Grassroots Collaborative

Legislative Uncertainty for Illinois Fiscal Year 2010, but where are the Student Voices?
Kaitlyn Tyrrill | Campus Chronicle
August 03, 2009

July 1st was the deadline for the fiscal year 2010 budget. With the General Assembly at a stalemate, Governor Pat Quinn passed a temporary budget based on borrowing, despite his earlier claims that he would not rely on such a temporary solution. The temporary budget was passed in an effort to continue the debate between an increase in the income tax, as Governor Quinn is pushing, and cuts in state spending, which many state funded organizations and employees are fighting against.

The temporary budget passed earlier this month included a 14% cut. The 14% cut was not across the board, however, so it will be up to Governor Quinn to allocate funds from now until a solution is passed, likely in January. This means that state funded agencies are lobbying the governor for financial support as they were previously lobbying state legislators for a fair budget before the July 1st deadline.

There have been waves of protestors down at the capital trying to secure that funds for their organizations will not be cut in the 2010 fiscal year. The situation is an unprecedented economic crisis for the state of Illinois. With education making up 38.2% of the state budget, this crisis has the potential to hit state universities and colleges hard.

According to the Governor's Office of Management and Budget website, consequences of inaction could mean grant cuts for undergraduate college students. The website said that cuts alone would take the state back to 2004 funding levels, which could mean that 17,000 fewer students would receive MAP Grants, with an additional 60,000 eligible applicants for the grants being put on a waiting list.

Amisha Patel, Executive Director of the Grassroots Collaborative, has been working to bring attention to the current economic crisis. Her organization is dedicated to pulling together broader coalitions in order to better fight against budget cuts. When asked about the involvement of college students with her organization, or the current situation in general, Patel stated that "There has not been direct engagement on behalf [of college students]. " Patel further stated: "I think it's fair to say there's a real strong potential need for students to get involved."

Patel suggested that students on campuses get involved through phone banking. She also suggested that volunteers inform students on campuses about the situation and provide them with contact information for state legislators. Students could then call from their cell phones and voice their concerns right on the spot.

While many voices are championing an increase in the income tax, including Governor Quinn, still others belief that a tax increase is not the answer. The Illinois Policy Institute, a nonpartisan research organization dedicated to supporting free market principles and liberty-based public policy initiatives, is among those that disagree with the income tax increase. According to their website, the Illinois Policy Institute believes that Illinois has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. The organization issued a report, available on their website, which suggests holding spending levels for many state funded organizations at 2009 fiscal year levels. Among other suggestions by the think tank is reforming the delivery, not the eligibility, of programs like Medicaid, as well as more transparency in the state government overall.

Kelly Walsh, an undergraduate from Knox College, is down in Springfield this summer as an intern with the Illinois Policy Institute. She was sent to the office in Springfield to help deal with the budget crisis. When asked about the income tax increase Walsh stated: "the core of the problem is the spending problem." Walsh went on to say, "An income tax increase does increase revenues, which is what you want, but it takes away from the working and the poor; it takes away from everyone."

Walsh continued to say that she believes that legislators should be focusing on the energy sector, and all that alternative energy forms have to offer, including the creation of "green jobs" and increasing the use of more efficient forms of energy.

The budget will be coming up again in November or January for legislators' to vote on. With education making up 38.2% of the budget and cuts on the line, it is important that everyone voice their concerns.

© 2009 Campus Chronicle