Politics

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Gov. Pat Quinn released a "doomsday" budget Monday, detailing spending cuts that Quinn says will be necessary if the Illinois General Assembly does not vote to raise new revenue.

As CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports, some of Quinn's fellow Democrats are just not backing the governor's plan.

The governor's doomsday budget is designed to scare those reluctant Democrats into voting for new revenue.

Quinn laid out what a "doomsday" budget might look like if lawmakers "slash and burn" their way to close a deficit of at least $11.6 billion instead of going along with his plan to boost taxes.

"In a tough time we don't want history to say the people of Illinois threw a lot of their fellow citizens overboard because they didn't want to make any sacrifices or tough choices," Quinn told reporters after detailing a litany of possible cuts to more than 300 people at the City Club of Chicago, a local civic club.

If nothing is done, Quinn says the following would result:

-14,300 teachers would be laid off, eliminating pre-school for 100,000 children;
-1,000 State Troopers would be laid off, about half the force in the field;
-6,000 adult prisoners would be released early, 500 juvenile offenders, too, with six facilities closing.

"I would say to those legislators who say the only way to get a balanced budget is to cut everywhere we can, maybe they can take some of those prisoners home to their own house when they get out of jail," Quinn.

Unions representing public employees jumped on the governor's bandwagon, including teachers' unions who are angry over Quinn's proposal to offer future teachers a smaller package of benefits and a reduced pension. A leader of the AFSCME state workers' union declared that legislators "must raise revenue to prevent devastating cuts, save public services and pay the state's bills."

The spring session ends May 31.

"The battle for the soul of Illinois will take place in these two weeks," Quinn said.

But Quinn's plan to scare lawmakers into his corner could backfire.

"We understand why he wants to do it to create a picture of where we are, but we're not sure it does the job of encouraging lawmakers to vote for the income tax," said Rikeesha Phelon, spokeswoman for state Senate President John Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat.

Some lawmakers have criticized the governor for resorting to an income tax increase without making more cuts in the budget first.

One key budget negotiator, Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago, said it was helpful for Quinn to illustrate the kind of spending plan Illinois might have to adopt if a tax increase isn't approved. He said it might serve as a wake-up call to some legislators who don't realize what's at stake.

"This is telling the people of Illinois that we're in dire straits," Trotter said. "If members start hearing from these veterans that are going to be out, if they hear from state troopers and their families and ... all these people with disabilities, then maybe there will be some action."

Former Republican Gov. Jim Thompson said an income tax increase is needed because Quinn inherited a budget in tough economic times. But Quinn's plan to boost exemptions makes his tax plan a harder sell to lawmakers and Thompson couldn't predict if it would pass.

"It's a very tough vote, especially when his proposal to increase the exemptions reduces the revenue. And it's very hard to ask legislators to vote for a tax increase if they don't think it's producing enough revenue because then you get the political pain without the gain," said Thompson, who backed income tax increases when he was governor. Thompson attended Quinn's speech.

On the table is not only an income tax increase, but proposals to raise taxes on gasoline, tobacco, alcohol, soft drinks and dozens of fees.

While the budget's his top priority, the governor is also pushing ethics reforms and a huge public construction program to put people to work and rebuild Illinois. 

CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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