Illinois Republican Party

Bill Brady criticizes Quinn budget
3/11/2010

By Chris Essig - Lee Newspapers

Bill Brady says Gov. Pat Quinn's budget plan is shortsighted and relies too heavily on borrowing.

But even as the Republican nominee for governor was hurling attacks at his November opponent, Brady insisted the General Assembly could work together on a bipartisan solution to the state's $13 billion deficit.

The Republican state senator from Bloomington was critical of Quinn's proposal, saying it doesn't solve the state's fiscal crisis and instead relies on record amounts of borrowing.

Quinn wants to borrow $4.7 billion to help pay state bills and to roll over an additional $6 billion in unpaid bills to balance the budget.

"Today was an embarrassing day. He (Quinn) asked for an extra 30 days and yet the best he could come up with was a budget that is $4 billion out of balance," Brady said, referring to Quinn's request to delay his budget address by a month.

Brady noted that Quinn doesn't have a plan to repay the borrowing he proposed, and is simply "kicking the can down the road, trying to make it past the election."

"Quite frankly I wonder if he plans on being here in January because we have a pretty big problem," he said.

Brady also attacked Quinn's proposal to cut education funding by $1.3 billion. In his speech, Quinn warned that cuts could become a reality if the General Assembly doesn't pass a 33 percent boost in the state income tax.

"It doesn't make any sense to me. He wants to cut education 17 percent," he said. "And then, kind of in a fleeting moment, he talks about a huge tax increase....We cannot increase taxes in this state. All we are going to do is push more jobs out of this state."

He reiterated his call for a 10 percent across-the-board cut in state spending, which has come under fire by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle as being too drastic. Quinn said such a plan is "heartless and naïve" in his speech Wednesday.

Brady was not offended.

"I wish he would take more time to analyze what I suggested Illinois needs," he said.

Brady did say Quinn was "moving in the right direction" with his proposed small-business tax credit. Under Quinn's plan, small businesses would receive a $2,500 tax credit for each full-time job it creates.

Brady, however, said the measure was too narrow because it only applies to businesses with 50 employees or fewer. He has proposed a similar tax credit that would be open to all businesses.

"Unfortunately, he doesn't understand that we need an ‘all business' investment," he said.

SOURCE: The Pantagraph

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