Illinois, Running on Empty

Governor Blagojevich unveiled his new budget for the state of Illinois yesterday. It's long on promises, short on solutions.
Sun Times:

But the budget he outlined would break his campaign promise to devote at least half of all new revenue to education. And he based parts of his budget on revenue ideas that have failed before or, in at least one case, on no specific idea at all.

His proposal would hold income and sales taxes at their current level, upholding a campaign pledge that Blagojevich is likely to make a centerpiece of his re-election bid.

Cigar smokers would pay a higher tax, however, and businesses would lose several tax breaks, giving Republicans ammunition to renew their accusations that Blagojevich is driving jobs out of state....

Blagojevich's budget calls for state government to spend $55.3 billion in fiscal 2007, an increase of $950 million, or 1.7 percent.

That's almost exactly the amount of growth in the state's income and sales tax revenue, which the governor expects to reach $17.852 billion, up 5.6 percent....

Blagojevich says next year's new revenues will cover routine spending increases -- in other words, there will be no deficit.

But that is possible only because of last year's decision to cut state pension payments, a policy that Republicans decry as irresponsible. Blagojevich's budget office also could not say Tuesday night whether the governor's budget would slow down Medicaid payments to hospitals, pharmacies and other health care providers.

Governor Rod Blagojevich---empty state coffers, empty promises....

Empty Suit.