Editorial: Illinois 'sweeps' in additional funding; Lincoln Log Cabin benefits
Editorial Board
Issue date: 10/6/08 Section: Opinions
| Our View | |
| Situation: | Lincoln Log Cabin will not be closing anymore because more than $231 million from "sweep bills" will restore several programs. |
| Stance: | Illinois is not solving any of its problems and the $231 million is causing more problems with federal laws now in question. |
Coles County tourism took a hit when Gov. Rod Blagojevich's announced budget cuts in late August forced Lincoln Log Cabin to plan for closure. However, after long periods of deliberation by lawmakers and intense lobbying by those effected, relief may be on the way.
However, everything in Illinois comes at a cost. The economy has lost millions of dollars of income, yet more projects keep getting proposed. Keeping Lincoln Log Cabin is what we wanted, but paying for that demand tends to slip the minds of the voters and we need to pay more and more attention to decisions that our governments are making on our behalfs.
A controversial package of three "fund sweep" bills could generate more than $231 million to be used to mend a devastated state budget and reopen or prevent layoffs to departments such as the Department of Children and Family Services, State Parks and the Historic Sites Division.
Lincoln Log Cabin would be one of the beneficiaries of the fund sweep bills, but the money may not be coming from the best places and creates yet more tension between Illinois residents and their government.
These bills would take a percentage of money from hundreds of programs that receive fees for regulation of industries that are not funded by the state. Such economic strategy has been utilized in consecutive years to cover-up budget catastrophes, but these decisions do not fix the fiscal problems.
Money is simply being taken from point A and given to point B and no new money is being generated.
Funds targeted this time include for child-support administration, forestry development and dry cleaners' environmental response.
The Daily Eastern News encourages on-topic, civil discussion on its articles posted online. It is our policy not to screen comments before they are posted or edit them after they are posted. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are off-topic, malicious, libelous or include excessive foul language. The DEN also reserves the right to turn off all comments on any story it deems necessary.
Comments violating copyright law will also be removed.
Users who repeatedly violate this policy will be banned from commenting.
If you have any questions on our comment policy or wish to report a comment that you feel violates these standards, please e-mail a link to the article to our Online Editor at DENNews.com@gmail.com.
Be the first to comment on this story