February
22, 2010
To
the Honorable Pat Quinn, Governor of Illinois
To the Honorable John J. Cullerton, President of the Senate
To the Honorable Christine Radogno, Minority Leader of the Senate
To the Honorable Michael Madigan, Speaker of the House of Representatives
To the Honorable Tom Cross, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives
Re: Recommendation for a State Debt Reduction Plan for 2010
Dear
Governor Quinn, Senator Cullerton, Senator Radogno, Representative Madigan, and
Representative Cross:
Pursuant
to Public Act 96-0881, the State Universities Annuitants Association (SUAA)
submits the following recommendation for a State
Debt Reduction Plan for 2010.
SUAA,
a state-wide association representing the interests of all members of the State
Universities Retirement System (includes current employees, retirees, and
survivors of the Illinois State funded universities and community colleges),
expresses its deep concerns about the dire fiscal situation the State is in. It has become patently clear that the State
simply does not have the fiscal resources to deal with its mounting debt while
providing appropriate levels of support for its schools, colleges and
universities, its health care accountabilities and other core responsibilities. Thus, the very future of our State is at
stake.
The proposed State Debt Reduction Plan
for 2010 proposes essentially a defined tax surcharge program dedicated to
address the estimated $13 Billion debt situation that befalls the State. It consists of the following:
1. The income tax rates would be increased at the
percentages to be determined by the Governor and the legislative leaders to go
into effect January 1, 2011 and would “sunset” January 1, 2013.
2. The total revenues derived from these
increases would be deposited in a State Debt Retirement Fund to be used solely
for the purpose of reducing the current State debt.
3. Neither the General Assembly nor any State
officials shall take any action that would cause any increase in the State debt
during the next two-year period except for what may be necessary for short
–term borrowing.
4. Appropriations from the General Revenue Fund
shall not be increased beyond that as enacted in 2009 for F”Y 2010, unless they
are determined to be an emergency. See
#5.
5. In the event of an emergency, as
determined by the Governor, specific increases may be allowed for
appropriations approved by a two-thirds vote of the appointed legislators of
the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. Such emergency appropriation shall be set
forth in a single bill to be acted upon by the General Assembly.
6. During the two-year period, no
statutory changes shall be made to any of the State’s public pension systems,
other than as may be required for technical, non-substantive matters.
7. During the two-year period, the
Governor, all of the other Constitutional officers, including the Auditor
General, together with the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate and
House shall prepare a Fiscal Report.
Such report shall include the current revenue and debt condition of the
State together with recommendations for the short and long-term fiscal policy
of the State, together with the statutory changes in support of those
policies. The Report shall be made
public not later than January 10, 2011.
GOGFA shall provide the staffing.
The public shall be encouraged to provide its recommendations.
This
recommendation manifests SUAA’s deep concerns about the State’s dire fiscal
situation and its willingness to engage actively in pursuits aimed at
addressing the basic problems.
Sincerely,
Richard M. Johnson, President
Linda L. Brookhart, Executive Director
cc: Members of
the 96th General Assembly