HR1218 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1218 LRB096 22255 HLH 41133 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Illinois' hardworking families and private sector employees have faced layoffs, pay cuts, loss of benefits, and other employment concessions; and

WHEREAS, Illinois is experiencing an unprecedented fiscal crisis resulting in billions in unpaid bills, a projected $1.3 billion shortfall for education in Fiscal Year 2011, and reductions to human services programs that assist Illinois' most vulnerable citizens; and

WHEREAS, The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability estimates that Illinois' Fiscal Year 2011 budget will have a $13 billion deficit; and

WHEREAS, The Governor's proposed Fiscal Year 2011 budget proposes to close this gap with a combination of fee and tax increases, including a 33% income tax increase, fund transfers, multi-billion dollar borrowing schemes, no pay raises for merit compensation employees, as well as instituting furlough days for these employees; and

WHEREAS, According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois has lost 475,000 wage and salary jobs since November 2000, a decline of 7.64%, and economic forecasts predict a slow recovery for the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, In March 2000, the unemployment rate was 4.4%, and in March 2010, the unemployment rate was 11.5%; and

WHEREAS, Personal income in Illinois fell 2.1% during 2009, outstripping the national average decline of 1.7%, according to estimates released by the United States Bureau of Economic Analysis; the 2.1% decline ranks Illinois 38th in the nation; and

WHEREAS, In Fiscal Year 2011, $336.2 million is being budgeted by Governor Quinn to fulfill employee collective bargaining agreements; $230.6 million to annualize Fiscal Year 2010 pay raises and $105.6 million for Cost-of-Living and Step increases; and

WHEREAS, In light of Illinois' bleak economic forecast and extraordinarily large projected budget shortfall, it is fiscally irresponsible to consider salary increases in Fiscal Year 2011 for State employees when education and social service programs are being reduced or unfunded due to lack of funds; and

WHEREAS, State employees represented by unions should forgo compensation increases in these tough economic times by also making sacrifices to share in the recovery of Illinois' economy; and

WHEREAS, No State revenue enhancements to balance the budget should be considered until all budget expenditures are thoroughly reviewed to ensure wasteful or unnecessary spending is eliminated from the budget; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that that we urge the Governor to reopen collective bargaining agreements to remove pay increases as a means to (i) reduce State expenditures and (ii) ensure the additional funding is directed to education and social service programs; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Governor.