Institute in the Examiner: Illinois Policy Institute Puts Spotlight on Wasteful State Spending
During a time when the Gulf oil disaster and the ever-increasing and mind-numbing federal debt are (rightly) dominating the news, it is easy to forget about the overwhelming fiscal challenges facing our own state government.
By Joseph O’Day
During a time when the Gulf oil disaster and the ever-increasing and mind-numbing federal debt are (rightly) dominating the news, it is easy to forget about the overwhelming fiscal challenges facing our own state government. Many of the issues are similar in nature to those facing the federal government. According to the Illinois Policy Institute, Illinois still faces “a staggering $83 billion in unfunded public pension liabilities” and $6 billion in past due bills. “Several years of overspending created this debt, and it will take several years to reduce it to zero,” the Institute’s website states.
In response, a current project begun by the Illinois Policy Institute has the purpose of exposing wasteful state spending. It is called “weekly Spotlight on Spending series.” Three weeks have passed in this attempt to highlight “wasteful or inefficient programs and spending with the goal of bringing more responsible spending and accountable government to Illinois.”
Week 1 Spotlight: The Disparity Between Public Sector and Statewide Salaries
The example given by Illinois Policy Institute is the average wage of auto mechanics. In 2008, the average for private sector mechanics was $40,600. For state mechanics, it was $55,555, “36.8 percent higher than the overall Illinois average.” Illinois taxpayers should not be burdened with paying state employees wages far above their counterparts in the private sector. The solution is obvious: begin cutting back on state salaries and wages until they are on a par with the private sector.
Week 2 Spotlight: Tourism Grants Spurring the Economy or Wasteful Spending? ?
The Illinois Policy Institute says that the “State of Illinois spends around $50 million per year on tourism.” The claim is that this expenditure pales in comparison to the tourism dollars that it generates. But when the state is in danger of bankruptcy, is such spending really a good idea? “Illinois needs to prioritize spending on core government services,” such as the underfunded pension system and schools that are still waiting for payments from the state.
Week 3 Spotlight: Upward Mobility Program – Funding a Union Perk at Taxpayer Expense
The Upward Mobility Program is “a career mobility program designed to give state employees an opportunity to advance to more challenging, higher paying positions.” Tuition is fully funded by the state, and employees can take paid time off to attend classes. This program spends more than $4 million of taxpayer money annually. It is a program that should be eliminated as an unnecessary union perk (or is it pork?).
The Illinois Policy Institute is sure to highlight more excellent ways to cut government waste as the weeks pass. It is too bad that those currently in power will likely not pay any heed.
?Joseph O’Day is an editor and writer who has had a longtime interest in politics and public policy. He is a Reagan Republican who believes that government should be of the people, by the people, and for the people and that individual liberty and responsibility are paramount for human happiness and prosperity. He may be reached at jeoday@me.com?