The governor got caught in a cross fire on Tuesday. First, his Democratic primary opponent, the state comptroller, reported that tax revenues were down nearly $600 million in three months and that Illinois is $3 billion in debt to its vendors, many of whom are waiting three to five months to get paid.
"People who rely on state services are at risk of not getting them. People who are providing those services are having trouble making ends meet," said Dan Hynes, (D) IL comptroller.
Hynes began the Thompson Center news conference as the Illinois comptroller. But he morphed into the Democratic primary candidate for governor that he is, putting the blame for the financial mess on Pat Quinn, the incumbent he wants to replace.
"The leadership has to come from the governor's office and we're not getting that leadership," said Hynes.
"The comptroller, he took a holiday from helping us when it comes to fiscal matters in Illinois and I'm disappointed in him. You can sit on the sidelines and chirp away but that's not solving the problem," said Quinn.
Quinn and the Democratic leaders of both the House and Senate have agreed not to consider a tax increase during the General Assembly's veto session later this month. While the Democrats say new revenue must be part of the long term solution, they won't put a tax increase to vote until after the February second primary election.
Republican Senator Kirk Dillard, who is running for his party's nomination for governor, opposes higher taxes and criticized Quinn for not moving quickly enough to spend monies approved in the capital bill signed in July.
"That's the way you fix the state's budget, put people to work in private sector jobs and make Illinois a business-friendly state," said Dillard.
Hynes insisted his news conference had nothing to do with the election or politics but that politically motivated politicians are not helping the situation.
"All I know is the problem is getting worse and we seem to be drifting from one day to the next," said Hynes.
Hynes says he isn't worried that quinn at this point has a much higher number of endorsements from Democratic party elected officials. The comptroller says the only numbers that should count now are those associated with the state's worsening financial situation.
