Illinois Comptroller and Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Dan Hynes met with a small group of students at the Courier Cafe in Urbana on Thursday to explain his plan to eliminate the state budget deficit.
The state of Illinois is currently facing a $10 billion deficit for two reasons: the poor economy and the state’s failure to manage its budget properly for many years, Hynes said.
“We are in a severe budget crisis,” he said, citing the fact that the budget is out of balance and Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants have been cut.
Hynes’ solution to the budget deficit is composed of three steps.
The first is to reduce the short-term deficit by cutting government spending where possible.
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“We identified $1.5 billion dollars in cuts that have to be made, that don’t cut MAP grants, that don’t lay off 2,000 union workers and front line service workers,” he said.
Hynes also intends to address Illinois’ structural revenue problems, citing income tax reform as a likely solution.
“What we want to have is a graduated income tax, so the more money you make, the higher the rate. And your tax will only go up above the 3 percent that it’s currently at if you make $200,000 or more,” Hynes said.
The third step in Hynes’ program is to balance the Illinois budget and to invest in Illinois’ future, specifically health care and education.
Hynes said he is touring college campuses in order to emphasize the fact that Illinois has neglected higher education for a decade.
“The state is putting less money into higher education this year than they did six years ago, which is why tuition dues go up so drastically,” he said. “Our plan will get us on a path to financial responsibility so that over the next few years, once we regain our footing financially, we’ll be in a position to invest more adequately in higher education.”
Hynes’s audience consisted primarily of University law students and undergraduates.
“I liked his response regarding funding for education … it’ll be a central issue in his campaign,” said Brandon Loggins, a third-year law student.
Philip Amoa, a third-year law student and president of Legal Summer, a company that provides a web-based application tool for law students searching for jobs and internships, said he believes Hynes could reduce the current Illinois deficit.
“I think he’s provided some solid justification,” Amoa said.
