By Monique Garcia and Alissa Groeninger
SPRINGFIELD — Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn served up a State of the State speech Wednesday full of ways to spend more money on college scholarships and preschool and cut taxes on natural gas and families with children.
But with Illinois unable to pay its bills and concerns rampant at the Capitol about getting control of runaway public pension and health care costs, lawmakers from both parties were left with a question: Where will the money come from?
The governor left that query unanswered, pledging to provide more details in another speech that's three weeks away.
The lack of specifics and a looming election for lawmakers led Republicans to rip Quinn as a big spender and Democrats who might otherwise support their governor to remain skeptical at best.
"If I had a calculator in my hand, it probably would have blown up," said Republican Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka. "I look at this chicken in every pot routine, and I know there are plenty of pots, but we're plumb out of chickens."
Democratic Rep. Joe Lyons of Chicago called Quinn's proposals "nice ideas" but also had a request for the governor: "Show me the money."
The state is billions behind in paying its bills, and legislative leaders have noted the need to rein in spending if the bulk of a major income-tax hike is to expire after 2014 as Democrats promised when they passed it a year ago.
For his part, Quinn asserted that facing the state's challenges would require "political courage" from lawmakers to keep Illinois on the road to economic recovery.
"It's not the time to pull back," Quinn told members of the House and Senate. "Byinvesting in Illinois and investing in our people, we are building and growing the economy. ... We are moving Illinois forward. No reform is easy."
Quinn used the address to focus primarily on job creation and ways to help businesses andfamilies struggling to get by as the national economy continues to falter, saying economic growth is key to the state clawing its way out of the red. One job creation idea Quinn put forth was employing workers to rehab aging water mains, sewers and treatment plants.
"Cuts alone will not get us to a better budget," Quinn said.
The governor proposed eliminating the utility tax on natural gas, saying it is a regressive tax that businesses and households can no longer afford to pay. Quinn also wants to establish tax credits to help families with children. Details were scarce, but Quinn wants to provide an annual break of $100 for the average families of four with two children. In another proposal, companies could qualify for tax credits of up to $5,000 for each veteran who served in Iraq, Afghanistan or the Gulf War hired after Jan. 1.
On the spending side, Quinn asked lawmakers to pump more money into the monetary award program, which provides scholarships for needy college students. Quinn said that nearly 150,000 high school seniors qualified for the assistance last year but that just as many were rejected because of a lack of funds.
The governor also called for more spending on early childhood education and to upgrade technology in classrooms, though he did not say how much money he wanted to set aside for the programs or where he would get the additional funding. Some school districts have struggled to pay teachers and provide services following years of payment delays from the state.
"The governor has figured out some ways to pay for this that are not necessarily part of anything on the table today," said Gery Chico, chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education. "You'll hear that in his (Feb. 22) budget address; so this is viable."
Democrats traditionally aligned with Quinn were measured in their responses, praising the governor for his vision of the future but carefully noting the state's financial realities may get in the way.
"As he advances new initiatives to create jobs and improve the economy, I look forward to hearing how we can fund these important priorities within a balanced budget," Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said in a statement.
Republicans questioned Quinn's push for tax relief so soon after he signed the income-tax hike into law. Sen. Matt Murphy, R-Palatine, said it was a tacit admission of "error" in imposing the hike.
GOP lawmakers also pushed for more details from Quinn about how he plans to cut growing pension and Medicaid costs.
"There was barely a passing reference to the enormous fiscal problems that we're experiencing. Two lines at most about pensions and Medicaid. So I think what was most surprising was what was not in the speech," said Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno of Lemont.
Although Quinn's plans drew more questions than support, the governor did receive high marks for his delivery. The speech clocked in at just under half an hour and Quinn used a teleprompter to read the address, a departure from his usual habit of delivering off-the-cuff remarks.
"This was his most gubernatorial (speech), though the bar was low," said Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale, like Murphy a potential governor candidate in 2014. "But when the rubber hits the road in the budget message in a few weeks, I want to know dollar-for-dollar how we pay for these programs."
Tribune reporter Ray Long contributed.
SPRINGFIELD — Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn served up a State of the State speech Wednesday full of ways to spend more money on college scholarships and preschool and cut taxes on natural gas and families with children.
But with Illinois unable to pay its bills and concerns rampant at the Capitol about getting control of runaway public pension and health care costs, lawmakers from both parties were left with a question: Where will the money come from?
The governor left that query unanswered, pledging to provide more details in another speech that's three weeks away.
The lack of specifics and a looming election for lawmakers led Republicans to rip Quinn as a big spender and Democrats who might otherwise support their governor to remain skeptical at best.
"If I had a calculator in my hand, it probably would have blown up," said Republican Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka. "I look at this chicken in every pot routine, and I know there are plenty of pots, but we're plumb out of chickens."
Democratic Rep. Joe Lyons of Chicago called Quinn's proposals "nice ideas" but also had a request for the governor: "Show me the money."
The state is billions behind in paying its bills, and legislative leaders have noted the need to rein in spending if the bulk of a major income-tax hike is to expire after 2014 as Democrats promised when they passed it a year ago.
For his part, Quinn asserted that facing the state's challenges would require "political courage" from lawmakers to keep Illinois on the road to economic recovery.
"It's not the time to pull back," Quinn told members of the House and Senate. "Byinvesting in Illinois and investing in our people, we are building and growing the economy. ... We are moving Illinois forward. No reform is easy."
Quinn used the address to focus primarily on job creation and ways to help businesses andfamilies struggling to get by as the national economy continues to falter, saying economic growth is key to the state clawing its way out of the red. One job creation idea Quinn put forth was employing workers to rehab aging water mains, sewers and treatment plants.
"Cuts alone will not get us to a better budget," Quinn said.
The governor proposed eliminating the utility tax on natural gas, saying it is a regressive tax that businesses and households can no longer afford to pay. Quinn also wants to establish tax credits to help families with children. Details were scarce, but Quinn wants to provide an annual break of $100 for the average families of four with two children. In another proposal, companies could qualify for tax credits of up to $5,000 for each veteran who served in Iraq, Afghanistan or the Gulf War hired after Jan. 1.
On the spending side, Quinn asked lawmakers to pump more money into the monetary award program, which provides scholarships for needy college students. Quinn said that nearly 150,000 high school seniors qualified for the assistance last year but that just as many were rejected because of a lack of funds.
The governor also called for more spending on early childhood education and to upgrade technology in classrooms, though he did not say how much money he wanted to set aside for the programs or where he would get the additional funding. Some school districts have struggled to pay teachers and provide services following years of payment delays from the state.
"The governor has figured out some ways to pay for this that are not necessarily part of anything on the table today," said Gery Chico, chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education. "You'll hear that in his (Feb. 22) budget address; so this is viable."
Democrats traditionally aligned with Quinn were measured in their responses, praising the governor for his vision of the future but carefully noting the state's financial realities may get in the way.
"As he advances new initiatives to create jobs and improve the economy, I look forward to hearing how we can fund these important priorities within a balanced budget," Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said in a statement.
Republicans questioned Quinn's push for tax relief so soon after he signed the income-tax hike into law. Sen. Matt Murphy, R-Palatine, said it was a tacit admission of "error" in imposing the hike.
GOP lawmakers also pushed for more details from Quinn about how he plans to cut growing pension and Medicaid costs.
"There was barely a passing reference to the enormous fiscal problems that we're experiencing. Two lines at most about pensions and Medicaid. So I think what was most surprising was what was not in the speech," said Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno of Lemont.
Although Quinn's plans drew more questions than support, the governor did receive high marks for his delivery. The speech clocked in at just under half an hour and Quinn used a teleprompter to read the address, a departure from his usual habit of delivering off-the-cuff remarks.
"This was his most gubernatorial (speech), though the bar was low," said Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale, like Murphy a potential governor candidate in 2014. "But when the rubber hits the road in the budget message in a few weeks, I want to know dollar-for-dollar how we pay for these programs."
Tribune reporter Ray Long contributed.