SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) was disappointed by the Governor’s budget proposal on Wednesday, saying its lack of reforms, increased borrowing and insignificant amount of cuts showcased his inability to show leadership on the state’s growing fiscal crisis.

“This is not a budget,” Sen. Syverson said. “A budget means that you only spend as much as you take in. Quinn’s proposal to spend $5 billion more than the state will make in revenues is irresponsible.”

The Governor’s own estimates say the state will bring in $27.4 billion, but Quinn outlined $32.1 billion in spending during the next fiscal year – leaving a $5 billion gap, which Syverson noted is unconstitutional.

“The Governor’s budget is not only fiscally unsound, it is constitutionally unsound,” Syverson said. “The Illinois Constitution requires the Governor to introduce a balanced budget. This budget doesn’t even come close – by Quinn’s own admission, it is $5 billion out of balance.”

Syverson also targeted the increased debt and borrowing contained in the Governor’s plan, which takes Illinois from $6 billion in short-term debt to more than $11 billion – the largest amount of debt per capita in the nation.

“If this budget passes, Illinois’ fiscal status will take an enormous hit,” Syverson said. “It will likely lead to a double downgrade of our state credit ratings, meaning we would be the worst ranked state in the nation, alongside California.”

The Rockford Senator also expressed concern about the budget’s impact on the state’s jobs climate. Quinn’s budget plan cuts funding for local government, which would cause many projects and corresponding jobs to be put on hold.

“Right now, Illinois ranks 47th in the nation in job growth,” Syverson noted. “Instead of taking an aggressive approach to creating jobs, this budget underfunds many priorities that would help revive the economy and promote economic expansion.”

Syverson said the Governor would be better served to start with a budget that incorporates the litany of spending reforms and cost-savings that have been presented to the Governor by Republicans, including Medicaid managed care reform and pension reforms – measures that could save the state billions of dollars annually.

“Unfortunately, the Governor has chosen to ignore any sort of structural reform, and instead continues Illinois down the Blagojevich path of more spending and more borrowing, with no way to pay for it,” Syverson said. “These are tough times that call for tough decisions, but we aren’t getting that from this Governor.”

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