Election 2018: Seeking Solutions-Springfield

Springfield, Ill. – More than 95 Springfield area residents applauded Thursday evening as AARP Illinois and NPR Illinois launched a statewide tour of forums aimed at finding lasting solutions to a years-long state fiscal crisis that, despite some encouraging signs, is still hurting citizens, businesses and the state’s future.

The Springfield forum was the first of 11 planned 2018 forums in the “Enough Is Enough” initiative, first unveiled last year by AARP Illinois and NPR Illinois. The events, scheduled from May through October, will feature insight from leading panelists, personal stories from Illinoisans who have been caught in the state’s fiscal crunch and practical ways for citizens to push for positive change.

“For too long the state of Illinois has suffered through a fiscal crisis that continues to affect all its citizens,” said Bob Gallo, AARP’s Illinois state director. “When will our state’s finances be restored, service providers paid, families get the help they need to care for vulnerable loved ones, and the state’s debt burden be resolved? We must continue to pressure our elected officials to work together and find solutions to answer these questions that have the state of Illinois in such distress.”

Panelists for the May 10 event were former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar, former state Sen. Donne Trotter, Dr. Beverly Bunch of the University of Illinois-Springfield, and NPR Illinois Statehouse reporter Brian Mackey. As with future events, the evening discussion was audio-taped and video recorded by NPR Illinois, and may be viewed at https://enoughisenough.aarp.org/ .

The event followed a series of recent national media stories that questioned why and how Illinois’ elected leaders have allowed the state’s finances to spiral into disarray. The cover of the influential Governing magazine’s May cover raises the stark question, “Who Ruined Illinois?” against an ominously dark background.

While state lawmakers capped months of political bickering by passing a state budget over the veto of Gov. Bruce Rauner in a bipartisan vote, the state’s fiscal crisis is far from over.

 

Recent news coverage has focused attention on billions in unpaid bills by organizations and businesses providing critical services to the state’s residents, skyrocketing unpaid bills for late payment fees and interest and underfunded pension funds. The state’s bond rating, which hit AA status under Gov. Edgar and his successor, has plummeted nearly to junk-bond status – driving up debt-financing costs.

AARP Illinois and NPR Illinois joined forces in 2017 to demand that lawmakers override partisan politics and join in finding real solutions to the state’s crisis. Following the push, lawmakers eventually did pass a state budget – but as in previous years, spending outpaces revenues and lawmakers have not yet embraced lasting fiscal solutions.

To learn more, go to https://enoughisenough.aarp.org/ .