Both Sides of the Springfield Aisle Meet With Carroll County Leaders

By Tom Kocal

Village of Milledgeville Trustee Lyle Musselman (rt) listens intently to Rep. Sacia’s comments on how to deal with Illinois’ spending habits.

The Carroll County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) committee had the rare opportunity of speaking with not just one, but two area political leaders.

State Senator Mike Jacobs, a Democrat from Moline, the 36th State Senate District, and Representative Jim Sacia, a Republican from Pecatonica in the 89th State House District, addressed state and local issues with eleven CEDS members Wednesday, December 8, at the CC Courthouse Conference Room.

Sen. Tim Bivins, (R-45, Dixon) and newly-elected but not yet installed Rep, Rich Morthland (R-71, Moline) were invited but had prior engagements.

Representing the Carroll County Board were Joyce Schubert (D-3) and Kurt Dreger (D-1). Dr. Art Donart represented Thomson. Other municipal leaders were Galen Wirth, President, and Lyle Musselman, Trustee, both from the Village of Milledgeville; Mayor Ed Stern and Alderman Tom Kocal from the City of Lanark; Village of Shannon President Bonnie Foust; Village of Chadwick president Zelma McNeil; City of Savanna Mayor Larry Stebbins; and Tri County Economic Development Alliance Executive Director Randy Prasse.

Both Jacobs and Sacia agreed that Gov. Quinn is working hard to create an atmosphere of cooperation in Springfield.

“Though he and I are on different planets philosophically, he’s an honorable, decent man,” Sacia said. “He’s trying. One of the first things he did a year ago when he was appointed was to call us to have lunch with him at the Governor’s mansion, in small groups, twenty or so at a time, Senators and Representatives, Republicans and Democrats together. Basically, this was his theme: ‘I’m not a partisan, I have no agenda, I inherited a monster, I need your help.’ I don’t know how you could help not wanting to work with a guy with that attitude.

“We really are in a crisis, Sacia added. “The good news is that Gov. Quinn wants to work with all of us and move this state forward. There is an attitude that we can fix these problems, a spirit of cooperation. For the past 8 years that I’ve been in office, it has never been as bad as the mainstream Chicago media portrays it.”

Sacia told the group that he and his associates are fully aware that every one of our communities are suffering greatly because the state is in arrears. Sacia spoke with the governor’s Chief of Staff, Jerry Sturmer, about the states’s $6 billion deficit, and the money that is owed. “We discussed the ‘Prompt Payment Act,’ which obligates the state to pay you interest if not paid within 60 days. If we owe you money, we owe you interest.

“Sturmer asked me if I would support borrowing $6 billion. The only problem with that is, where is the revenue stream to pay it back? If we don’t have the money now, where is it going to come from later? From a practical standpoint, it would make more sense to borrow $6 billion at 5-6% interest, rather than owing you interest at 12% or more. There are arguable points to both sides of that issue.”

Donart presented his plan to bring the State back to fiscal integrity. No one owed money by the State would have to wait eighteen months or more to get paid.

“What I propose is that we amend our State’s Constitution to require the State legislature to raise sufficient funds, without borrowing from set-aside funds or any other source, to pay the State’s bills current for the fiscal year,” Donart said. “Failure to do so would automatically make all the sitting legislators ineligible to run for re-election or hold any other elected or appointed position in Illinois government, for a period of five years from the date their term expires.

“In other words, do the job or get out. When legislators keep putting things off until after their next election, because winning is more important to them, we lose.”

Sacia agreed, but said “Hearing it from you, and making it happen, are two different things, Doc.”

(L to R) Sen. Mike Jacobs, Dr. Art Donart and Rep. Jim Sacia talk politics even after the 2-hour meeting with CEDS representatives.

Sacia was appalled that Illinois has always been one of the richest state’s in the Union, because of its natural resources, “now here we are with the worst credit rating of all 50 states - yes, worse than California! How is it that our neighbor to the east (Indiana) is experiencing the most explosive economic development in the nation, and have aTriple AAA Bond Rating? How can they have the best and we have the worst?”

Sacia was asked about Illinois’ income - it goes up every year, yet there is not enough to go around.

“Illinois’ revenue has increased by - in round numbers - approx. $1 billion per year the last seven years,” Sacia said. “But we have out-spent it by 3-to-one. How can we allow that to happen? It makes no sense. We can’t let this go any longer. We must fix it this year.”

Sen. Jacobs wants to push the responsibility - and control - back to the local level.

“I don’t want to pass the buck, but I’ll tell you this: passing the buck upward sure hasn’t worked very well. W’e’re going to have to cut back on some of the things we do, and do some things differently. But that’s not the only thing. We have to have some kind of an increase,” referring to the governor’s proposed income tax jump.

Jacobs called for a new committee to plan for next year.

“I have never seen a planning committee meet, to prepare for potential problems and address problem issues. But nobody wants to deal with the hard issues, or ask the hard questions. We’ve got to stop the ‘finger-pointing,’ and end the attitude that ‘my government is OK, but yours is not.’ That’s where we’re at, but I don’t know how to fix it.”

“We need to see hard-core cuts, mixed with revenue enhancements,” Sacia added. “Finding that right balance is the hard part. But the Chicago attitude compared to the down state mentality toward addressing the spending problem are on opposite ends of the spectrum.”

Foust said that “many people would not mind paying a higher ‘tax enhancement,’ but what they do want is a guarantee that the money will be spent responsibly, and where it is budgeted.”

“We all do it with our strategic planning, on a short term and long term basis,” said Stebbins.

What now?

Village of Chadwick President Zelma McNeil (left) and City of Savanna Mayor Larry Stebbins (rt) hoped to hear a more definite report from Sen. Jacobs about the status of the Thomson Prison sale to the federal Bureau of Prisons. (PA photos/Tom Kocal)

What did some of the county leaders think of the discussion regarding Illinois’ high payroll taxes, prevailing wage concerns that have delayed construction of the Village of Milledgeville’s Industrial Park, and out of control state spending issues?

Dr. Art Donart, Thomson, said, “I believe both legislators were very up front regarding the state’s problems and were quite willing to take into account our views. Unfortunately, we are only talking to one vote in the senate and one vote in the house.

“I was happy to hear from both of them that the believed Governor Quinn is very honest and candid and is making a serious effort to resolve the state’s financial mess which he inherited. The governor needs a lot of cooperation.”

Galen Wirth, President, Village of Milledgeville, commented that “It was good to hear that our local elected officials acknowledge that there is a problem and a need to fix the state’s financial situation. One gets the feeling that this is such an insurmountable task at hand that no one quite knows how to handle it. Somone needs to decide who is powerful enough to grab the bull by the horns, take charge, ruffle some feathers and get the job done so the state can get their financial situation back in order.”

Randy Prasse, Executive Director, TCEDA, wanted to hear more solid solutions proposed. “My concerns are that the prison is still appearing to be very ‘if and when’ with many hurdles in front of us. Are we getting the leadership committed to making this happen on all levels of government? All I heard was that it was sitting with the Federal Government to make happen.

“Also, I did not hear any definitive direction with regards to how we can make NW Illinois (or the state as a whole) more competitive for business retention, expansion and recruitment. This is a concern to me because our neighboring states are eating our lunches.”

Larry Stebbins, Mayor, City of Savanna, agreed. “Both of our representatives listened to our concerns, but I did not hear any solutions for prevailing wage issues.

The lack of discussion on the Thomson Correctional facility is a major concern. We need to keep it in the forefront.”

Kurt Dreger, Carroll Co. Board (D-1, Savanna), wants to see communities prepare for the prison opening. “City and Village leaders need to get ready for people who will work at the prison and are now checking out where to live. There is no way they will invest in a town that doesn’t clean up their act and enforce the ordinances already on the books.”

Future legislative visits here in the area, as well as CEDS visits to legislators offices locally and in Springfield, are part of the CEDS’ future plans to keep both state and federal senators and congressmen aware of issues affecting the citizens of Northwestern Illinois.