by Jon Dainty Sr.

Created on: March 21, 2009

Public entities require money, and public money is tax money. Governor Pat Quinn now comes and shows us his cards on the economy of our state, and the hand is an ugly one. Despite the fears of those who say taxes should never be raised, I am here to say they are wrong. Governor Quinn is on the right track, and we need to support his push for repairs to Illinois' money troubles.

Eleven and one-half billion dollars ago, and one governor before Mr. Quinn, our fair state paid its bills and had a healthy tax base. Chicago and downstate municipalities were paying their bills, as well, and hospitals anticipated treating patients and staying afloat financially. Illinois was legitimately open for business. Then the bottom dropped out.

Former Governor Rod Blagojevich's legal problems and subsequent arrest compelled Standard & Poor's to place Illinois on a "credit watch," which both slowed the financial processes within the state and made it more difficult for Illinois government to borrow money for operations. At this point the state already owed $4 billion to organizations as diverse as hospitals, pharmacies, veterans' families, and the state police.

"If the state doesn't catch up and pay its bills then people who are good people and hard workers and committed to health care are going to get laid off," said Governor Pat Quinn. He's referring, of course, to bills that have already taken months to be paid, and are spiraling toward $12 billion. How does a state "catch up"? With taxes, of course. No matter how you slice it, we have to find that money before Illinois goes bust, with catastrophic consequences for services, health care, and employment.

"To provide the jobs for people in the state of Illinois they're going to see a 50 percent increase in corporate tax. And I think when you look at companies like Caterpillar, they've had to lay people off, and an additional tax burden, considering all the things that are going on around the rest of the country, it's very troubling," said Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross.

Mr. Cross, a loyal Republican, gives the party's line heard around the country daily. We cannot, however, let such ideological fears stop us from taking proper tangible action; tax money is the lifeblood of our state, and the state is headed for intensive care unless we allow the governor to act now.

No one likes tax increases; they are never comfortable. But in the manner of most urgent care, to heal the patient we will need to cause temporary discomfort. Without treatment, the patient, Illinois, may die. Approve the tax hike, pay the bills, and save us all.

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