Invest in Illinois
September 16, 2009 No CommentsAs the federal government continues its spending through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (stimulus package), we should use this opportunity to open up a larger discussion on the economic priorities of Illinois.
To review, however, here is a quick guide to the resources coming in from Washington.
Total amount allocated to Illinois: $10.6 Billion
Department of Education $3,509,699,000
Department of Energy $1,673,359,000
Department of Health and Human Services $1,554,078,000
Department of Transportation$1,440,353,000
Department of Labor$610,834,000
Department of Housing and Urban Development$539,761,000
Social Security Administration$508,020,000
Environmental Protection Agency$281,553,000
General Services Administration$166,478,000
Department of Justice$121,203,000
(White House Estimates)
We receive this money at a time when our state’s infrastructure is in dire need of repair and revitalization.
Our state budget has failed social service providers across this state as Progress Illinois has pointed out. (http://progressillinois.com/2009/7/5/features/tracking-state-budget-fallout)
Unemployment across Illinois has left 10.4% of the public out of work.
(http://www.suntimes.com/business/roeder/1726726,job-losses-illinois-082009.article)
And, we rank second to last in terms of how much money we give to education from the state level.
Pointedly, we are unemployed, uninsured, and uneducated!
If we are going to take gobs of cash from the government and pass tax increase after tax increase, then shouldn’t there be some vision? Some view of the future? Where are we going?
It is time for a comprehensive investment strategy in Illinois-from education to infrastructure, from brainpower to manpower, and everywhere in between.
The time for shooting from the hip is over. The challenges will be too great.
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