Progress Illinois

Fresh off an editorial in which they called on lawmakers in Springfield to enact "longer range changes that will put Illinois on more solid footing," the Pantagraph editorial board today detailed the impact of the state's stop-gap budget on social service providers. It's a decent piece and focuses on an issue we've covered extensively: how the underfunding of agencies, coupled with delayed payments, is endangering crucial services for the state's most vulnerable.

That being said, the conclusion is pretty disappointing:

State officials must address the long-term financial condition of Illinois. They must institute true cost-control measures, not just shove costs on others through late and/or inadequate payments. By cost control, we mean eliminating unnecessary programs, tightening eligibility rules and restructuring programs such as Medicaid.

Otherwise, more programs and agencies are likely to shut down.

I think this piece calls for the establishment of a new rule. Let's call it the "Civic Fed rule."

If a politician, editorial board, think tank, or advocacy group says Illinois can (and should) implement cuts to close the state's deficit, they must explain exactly which programs are "unnecessary" and how much money the state will save as a result.  If "tight[er] eligibility rules" are part of their plan, they should also be forced to detail how many underprivileged Illinoisans will lose health coverage due to such policy changes. If they don't, their opinion should be ignored.

In addition to the Civic Federation and the Pantagraph, past violators include the Tribune, GOP State Sen. Matt Murphy, and Democratic State Rep. Jack Franks, to name just a few.

But beyond that, what's particularly odd about today's editorial is the absence of a single word about the need for a tax increase.  After all, the paper acknowledged earlier this month that such a measure "will need to be part of the solution."