05-06-2006, 12:30 AM
Pritchard, Burzynski oppose bill
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/...news03.txt
The current state of Illinois is terrible. Democrats have done a horrible job running this state. And for approximately the fifth year in a row, NIU will run nearly the same state-alocated budget. Glad to see the Republicans opposing a budget that they feel is shorting the higher-education schools of necessary monies.
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/...news03.txt
Quote:Chris Lusvardi - Chronicle Springfield Bureau
SPRINGFIELD - Two DeKalb-area lawmakers said Wednesday the state budget has some good things in it, but for the most part it will create more problems than it solves.
The spending plan was approved in the House Wednesday and was poised for passage in the Senate late Wednes-day.
?There are some good things in the budget when you look at what we're able to do for education and early childhood and some of our other concerns with renewable fuels,? state Rep. Bob Pritchard said.
However, the Hinckley Republican is concerned with how the budget is going to be funded.
?We've got to look at the long-term interest of this state and how we're funding this budget,? Pritchard said. ?I think it's a bad day for the state of Illinois.?
Pritchard, who voted against the budget, said the state's pension systems have been under-funded for the second year in a row, the state's debt has grown and Medicaid payments are behind schedule.
State Sen. Brad Burzynski, R-Clare, who planned to vote ?no,? is concerned with how to pay for items in the budget.
?They've got a ton of new programs in this budget while we can't afford to pay for the programs we've got,? Burzynski said.
Burzynski was pleased to see increases in education funding, but he would have liked to see more. Northern Illinois University received $104 million in state funds for next year, which is less than a one percent increase from last year.
?Some of the things I would have liked to have seen would have been relevant to higher education,? Burzynski said. ?I mean, 21 million dollars divided among nine university systems in the state. Give me a break, that's barely anything.?
Neither lawmaker said any of their desired projects for their districts received funding. They said Republicans weren't included in budget negotiations.
?I'm on the side of the aisle that is no longer included in some of the projects that communities and other interests need in our legislative district,? Pritchard said.
The current state of Illinois is terrible. Democrats have done a horrible job running this state. And for approximately the fifth year in a row, NIU will run nearly the same state-alocated budget. Glad to see the Republicans opposing a budget that they feel is shorting the higher-education schools of necessary monies.