Quinn’s Inflated Savings

by Kristina Rasmussen Governor Quinn claims to make $1.4 billion in spending reductions for fiscal year 2011 compared to fiscal year 2010. Why is Governor Quinn comparing his proposed spending reductions to last year’s spending levels instead of his proposed budget for fiscal year 2011? It makes his cuts look bigger. Think about it. Last year’s spending was artificially...

by Kristina Rasmussen

Governor Quinn claims to make $1.4 billion in spending reductions for fiscal year 2011 compared to fiscal year 2010. Why is Governor Quinn comparing his proposed spending reductions to last year’s spending levels instead of his proposed budget for fiscal year 2011? It makes his cuts look bigger.

Think about it. Last year’s spending was artificially propped up by billions of federal stimulus dollars. Speaker Pelosi told us herself that the money was going to be timely, targeted, and most of important,temporary.

Back to the present. Stimulus dollars have largely dried up. Since the economy hasn’t actually been stimulated, revenues are still in the dumps. There isn’t as much money to spend this year.

So even though Governor Quinn only cut $155 million (less than one percent) of this year’s legislature-approved appropriations bill, his cuts look bigger when he compares them to last year’s spending levels. Neat trick, but it doesn’t go far in balancing our budget.

We’ve got more insight on the budget plan — it’s a must read. For example, did you know that the governor vetoed only one appropriation item from a 2,134-page appropriation bill? A mere twenty-six programs—out of hundreds—had their allocations reduced.