In a recent study by the Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, the concept of responsibility for the financial situation of the state of Illinois was discussed at great length, directing much of the blame for its problems towards politicians and voters.
The study began by pointing to the present and its lack of political strength, stating that it has been absent for more than 15 years. Because of this lack of courage, the study says, the Illinois budgetary method has been slowly disintegrating.
Dr. Jeffrey Leef, the Republican candidate for the Illinois 7th Congressional District voiced his opinion of the topic, stating that Illinois was not created with these budgetary issues; rather, the politicians who have been in positions of influence have caused such problems.
“By all measurable criteria, while these problems have greatly worsened over the last 15 years, their unstable base was established decades ago,” Leef said.
The study explained that politicians must have the ability to address the public about budgetary issues with factual information, in order to gain trust.
“They then must have the capacity to explain their actions to the public and defend those actions in the next election,” the report said.
Leef pointed to the individuals who he believes are currently to blame for such omissions of truth.
“Currently, the usual suspects are busy convincing voters that the multi-system failure that our state is experiencing should be laid at the feet of Governor Rauner, for not agreeing to more tax hikes and bailing out the Chicago Public Schools,” said Leef.
The study points to some of what Leef claims were poor decisions for the state, which, the report states, led to the current crisis that the Illinois budget is facing — some of which include potential cuts to the social service program and jobs statewide.
Leef referenced the Daley Machine and the Madigan Machine, which have ranked the state of Illinois as one of the worst, in terms of schools, job generation, unemployment and inequality in income, to name a few.
However, the report concluded by stating that the past did not necessarily have to end in budgetary crisis, as it has, rather it was an issue of cowardice from the politicians who were in positions of leadership.
“We can learn from instances when state government did not fail, when the budgetary chips were on the line, and when political leadership and courage were exhibited,” the study stated.
Leef ended by saying that the new leadership in the state of Illinois should be compared to a poorly manage private business.
“Who in their right mind would not only blame these people but remove them from said company,” Leef said.
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