, and Alec Baldwin called "It's Complicated". People in this age group have either started trying pot again or never stopped. Their colege-educated children are occasional users too. Tax it heavily. If these people will pay $50 for a tiny bag, make them pay even more.
2. I was raised on a produce farm. Now that my father has passed, my brothers simply plant corn and beans. It's really too small of a farm to make any money on those products these days. My dad taught us about California's produce production and we sort of envied the environment that California had to make them the largest producers of produce. Now that they will be legalizing marijuana, they will be growing it also. We are or could be the 2nd agricultural state, but we are not thinking outside of the box. We could be leaders of marijuana and hemp production as we once were. Certainly the state will make more money with this crop than with subsidized corn and beans.
3. It is a shame that several of the middle-class children of people that I know have spent their young lives in IL prisons. Both of these kids were from upper middle-class homes. They did stupid stuff like most of the kids, but some thing went awry in their lives while in high school. One lost an adopted mother to breast cancer and the 2nd's parents went through a bitter divorce. Both kids became involved in drugs. One went to boot camp and was back in jail within months. One went to prison and was back in prison within months. One was recently released and the other will be released in July. We can only pray for them. But thier lives are so ruined now. Ruined because they were sent to prison for non-violent drug crimes. It is the precution, more than the drugs, that have ruined thier lives. McLean County throws the book at kids and the state throws away the key. Why not give these kids guidance instead of putting them with the hardened criminals. Now that I think of it, a friends 38-year-old son was in trouble when he was young too and spent time in jail. It has taken him yaers to get his life on track because the police harrassed him and he could never afford to get his license. These people have ruined lives because of really unjust drug policies. Besides the human cost, there is a huge cost to the state budget and public interest.
4. Because there is no immigration law allowing unskilled workers to come to the US to work, termporarily or permanently. However, the huge boom of service industry jobs of the 90s and early 2000s created a huge demand for unskilled labor. They came to the U.S. in droves to fill these jobs and unemployment stayed low and we all got rich on the fat of the land. These people could get driver's licenses and they were able to get to work and live like humans. Then the patriot act and the requirement to have a SSN. People could no longer renew their driver's licenses. This is a huge loss of revenue for the state because they are losing this license registration money. These people are not buying cars so there is a loss of license plate, titling, and purchase tax. Allow these people to use their ITIN number to get an IL driver's license. Make it possible for them to take their children to school and get to work. When they can live freely and have human dignity, they will buy more things and that means more revenue for the state. Instead, the state has chosen to ignore the reality of their plight and uses money to stop them on the streets, catch them driving, haul their cars away, provide interpretors and attorneys, provide state attorneys, judges, clerks, and administrative personal to prosecute them. It is a huge cost, with no real benefit. Allow these peole to live in dignity and drive their kids to school. In a town like Blooming Normal, there is no descent public transportaion to help them. They gave us State Farm employees free bus access last summer and literally zip of the 10,000 SF employees rode it. It takes 2 hours to get anywhghere in town because the bus routes cater to taking people to the mall and not to work.
5. Tax cigarettes and alchohol more. I live near ISU. Those kids party so much. They can afford to pay more for alcohol. Nobody should be smoking. Tax it more!
I know this letter must seem like I am a simpleton. Though I am not a smoker (pot or otherwise) or drinker, I know plenty of people that do. They can afford pay a little more each time they imbibe. As for the immigrants, it's just common sense that we give them driver's licenses to help offset our budget crisis. We can't deport 4 million illegals in the state of IL. If we did, we'd have empty schools and no workers. It would put us in such a depression, we'd be begging them to come back.
Keep in mind also, that with so many people in IL out of work, we need good jobs, not minimum wage jobs. And who is taking the good jobs now? The illegal immigrants? IL corporations are no longer hiring my daughter's generations to fill thousands of IT jobs as they did my generation. They are importing young 20-something men from India because it saves them a buck. Is it legal? Barely. The INS website says they are suppoe to try and find a US citizen first before sponsoring "legal" skilled labor. However, they don't. There are plenty of unemployed IT workers and yet, corporations are going to India because it saves them a buck...and I am not sure it is even doing that. It is like American corporations have a new sickness that is so full of greed. They are not patriots, that is for sure. And the state seems to help them rob jobs from Americans as they created some special way for the wives of these workers to have drivers licenses too. By the way, ISU use to have an IT Department that trained college students for Cat, State Farm, Country Companies, ADM, and other central IL corporations. Those programs have all but expired once the source of job placement ended, so did the intersts. So while there was a sucking sound of pulling my generation into IT jobs, there is now a sucking sound of people from India arriving to replace me.
Thank you for listening. | Revenue Enhancements |
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| ANONYMOUS | LAKE IN THE HILLS | I have worked in the heavy highway construction industry since 1986 as a CFO/Controller and I
have always been concerned with a provision in the unemployment code that I view as extremely
expensive and unfair to the taxpayers of Illinois. Every year Heavy Highway contractors gear up
around the beginning of April and work until approximately the end of November. The employees
performing this work usually have little or no education other than having relatives that worked
in the industry and were able to get these people a job. I know of people that have somewhat of
a connection that have been on waiting lists to get into the operators union for up to 7 years
and have not been called. I understand that the wage and fringe packages are driven by Davis
Bacon and by union negotiations (operators are making around $45 per hour and have a health and
welfare package of around $21 per hour). My suggestion does not involve the compensation
package. I have always been concerned with the enormous amounts of unemployment compensation
paid out in this industry. While teachers work 9 - 10 months a year and off in the summer they
are not eligible to collect unemployment. On the other hand the construction workers with little
education are allowed to work many hours during the construction season and take home large
wages. Then in the off season they sit back and collect the maximum unemployment. We had one
employee this last winter that was off 13 weeks and collected approximately $6,600 in
unemployment. This employee made $120,000 last year and had over $19,000 contributed to his
pension fund and almost $28,000 to his health and welfare fund. Last year we had 33 full time
year around employees, 38 employees that worked between 18 and 41 weeks, 37 employees that worked
16 to 27 weeks and a large number of part time employees. The state should add a classification
for Construction Employers to classify an employee as a full time employee subject to seasonal
layoff of 16 weeks or less and therefore make the employee ineligible for unemployment. As a
safety net, you could add the provision that if after 16 weeks the person is still unemployed
they could start receiving benefits. If after 23 weeks he is still unemployed, the employee
could be eligible for back benefits. I feel if the state were to implement this provision
it would not be burdensome on the construction worker and I feel this would save millions of
dollars a year. Just at are one company with $8 million dollars in payroll, it would probably
save the state between $250,000 and $500,000 per year or 3% to 6%. Think for considering this
suggestion. | Spending Cuts |
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| Margaret Riccardo | Wheaton | Every state empluyee earning $500,000 or more take a permanent 10% pay cut. 250,000 - 499,999 take a permanent 5% pay cut. Bonuses and extras included in these numbers. | Spending Cuts |
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| BELINDA CARDONA | chicago | Hello, Gov. Quinn, I feel that if for two
years we get rid of the contrators or
providers that work with our TANF
customers that we help our budget. I have
been a TANF HSCM for since 2001, mostly
all the TANF Customers find their jobs on
their own. The providers may find 1 out of
10 customers a job - once every 18 months.
We can have our customers do independent
job search for 1 or 2 years and report
verification to us by work sheets. I know
that they will find jobs. We use to have
our own job seekers - called Clearing
House- they found customers - many - jobs - good
jobs - and they were on our payroll - we
didn't have to share our Block Grant with
them - like with the providers - whom -
don't really do anything but baby-sit our
TANF Customers - in this hard times -
we could show kindess by not forcing the
needed to work under federal min. wage -
and get rid of some of our high cost baby-
sitters. That money can be put to better
use.
| General |
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| Noel Francis McNally (Chicago) | Chicago | I would like to see the 5 cent city tax be returned to the teachers pension fund where it belongs. I am also requesting that lottery funds be truly used for education. Stop the "shell game" of allocating money, then removing it from another line. | General |
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| mari williams | peoria il | I say that the registering of sex offenders should cost just like getting a car registered. a person who does that kind of societal damage should not be more free to be registered than a vehicle that a man may need to support himself or his family. the fines to be an unregistered sex offender should be five to ten times higher. use that money to fund education. | General |
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| AMERICAN | QUINCY | GET RID OF ILLEAGLE ALIENS THAT ARE A DRAIN ON THE IL TAXPAYERS. GET RID OF THE GRANTS FOR ILLEAGLES. WELOCOME CENTER, MIGRANT WORKERS. | General |
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| Every American | Anytown USA | Illinois and Illinois lawmakers should follow Arizona's lead in making America and Illinois a safer place to live and work by enforcing our federal laws already on the books. All illegal aliens should be deported. This would take a great burdon off of the state. Did you know there are State of Il grants available for illeagle immigrant to get free money. One that I know of is called Welcome Center Grant (I think) another is for Migrant Workers these are both welfare for illegals. | General |
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| Jeff Korbas | Wadsworth | Pension reform. Stop double dipping. Only one pension after age 65
Welfare and unemployment reform. 6 months only put them to work anything,
no free rides.
Deport Illegals Jail and fines for anyone employing Illegals
Cut size of government | Spending Cuts |
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| Bob Holl | Mount Prospect | One way to save money is to get rid of the requirement to
display a front license plate. You save 50% of the material
cost instantly.
There is no longer a need for it as technology has made the
need for it obsolete. Other states have also already dropped
the front plate requirement.
The public safety is also not at risk.
| Spending Cuts |
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| Henry Thompson | Hanover Park IL 60133 | I'm always here Mr. Pat Quinn talking how he needs to save money. Heres one way to save money. Why do we have three or four diffrent police departmnents. Now I live in Dupage County. We have our town police, Sheriff, Forest Preserve, and State troopers. Why can't we just have Sheriff's
These are police men/woman who can go any where in the county both corperated and unincoperated areas. By doing this you can have one or maybe two 911 call centers and dispatch the closest Sherriff. Also you would not need as many police stations I don't believe one is needed in every town. Every town has ranking of officers wich is higher pay roll. If you had two or three locations in the county you would only need high ranking officers in those locations. Over head for those locations would be an extream cut in the Illinois budget. Just look at the savings just from less buildings Electric, gas, building maintenance and administration. Look Illinois can even sell some of the prime land that these police stations sit on to pay down the debt. Don't get me wrong here police officers are needed and in this plane they are not being eliminated in fact with all the money we will save maybe we can hire some more in areas that we know where short. | Spending Cuts |
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| Michelle L. Moran | Evergreen Park | Why do the Illinois politicians have to make hundreds of
thousands of dollars a year? Cut their salaries. You work for us,
the people, and I believe we should have a say so on how much
you earn. Shop thrifty for supplies. Why are you spending $50 for a hammer? You can
get one that's just as good or even better from the Home Depot for
less. You raised the tolls, use some of that. You follow these
guidelines and Illinois will be out of debt. I guarantee it. | Spending Cuts |
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| frustrated | cherry valley | renogiate union contracts, thereby freezing salaries for a limited time frame.
if unions are unwilling to seriously consider, than present the obvious alternative, lay-offs. | Spending Cuts |
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| Summer Knuth | Galesburg | A way to get out of debt would be for anyone that receives link must have
a job in order to get link. This way the person is putting back into the states
funding. Another thing would be if a person has to take a drug test to get a job then
a person who gets link has to take a drug test. A person who is on link takes
a test and it comes back positive should lose their benefits. | Federal Assistance |
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| darlene demattia | Pontiac, IL | I have worked in DOC for 21 years now and the waste is unreal. In garbage bags and paper towels alone at Dwight it could pay my yearly salary and then some. We all need to learn how to cut back and instead of rewarding with more money when departments overspend they need to be told to do more with less. We go through so many take out trays in the kitchen and the food waste is just unbelievable. I would be broke too if I spent like the state departments do on things we really and truly could do without. | Spending Cuts |
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| Steven M Kroll | CHICAGO | reduce pension benefits to state workers to bring them in line with the privaate sector businesses. Raise the retirement age. Cut out unnecessary commissions and agencies. Eliminate double dipping on pension benefits. STOP BENDING OVER TO THE TEACHERS UNIONS AND PUT MEANINGfUL REFORM IN PLACE. mORE MONEY DOES NOT MEAN SMARTER KIDS. IT JUST MEANS RICHER TEACHERS. I CANNOT SUPPORT A TAX INCREASE OR ADDITIONAL BORROWING UNTIL THE ILLINOS LEGISLATURE SHOWS SOME DISCIPLINE AND GUTS. | Spending Cuts |
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| | volo | I think putting the prison population to work- for the good of all-is a no brainer. There are thousands of people in prison who could farm. Organically raised produce,dairy.Indoor and outdoor growing. This would benefit MANY MANY citizens. 2. Legalize,and grow marijuana - if were legal here,it wouldn't be such a big deal to everyone. The revenue alone from this crop would put the state in the black in less than a year. The cartels/ gangs would cease to be a problem,and the loss of life and violence would be a non-issue.This would also relieve the burden on the police forces,and the prisons.Why don't we all stand up- and be leaders in alternative energy.Oil-schmoil,I'm sick of it and all the revoloting greed behind it. Seriously- why can't the State Of Illinois lead? Why not have State made solar panels..look to Germany or Denmark for inspiration. | Revenue Enhancements |
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| richars a gilliatt jr | east peoria | 1. add a fee for "vanity" license plates. when a person seeks a vanity plate it creates extra work. someone has to see if that plate wording is available, it has to be assigned , specially made, etc.. if someone wants a vanity plate make them pay an extra $100.
2. reduce the amount of mowing along the interstate highways. i live near the I-74 I-474 interchange and the road crew mows everything inside the righ-of-way. reduce the mowing to what is deemed necessary for minimum safety/visibilty and let the rest grow. this will reduce fuel & labor costs, reduce exhaust emissions from the tractors and increase oxygen generating plants/trees. a win-win scenario.
thanks for listening | Spending Cuts |
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| Martin Singer | northbrook | 1. Convert all public employee pension plans to defined
contribution (e.g., 401K) from defined benefits (unfunded
pensions).
2. Raise state income tax by 1 percent.
3. Create tax free zones to encourage start-ups (the state
will get its revenue from employee income tax).
4. Actively pursue defense-related businesses.
5. Improve state payment of bills (medicaid, state
universities, etc). Poor cash flow at doctors' offices,
schools is resulting in job loss. | General |
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| jonathan steffen | Crystal Lake, IL | Put the food tax back on all food. At least 5%. Not on WIC or Link | Revenue Enhancements |
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| John Vickey | Alton | The state could generate a fairly large amount of cash by having every
employee and retired employee pay $50.00 more a month towards their
health insurance. This would not be so much a burden as increasing only
one faction of the employees.
| Revenue Enhancements |
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| Scott Stahlman | Springfield | Injured people do not get better without swallowing the medicine
or enduring the surgery.
With an extensive outlay of cash, an investment, we can, I can,
minimize the state bureaucratic inefficiencies and duplications
across and within agencies.
The cost savings will be huge, the initial outlay painful, but
the patient will soon return to full capabilities, meaner and leaner.
I can do this; we can do this, as long as there is a will
from the executive.
Are there any taxpayers who enjoy funding inefficiencies?
Take the leap, round up the forces who can pull this off, and let's
get it done.
Scott | Spending Cuts |
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| Helen Kerwin | Wonder Lake | Base license plate fees on the type of car - i.e. giving the
hybrids a lower cost, followed by incremental raises for
4 cylinder, 6 cylinder, 8 cylinder, vans, pick-ups etc.
Or simply base the fee on gas milage. Those that use more gas
pay more. Either way would also encourage people to buy more
efficient cars. Good for our enviroment.
I am also in favor of the tax increase to 4%. I believe it's
been at least 30 years since it's been increased and the
opposing ad campaign that our taxes will increase 33%,
though a true statement, is misleading. People will only be
paying $10 more per every $1000. | Revenue Enhancements |
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| Maryann Urban | Bolingbrook, IL | I have a sister who is 55 years old, has downs syndrome and is handicapped. She goes to Sunshine Activity Center in Chicago. This is the main activity for many of these handicapped adults. This is the main place many of the adults go for growth, friendship,and learning. If they did not have this, many of them would have nothing. How can you take from people who have the most needs, and have wonderful people who care for them. My sister has been with the people of Sunshine for over 25 years. My sister would be devastated if she had no friends and no where to go. Please do not punish the handicapped. This is all they have. | Spending Cuts |
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| Jenna | Joliet | Open the books! Lets have a forensic audit of the spending. That is the best way
to find out where cuts can be made. Other states have done this and saved
billions. | General |
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| John Smith | Elk Grove Village | Tax the stadium for the professional players
They pay the players millions | General |
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| Linda Ziemer | Chicago | 1. Get rid of the entire state legislature.
2. Appoint a citizen's committee to go over the budget and make cuts.
3. Sign the citizen's budget. | Spending Cuts |
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| Jena Nylec | Mokena | Mr. Governor, I first learned about you from listening to US99 radio
in Chicago with Lisa Dent and Rambin' Ray. That is where I
came to like you before you became governor. I still have faith in you.
State income opportunity based on real life, current state policy scenario:
Someone applies for unemployment, unemployment granted and checks
begin being sent to the recipient for several weeks. The employer disputes and wins.
The recipient now owns the State the unemployment money that they
have already received. The recipient did not know that the employer
was going to dispute the claim.
Currently, the recipient does not have to pay back the already received
monies until either they claim unemployment again and then 25%
is deducted from each check of their new claim or any State income
tax refunds due are used to pay down the owed unemployment monies.
Why not…
#1—make it a law that employers have to allow or deny the claim within 21 days or so AND THAT no
payments are made to the recipient until the employer allows or denies the claim
#2—if they employer does not respond within 21 days, the recipient will receive their unemployment
benefits and the employer loses their right to deny the claim
#3—for those already owing the State for received unemployment that was later denied by the
employer, allow them to pay back the monies by a payment schedule, based on a percentage of their salary, without adding undue hardship
#4—if they do not follow the payment arrangements, garnish their wages, again at a percentage of their
salary without adding undue hardship
NOTE: The unemployment system is to blame here because
checks should not be sent out if there is a possibility
that the employer can still deny the claim.
The employee is the victim here so the policy needs
to be changed to the 21 days allow or deny proposal
that I suggested above.
| Revenue Enhancements |
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| DRB | Springfield | Consider closing or downsizing the following agencies.
Arts Council
Illinois Community College Board
Council on Developmental Disabilities
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Commission
Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes
Board of Higher Education
Dept of Human Rights
Medical District Commission
Pollution Control Board – rolled into EPA
Student Assistance Commission
Close Governors State University, Northeastern Ill Univ and Chicago State Univ. Give the students a 1 time guaranteed admission to any other state university. Sell the campuses for these three universities. Funds received from sale of properties shall only be used to pay down State debt.
Pass a law which makes it illegal for a governmental body to pass a law which results in an unfunded mandate to another governmental body.
Move as many state offices as feasible from Chicagoland to Springfield where the cost of operations is significantly lower.
Sell all State owned aircraft and pass a law making it illegal to charter an aircraft using state funds. One fixed wing and one helicopter to be retained for law enforcement purposes only.
| Spending Cuts |
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| Sherri Chambers | Red Bud, Illinois | One way to cut the budget for the State of Illinois is to revamp the
way that Medical cards are sent out. Currently, I am enrolled in
Medicaid, along with my 3 children. Two of my children have their
own income because they receive benefits from their father’s
disability. Because the children have their own income, they each
have separate case numbers.
This means that I get three envelopes in the mail every month with
our medical cards. I get one card that covers me and my youngest
child. Each of my other two children get their own medical cards
although they are all addressed to me. That means the state of
Illinois is paying postage for three separate pieces of mail which
are all sent to the same person and address. In addition, each
envelope usually has some sort of insert included with our medical
cards. If you could find a way to send all three cards in one
envelope, the State’s cost for postage, paper and envelopes could
be greatly reduced.
The program could be changed so that new cards are sent quarterly
or bi-annually instead of monthly. This would save on printing
costs, postage, and envelopes.
| Spending Cuts |
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| letanyabaucom | chicagoill | i pat quinn my name is letanya and iam 30year and i was born with c.p and i use a wheelchair
iwork at this place for 3yearold not long enough and i need your help rightnow can you please doint close
close sertomacentre down if it do happen i dont got no where else to work at if it close. if you can do me
a farvorite can you please take a week off to come see where i work at maybe you come see what we do and hope
you can helpus do you no we all get up everymoring for workwe all come in hug and happy to be work we doint want
nothing to happen to our workshop so can you please keep it open i really doint no
how much it is i just hope get the money so can you please tell me you can come up there
to see it and maybe when you look at us hope fully you can change you mine affter you
see us and talk to you.and when you decide what days you want to meet with us let me
no so you can take a tour and you can be my guest iam write down the information you need
to no when you really to take a tour tell them you want to take a tour to sertomacentra
and tell theme iam your guest and i want you to come look at the place and iam
tell you this is a good place for people with disabily when you come you can see
for your self when you have time can you please email me back said you can come
letanyabaucom@baucom i will be wail for you respone thank-you oneagain when you call
theme can you plase ask for the adresse iok i have to get really to get to sleep
so i can getup for work iam write to you from chicago it is now about 11;09 at night
that is how bad i want you to come please keep sertomacentra in your pray to help us
the money
sertoma centra
4100w127st.
alsip ill 60803-1807
1708-371-9700 exit 0
| General |
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| Mark | Marion | Governor Quin....Have you or your staff actually looked over and read over these 12,000 comments/suggestions/ideas? Because if you have how come we never hear you talking about some these? Is this all just another ploy by you that you will do nothing and sit there like a lame duck because you do not have the courage to make the tough decisions? | General |
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| Robert Burdette | OTTAWA ILLINOIS | At Sheridan Correctional Center there are currently 3 stationary fireman employed. Three
for one steam boiler. Their rate of pay is listed as P/R. There is a job title that covers
this type of work on the CMS job list. This would be a corrections utilities operator.
The wages listed are far lower than the P/R of a fireman doing the same duties.
The fireman's job has always been handed out politically as its not realy a trade.
After all it only requires an 8th grade education according to the CMS desirable
requirements for that title. The job can simply be done for less money by a utilities
operator rather than a stationary fireman. Furthermore the duties of a utilities operator
covers most of the stationary engineers duties as well. The only exception would be the HVAC
specifically the A/C, which mostly gets contracted out. Cut the politically handed out over
paid jobs and replace them with the lower paying correct titles.
| Spending Cuts |
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| Susanna Smith | SYCAMORE | 1) REVOKE FREE HEALTH CARE FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS!!!!!
2) REVOKE FREE GED AND EDUCATION FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS!!!!!
3) REVOKE TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR BUSINESSES OWNED BY FOREIGNERS
(not certain if this is a rumor)
4) MAKE ENGLISH OUR STATE LANGUAGE AND SAVE MONEY ON SIGNAGE
- WON'T NEED TO STATE THE SAME THING IN SPANISH -
5) MAKE EXEMPTIONS AND "FREEBEES" AVAILABLE EQUALLY TO ALL | General |
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| Emily Maassen | Park Ridge, IL | Concentrated poverty means that we have areas that are very expensive to police, educate,
and maintain social services.If we spread public housing throughout the entire metropolitan
area, rather than concentrating it in disadvantaged neighborhoods, we would better match
residents with a job market, spread the burden on the police force, and spread access to
quality education. Reducing segregation of income inequality will reduce the government's
obligation to fund social welfare programs and finally lift people out of poverty. | General |
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| Sue Eskew | Flora | I realize Illinois has a lot of problems with its budget, and would like to suggest some solutions:
1. Rid the state of illegal workers and the employers who hire them. If some of the unemployed tax-paying citizens had those jobs, you would bring in extra revenue--besides saving on the benefits they receive.
2. Give all drivers who have lost their license through a DUI an amnesty period (possibly 3 Months) in which they would only have to pay the fee to receive their license back. $500x? would equal a lot of extra revenue.
3. Put a hold on "set-asides" for farmers, etc. A narrow strip around the edge of a plowed field does little for the quail, and besides are a few quail worth what they are costing?
4. Cut down on State Legislator expenses. We as taxpayers have to cut our expenses to the bone--they should have to also.
5. Cut out all unnecessary expenses of all state departments.
Illinois tax-payers pay enough taxes. Please consider these suggestions, as well as those made by other people first before you even consider higher taxes. | Spending Cuts |
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| Alan Sherman | Minooka, Illinois | Hello:
My sugggestions for the budget are as follows.
Stop the two wars, and spend that money here at home where we need it. Save the kids and bring them home.
Stop the subsidies for the Oil Companies. They make record profits, and yet we give them money, why?
What happened to the money from the Lottery that was supposed to pay for Education? and other expenses.
I have to beg for un-employment benefits and yet the money flows to Corpoarte America with no restrications.
| General |
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| Turtle (Marianne) Schultz | Blue Island, IL | Start with having only ONE Assistant State Attoney in a
COURTROOM at a time for the same case. NOW they have to have
a "Partner" and another "Partner" to gather the evidence they
might have to show.
That's THREE lawyers being paid, of which only ONE should be good enough.
The Defense only has one lawyer.
That isn't including all the State of Illinois Workers who sit
in the gallies of the courtroom to make it look like there are
people who apporve of what the THREE Assistant State attorney's are
doing.
NO make all the politicians take a pay CUT instead of their automatic
pay raises. The average worker gets pay cuts all the time and they
have families to raise on the very little bit of money they get
for all the hard work they do.
Stop the Limo services for the Governor, and the other politicians.
They are old enough to drive their own cars.
Let some of the people in the jails out. There are allot of people that
are in jail for years due to the Assistant State Attorney's
delay tatics to make the cases take longer for them to try to
get evidence against a person. The millions wasted to keep innocent
people in jail is outragous. | Spending Cuts |
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| | Springfield | Many people think the DNR isn’t important I don’t think people realize the money the department can generate.
Cutting the budget for the DNR is denying one of the best revenue generators our state has besides agriculture.
Hunting and fishing license sales are huge and will continue to be even in the poor state of our economy.
The number of people wanting to come to our state to pursue white-tail deer is unreal.
If we increase the amount of dollars spent to improve state fish and wildlife areas revenue will increase.
The sale of hunting and fishing license's is a major money maker for the state. So are the taxes put
on all hunting and fishing equipment.The parks run by the DNR are also money generators.
Camping fees from these parks are pretty large, they could be larger if parks were given the proper money to be run.
I believe people dismiss the importance of recreation. People need recreation and will pay for it no matter the state of our economy. | Revenue Enhancements |
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| patty barnett | metamora | you want to save illinois money? revamp public aid!!! i cannot believe people in your capacity cannot see how much money is wasted through this system!!!!! it amazes me that this has never been investigated. yeah lets cut police jobs and teachers jobs and raise the state workers pensions but lets let all the deadbeats on public aid keep getting free healthcare!@!!! i cant believe you guys are in charge of this state!!! | Spending Cuts |
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| Kelly Chaplin | Clarendon Hills | Cut state spending 30% across the board. You should have done it years ago. Stop leveraging future revenues (a fantasy) against current obligations. Stop offering sweetheart deals to every "special interest group" in returen for votes. In short, START DOING YOUR JOBS. Cut pensions, teachers, state, county, local worker's & their benefits, wages, & insurance. Stop authoring/supporting utopian programs aimed at appeasing the masses. Stop allowing foreign imports, even from domestically based companies like WAL-MART to avoid our compensation levels, our labor laws, & our environmental regulations to make THEM more profit. We ALL know the answers to these problems! The questions is how are we going to get corrupt lawyers to quit playing both sides of the fence! Offering the sun, moon & stars on our dime for votes, exchanging campaign contributions for favors, leaving certain industies "open" to doing practically anything they want (like banks & insurance companies), & when these entities fail, guaranteeing their survival at our expense (too big to fail/ moral hazard). Underwriting, promoting, & protecting these mergers & acqusitions our government capitulates to these unwise activities. They turn a blind eye to illegal aliens because it wouldn't benefit Wal-Mart, embrace elitist, idealistic theories like globalization, affirmative action, the welfare state, outsourcing & other policies that destroy the fabric of our culture. They openly suppress or just don't support the development of much needed technologies like alternative fuels (renewable energy), alternative medicine, tort reform & on & on in order to protect the vested interests, guaranteeing their survival, dominance, & profitability all to the detriment of the public interest. IT IS HIGH TIME WE VOTE THESE INCUMBENTS, LOBBYISTS, & OTHER HANDMAIDENS TO CORRUPTION OUT. We MUST get back to the principals of a level playing field, creativity, free competition & access, & ACCOUNTABILITY. Promote legal, moral, ethical & legitimate enterprise that benefits the majority, not the elitist few who want to rig the game so they can't lose. History demonstrates, again & again what happens to your culture, your society, & your way of life when you compromise & corrupt these principals. YOU FAIL - PERIOD. This state, our counties, & our Federal government are ALL under water, deep in the hole, because they have abandoned these principals in favor of arrogance, & supposed self-interest. They flew too high & now their wings have melted - I am overjoyed watching them fall to the ground in a heap, I have been waiting thirty plus years for this. Regretfully, alot of at least, ignorant, as well as self-indulgent, people will be falling with them. I guess it is inevitable. | Spending Cuts |
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| William E Treakle | Lincoln | There are no real quick fixes to the budget crisis but one must realize that along with raising revenues we must look at ways to control the growth of government spending.
1. Legalize Mariquana and allow farmers to grow this crop. Taxes could be collected on this crop and who knows how much revenue could be raised.
2. change the drinking age back to 19 in Illinois. Once again revenues from liquor taxes would increase.
3.legalize and license brothels in Illinois. No one knows how much revenue this could bring in.
4. 3 year moritorium on business taxes for all new business that relocate to illinois and that will employ at least 25 fulll time employees.
5. crack down on employers who illegally hire illegal immigrants and send all illegals home!!!. Illegals put a huge drain on resources.
| Revenue Enhancements |
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| | Morris | Make Chicago a State of their own. All they do is drain the rest of the state. Of course they could never support themselves they rely on us hicks to support them | Spending Cuts |
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| George Schlenk | Carbondale | The State should "self-insure" for health care for all State employees and retirees. | General |
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| Mary Hobin | Silvis | Raise TAXES! If we don't raise state income taxes soon, we will be dealing with a larger debt next fiscal year, with more jobs being lost to cuts in social services, more agencies being closed because the state can't and won't pay their bills, and more people being a drain on the state because they can't get the help that they need. | Revenue Enhancements |
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| C. Ross | Naperville | FROM TODAY'S BOSTON HERALD: And you thought liberal public schools didn’t believe in making kids work hard. Why they’re ready to bring back indentured servitude!
That’s what a mom named Laura Wellington just found out. Her daughter came home from school with instructions to “accomplish chores around the house with the goal of being paid by me for those chores the sum of $20,” Wellington wrote on her blog. “She would then have to hand the full $20 over to the school to make up for the shortfall in their overall budget.”
HER DAUGHTER'S PARTICIPATION, according to the information the school sent home, WAS MANDATORY. So you’re supposed to SHAKE DOWN MOM FOR $20 AND GIVE IT ALL TO THE TEACHERS - no questions asked?
PUBLIC EDUCATION IS OUT OF CONTROL. NO BAILOUTS & NO NEW TAXES!!!!!! CALL CONGRESS & STOP THE 23 BILLION DOLLAR BAILOUT FOR TEACHERS. IT WILL NOT GO TO YOUR STUDENTS!!!! IT WILL GIVE TEACHERS THEIR RAISES AND STUFF BLOATED PENSIONS WITH MORE MONEY. DID YOU GET A RAISE THIS YEAR??????? DOES YOUR PENSION SEE AN ANNUAL 3% "COST OF LIVING" INCREASE????? TAXPAYERS ARE BEING ROBBED!!!!! | Spending Cuts |
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| Robert King | Hoffman Estates | Dont let Navistar leave Illinois. Thousands of current and future jobs are at stake. | Job Growth |
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| LJT | Quad Cities | Pass a conceal carry law | |
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| | Chicago | As a single mom that has experienced identity theft, I find it unthinkable that the State offices in Chicago use our earn fare customers to do work on other customers file on computer and handle their files. It is only a matter of time before this story comes to the press and they realize that one of those identity theft rings has been involved with this for years.
What the State needs to do is determine what jobs these earn fare customers should do while working in our offices. Handling of other customers files is not something they should do. Making copies, cleaning are things they should do. But ANYTHING that puts other customers private information, addresses, social security numbers should not be seen by other customers.
When I raised this point to my LOA, I was patted on the head and told it would be alright. It is not alright. Identity theft is not to be laughed at. I know from personal experience. | General |
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| Jim Williams | Springfield | When you boil it all down the only priorty Illinois has is people. Any budget item that is absolutly necessary for the necessities of life ( basic food, clothing, shelter, utilities, transportation, basic communications and basic health insurance) are Emergency Budget Acceptable.
A Temporary Emergency Budget that would temporarily defer all accounts payable including union, pension and all other contracts except for bare bones payroll expenses which would only include enough money for basic survival expenses for state employees and human survival money for all other Illinois citizens could free up enough money to begin digging the state out of debt in an organized and systematic fashion that makes sense.
| Spending Cuts |
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| Marilyn A. Straka-Shroyer | Streator | I am a custodial parent of three children who is reliant upon the state of Il for medical care and food stamps, due to the fact that my former husband does not pay his court ordered support.As of today my former husband is over $23,000 behind in support.In the time that I have been working with the child support enforcement department, I have experienced some situations and issues that I think could be fixed to benefit the state of IL.
I feel that a portion of the problem that the state faces is due to the Medicaid program that is offered to custodial parents becuase the non-custodial parent does not provide insurance for the children. The state could impose a penalty upon the non-custodial parents who do not supply insurance. This action my deter some people from failing to provide insurane for their children.
Another solution may be to charge a fee for parents who owe large amounts of child support. The non-custodial parents who do not pay are causing the custodial parents to rely upon the state often times for not only medical care, but child care costs and food stamps. There is a large number of parents that are on the delinquent parent website for non-payment. The state could help to collect more support if consequences of not paying were more strict. Many non-custodial parents who do not pay child support know the ins and outs of the system, and abuse it. For example, if no payment is made in 90 days a person's driver's license will be suspended. Frequent offenders know this policy, therefore they will pay within the 90 day time period, even if it is a small amount, just to keep the license.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter. | Spending Cuts |
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| | Springfield, IL | The state has to many boards and commissions. Most of these boards are not necessary, because employees are well qualified in their areas. Example:
Property Tax Appeal Board.
Hearing officers are mainly attorneys. Board members show up 24 times a year and make $52179.00 a year. They do no feasable work for the agency or the state.
| |
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| Pat | Palos Hills | Increase the state income tax to reduce outrageous debt. At the same time reduce budgets in each state department; let the departments have a say in these cuts. Hire outside INDEPENDENT auditors to monitor how money is spent. FREEZE the salaries of all legislators who always find a way to sneak in an increase. Make government as transparent as possible. DON'T compensate the legislators for the extra time they have to spend in the summer "to solve the budget problem." This predictable behavior occurs annually. They were supposed to balance the budget DURING the legislative session NOT AFTER. Eliminate cars and gasoline as part of the perks legislators receive; we've already seen how this perk is misused by the highest "most honest" of our legislative families.Such costs need to be scrutinized by fair standards - no legislator should be allowed these perks when CAMPAIGNING. Maybe a small fleet of reasonably priced efficient vehicles should be available for use by all state legislators with legitimate reasons to travel that have been approved or justified by an office meant to protect citizens tax money. This should apply to air travel and rail as well. The people of Illinois have had to cut back - it's time for legislators, judges, and executive government employees to do the same.
ALL GOVERNMENT offices needed to be audited and monitored by a truly independent agency.
and, all elected officials should have LIMITS to their terms. | Spending Cuts |
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| Tony Garapolo | Dwight IL | Nav-Star Co wants to build in Lisle with 31oo JOBS wHAT IS UP here ///////?????
You Might want to look into THIS
Sell the EXTRA CARS 100,000 do we need THESE | |
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| Henry R. | Hinsdale | Christie spelled it out:
A retired teacher paid $62,000 towards her pension and nothing -- yes, nothing -- for full family medical, dental, and vision coverage over her entire career. What will we pay her? $1.4 million in pension benefits and another $215,000 in health care benefit premiums over her lifetime. Is it 'fair' for all of us and our children to have to pay for this excess? (Is it) fair to have New Jersey taxpayers foot the bill for 100 percent of the health insurance costs of teachers and their families from the day they are hired until the day they die? Is it fair that teachers have a better, richer health plan than even state workers and pay absolutely nothing for it?
Illinois teachers have the same "deal". Is it fair to Illinois taxpayers???
IT IS TIME FOR TAXPAYERS TO UNITE. THE TEACHERS' UNION IS LIKE THE MAFIA. BURN THE CONTRACTS!!!! | Spending Cuts |
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| taxpayer | oswego | As a society, we've been chasing the chimera of progressive education through most of the 20th century, and now it's come home with a vengence.
We have kids who can't read or spell very well, can't multiply or make change without a calculator, can't form logical arguments and can't think coherently, who don't know the difference between the Civil War and the American Revolution, never heard of the Reformation or the Enlightenment, and who haven't a clue what Charlemagne, Newton, Jefferson or Dickens did.
They can't sit still because no one ever told them to just sit down and listen, they can't think or work independently because they've been depending on their collaborative workgroups since Kindergarten, and they don't know how to ask questions because they have little experience in dealing with definite factual answers.
Later in life, they take vacations to places they can't find on a map.
But they do have terrific self-esteem. illinoisloop.org
NO NEW TAXES!!!! DO NOT BAIL OUT PUBLIC EDUCATION!!!!
| Spending Cuts |
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| Jim Whelan | West Salem | We are in a dire situation. Attacking the state pension of hard working, dedicated state employees will NOT solve the problem. There are a multitude of ideas that will aid in the budget crisis, but will not solve it. Increase our sales tax, to equal of other states around us. This is the ONLY way!!! | General |
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| Bradford F Cresto | Marseilles | The state is always looking for some thing to tax or raise taxes on, or raise fees. What about adding a $1 or $2 tax or fee on the sale of all bicycles sold in the state. The bikes use the streets and highways just like the vehciles. And I don't think to many people would really be bothered by an extra couple of dollars on the price of a bike. You may want to set a bike size restriction because little kids with training wheels are not using the streets.
I don't know how many bikes are sold in one year but I will bet it would create a nice size revenue to hlep with the budget. This may not be the total solution but its an idea, and maybe something you guys could work with. | Revenue Enhancements |
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| | Orland Park | Eliminate the DCEO and its $6 billion dollar budget!
It basically consists of legislative seed money to businesses not expected to survive and the money is usually misspent by the granteend non-recoverable without any personal guarantors.. | |
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| richard timko | fairview heights, Illinois | Do what's best for the citizens of Illinois? Honor the legal obligations to numerous elements of the State of Illinois - it's time to quit postponing necessary financial decisions....."Time to go to work".....
Don't do what's best to just get "reelected"...
Getting caught up with "billions" of dollars of debt means finding some equitable, sufficient, new source of revenue... Not just cutting...
Just my opinion... A faithful Illinois taxpayer... | General |
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| Robert William Hagemann | Quincy | There are several steps that can be take the deficit down over a period of time.
1) Furlough the whole legislature for 2 years WITHOUT PAY, but, COBRA coverage, if they choose. Most of the reasons that we are in this situation is the lack of fiscal responsibility on the part of our elected officials in the legislature.
This will also save money from the reduced overhead (salaries of allied personnel, heating/cooling costs, cleaning, lighting, etc.).
The only persons that need to be working are the individuals that actually run the day to day business of the state.
2) Halt all "pork projects". After two years of no legislative action creating new spending issues, and yet the state receiving revenue, the shortfall will be reduced.
Once the legislature is brought back to session, with the current members still serving, review all stopped projects to see if there is enough money available, and IN THE BANK, to restart the projects.
If not, they get scrapped automatically, no matter which official will be affected. The need to administer to the WHOLE state , not just Chicago, has come.
3) Impose a $20.00 per person excise tax each year for 2 years. This includes welfare recipients and elderly. The money owed could be reduced from the recipients' money stipend over a period of several months.
4) Increase the income tax each year 0.12% for the next 10 years on both individual and corporate income. Our elected officials have not been fiscally responsible over the last 15 years in anticipating potential shortfalls by not gradually increasing the rate. Each elected official does not want to use the "T" word, in fear of losing their positions, because many see the job of eing a state official can be very good for their pocketbook, both in office and out of office.
5) Rewrite the pension system for government workers by reducing their current level of retirement benefits by 15%. We, the taxpayers of the state, have allowed the retirement levels to increase too much, in comparison to the average private plans.
Maybe a personal 401K plan would be better, letting the state workers, elected or hired, select their choices of where their money goes.
6) Put all non-funded projects on hold. The projects don't get re-started unless the money is in the bank. No borrowing for 3 years will save much in the way of interest, considering that the state's borrowing rating has dropped so much in the last 2 years.
7) Start no new on-going programs created for a 3 year period of time. After that time, only if the funds are IN THE BANK, can a new program be started. The new program would need to have an escrow account created that can not be touched by the general operating fund, and the program is responsible for funds. When they are gone, they are gone.
8) Finally, all FUTURE budgets, once we are a "pay-as-you-go" basis, will be created, not with future revenue in mind, but what was taken in the previous year. NO budgets based on EXPECTATIONS OF THE FUTURE. If that means temporarily, or completely, stopping a program, no matter what area of government it is in, then the citizens of the state will have to come to the realization that EVERY program costs something and that the State cannot have an unlimited credit card balance and not pay the consequences.
I realize that several "suggestions" may be "distasteful" for some people, but obviously the State government, the citizens of this state, and the recipients of financial help need to be made accountable for our, me included, lack of demands by everyone to be fiscally responsible. If we, as private individuals, were to act without restraints as the state has done over the last 10 years, the rude awaking would have come long before now. | General |
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| Alan | Anna Illinois | Cut out all Grants to college students. Why should any person get a grant (free money) Loan the money to them like the other student loans. Why should one student get a loan that has to be paid back because his Parents are hard working and have a job when other students get free tuition that never has to be paid back. Everyone that wants to go to college should have a chance but not on the taxpayers back. All persons are created equal so why should the select few get free rides. If your rich or poor its free. But the poor middle class is the one that pays. Its time to treat all students equal. NO GRANTS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> | Revenue Enhancements |
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| | Chicago | Eliminate CMS and stop hiring Majors in the Department of Corrections.
| Spending Cuts |
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| P Miller | Yorkville | Sell advertising space on the different lottery game pieces.Or let them create their own "State of Illinois" game using their logos for the game.Imagine scratching a game piece to uncover a Coke,McDonalds,American Airlines,etc logo.The advertisers could also contribute to the prizes. | Revenue Enhancements |
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| | Evergreen park | I thought that the lottery momies were suppose to be allocated for education. Today with current financial crisis that many people are facing, they have turned to paying the lottery to possibly make up their financial shortfalls.The lottery is raking in millions daily! Where is that money going? Parents are pulling their children out of school to homeschool them because schools are in a state of financial confusion. Teachers pension plans are being scaled down because of this crisis and many teachers are losing their jobs. The children are our future and we must make every effort to ensure that they receive a quality education.My heart is breaking becuse it seems that the politicans care more about their raises, paychecks, and pensions than the do the children in Illinois. | Spending Cuts |
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| vickie phelps | opdyke | release my daughter which is a 1st time offender non violent and would be beeter off served out of the Doc one such inmate would save the state 34,00.00 | General |
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| Allen Wojtasik | chicago il. | pay legislators and the president less he don't need all that money he don't even smoke much and use the money for the public schools so you can start teaching kids something that will actually help them start a career instead of just getting them ready for college that no one can offord. career training should be in public schools. give more tax credits to factories that stay in illinois so people can work instead of being incarcerated for petty crimes they do to support and their families. if anyone could find a job then they would'nt be out stealing. stop locking people up for drugs if they want to get high let 'em that should be their right to do what they want. stop minding peoples business. stop controlling peoples every move in life. everywhere you turn their is a sign saying you can't do this or you can't do that. let people do what they want it's called freedom and we have very little anymore. if you step out of line even a little you end up in prison? is this the kind of life our soldiers fought for? I thought america was a free country I was raised to think that but I see no freedom here at all. I see we are all a bunch of slaves and all the government does is crack the whip on us for trying to live our lives the way we want to. and stop giving all these tax breaks to anyone that enters the country. is it true that when they come here they have no property tax? why would you take some poor old womans house away cause she cant pay her water bill? what in the world is up with that? and taking old peoples houses cause their taxes are a little late? and foreigners dont have to pay it at all? thats unfair for a person to live here all their lives and get too old to work so now they got to be homeless over taxes or their water bill but anyone who enters this country and buys property has no taxes for so many years? who does this country really belong too? not to americans anymore thats for sure. if a business leaves america then it should'nt be allowed to sell products to americans anymore. thats the price they pay for leaving. let people smoke and drink if it keeps 'em happy and stop taxing it more and more. what right does anyone have to pass these judgements on everyone else. the people should govern theirselves and be their own boss we are more capable of doing that then anyone else. and dont yous dare start micro chipping people like they are your pets! it's so your children can be found ok why not just tattoo numbers on us like the nazi's did, we are already in slave camps are we not? | General |
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| Susan Hancock | Fillmore | I would suggest we quit buying new vehicles for state employees to use,
have the prisoners do repairs or hire mechanics to work in prison to do upkeep, it would all be cheaper. We all want to drive new cars, but we
cannot afford it. Stop buying when you cannot afford it.
The state transfers each prisoner miles for appearances. Why can this
not be set up to be done by video and save the overtime, mileage and gas on vehicles? | General |
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| TAXPAYER | Chicago | Taxpayers of Illinois wake up. Stop demandind more funding for education. The Chicago Public Schools spend $22,000 per student. Private schools charge on average $7000 per student. The government is only capable of wasting OUR money. Get informed! NO NEW TAXES!! | Spending Cuts |
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| | Bolingbrook | Freeze all government payroll and bonus's for at a minimum the next 2 years. Government payroll salaries pay way more than those in private sector. Most of us in the private sector have taken pay-cuts, those serving the public should do their part.
We need to institute a no-tolerance drug policy for those receiving ANY social services, with mandatory testing. If they fail, then no services are provided. Make these people get off drugs and contribute to society.
Cut budgets across the board evenly - pick a percentage. And, means personnel as well. When families I know have less money coming in, they have to adjust their budget.
Require those receiving unemployment to work for the government to receive those benefits. There is plenty work to be done (look at our streets, sidewalks, parks that need upkeep at a minimum). Even if they required to volunteer hours for charitable causes with their time, so they are earning their benefits. I know too many people that find it easier to collect a check from the government that are employable and could be helping society, but choose not too. That is a choice more times than not, make them step up.
ZERO benefits for families of Illegals. Bill them or their country of origin back for any medical services the state incurs. | Spending Cuts |
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| | De Land, IL | Please cancel the All Kids program initiated by the previous administration. That single program is severely undermining the fiscal integrity of the state budget. | Spending Cuts |
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| CARLA JEAN WINTERS | GREENFIELD | I WORK AT A HOSPITAL IN THE BILLING DEPT & OPEN THE MAIL
ALSO. WHEN WE DO RECEIVE MONEY FROM IDPA, THE VOUCHER COMES IN ONE ENVELOPE & THE CHECK COMES IN ANOTHER. I CAN SEE NO REASON FOR THIS. DOUBLE POSTAGE IS BEING USED FOR EVERY CHECK SENT OUT BY THIS DEPT. ALSO, THE STATE FUNDED INS, CIGNA, IS VERY FAR BEHIND ON PAYING CLAIMS SO THEY SEND OUT A LETTER FOR CLAIMS STATING THAT THE CLM WILL BE PAID; THEN THEY SEND OUT THE CHECK MONTHS LATER;
AGAIN DOUBLE WORK & DOUBLE MONEY. IF THE STATE IS GETTING CHARGED FOR ALL OF THIS TIME, POSTAGE & ENVELOPES FROM CIGNA, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED A LONG TIME AGO! I KNOW THESE SEEM LIKE VERY SMALL EXAMPLES; BUT I THINK THAT IS WHERE THIS HAS TO BEGIN; AT THE SMALLEST ON UP TO THE LARGEST WASTE OF MONEY. | Spending Cuts |
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| | chicago | Give money to education. It is not effective to have 35 students in a classroom. | |
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