Sen. Jacobs, Part 2: Budget Cuts, and FOID Card Privacy

By Tom Kocal, Publisher

The first topic discussed during an interview with Sen. Mike Jacobs was the status of the Thomson Correctional Center in last week’s March 9, 2011 issue. The Prairie Advocate News/www.pacc-news.com continues part 2 of the exclusive interview, conducted at the Bass St. Landing in Moline on Thursday, March 3.

The conversation about the Thomson Correctional Center led into two other volatile topics: the state’s proposed budget cuts and how they will adversely affect many of the social services agencies that this region depends on, and the senator’s views about Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s plan to allow the release of personal information of Illinois Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card holders (which is opposed by Carroll Co. Sheriff Jeff Doran and the Illinois Sheriff’s Association).

The Budget

In light of the recent action taken by the neighboring states of Wisconsin and Ohio to address their budget dilemmas, Sen. Jacobs was asked if Illinois was considering taxing the $21 billion state pensions, just as private sector pensions are.

“That’s a very tough issue for us. Right now we don’t tax pensions for seniors. We’re one of the few states that don’t. It is an advantage for Illinois, as we do see some Iowa seniors moving to Illinois because they tax pensions in Iowa. I’m not sure if taxing pensions would prove to be penny wise and pound foolish.

But the potential income is something that Jacobs recognizes. “However, it is estimated that by taxing pensions, the state would generate about $1.3 billion dollars every year. We’ve begun to take some steps in Illinois to correct our budget. We did raise the income tax - I didn’t like voting for that, but it was something that I thought I had to vote for. I didn’t do it to be popular, I did it because I thought it was the right thing to do.

“On the pension side, we have taken steps to correct the pension problems of the past by limiting the pensions that are available for future employees. The problem with that is that it doesn’t take effect until 20 or 30 years down the road. Our problem is immediate. Our problem didn’t happen overnight. This happened because a lot of people before me didn’t pay their bills. I’ve heard people say for a long time, ‘If we don’t pay our bills, it will come back to haunt us.’ Well guess what? Today’s the day.

“I’m proud that Illinois’ begun to take steps to correct this. We’ve tackle the (income) tax issue, we’re tackling the pension problem, we’re working on workmen’s comp, and we have some other ‘progressive’ ideas that we’re going to try to move forward. We have record low levels of state employees. We had more state employees in 1973 than we do today.

“Our problem is that we have more desire for government, than desire to pay for it. Something has to give: either people have to pay more, or they’ll have to have less government. I’m not opposed to giving people what they want, but I want people to be sure they understand what they are asking for.”

The state’s efforts to cut the budget are coming under attack by several state agencies, including the U of I Extension, county Soil and Water Conservation, and locally, the social programs of the Carroll Co. Substance Education Coalition. “40% of our budget is education. Another 40% is Human Services. The other 20% is payroll, which is about $4.2 billion per year for every salary paid to state employees, including mine. Given we owe $12 billion, we would have to cut out every job in Illinois that’s government related for 3 years. We’d have to close your schools.

“But I don’t hear any calls to cut out money for Education. So that leaves us with Human Services, which is a lot of different things. It can be Meals on Wheels programs, and welfare. But this notion that there is this pile of money out there that’s being misused and misspent - I really don’t see that. We’ve had to tighten our belts. We’ve cut $2.2 billion since last year, and we’re going to cut another $1 billion this year. In speaking with the Governor this afternoon, next year, he expects to cut another $2 billion out of the budget.

Jacobs said the state has finally begun to develop priority planning, something he has never seen done since he first joined the General Assembly. “One of the first things I noticed was that there is a committee for everything - except for where we are going. What we’ve done is set up a ‘Budgeting for Results’ committee, and in effect, will look at every program in Illinois, sort of a zero-based accounting approach, and make sure that the programs actually work, make sure that school programs actually work, and if they don’t work, we will make some cuts.

“But we have to be very cognizant of these cuts - they have real impact on real people, and real lives. So when people say, ‘We need to cut this, we need to cut that,’ just be aware of what your cutting. I’ll give you the government you want. I prefer a government that helps the less fortunate.”

Individual Privacy & Concealed Carry

Both Carroll County Sheriff Jeff Doran, the Illinois State Police, and the Illinois Sheriff’s Association, have voiced their opposition to Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s proposed release of personal information of Illinois holders of Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) cards. Sheriff Robert Hertz, President of the ISA, noted that the Freedom of Information Act clearly states “. . . This Act is not intended to cause an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy . . .”

“First, I must declare a few things before expressing my views,” Jacobs stated. “I am an A+ supporter of the NRA (National Rifle Association). So my point of view is going to be a little different than maybe some other’s. I think people have the right to possess and bear arms. I also think that people have the right to make application for FOID cards, so that they can carry if they choose to - if the state moves that way, which I hope they do.

“However, any time that you get a license or make an application to the State of Illinois . . . and there is money exchanged, and the government is part of the process, and someone makes (an) application for FOIA request, I don’t know how we don’t comply. We don’t have a choice to say, ‘We can comply here, but not there.’

“This will end up in court. clearly, the Chicago politicians don’t want to see Right to Carry in Illinois. They will do everything in their power to set up hurdles. This is just a hurdle. In the end, I think as long as addresses aren’t published, and just names are published - well, there’s always a cost.”

Visit The Prairie Advocate web site - www.pacc-news.com - and view the complete, exclusive video interview. If you don’t have access to a computer or internet service, visit your public library, and they will be pleased to assist you.

If you wish to write to or visit Senator Mike Jacobs to voice your concerns about the prison and other state issues, his office is at 606 19th St # A, Moline, IL 61265-2166, or you may call (309) 797-0001.