In criticizing the politics that restrain Illinois' budget negotiations, we've long contended that Democrats in Springfield routinely undersell the benefits of comprehensive tax reform. State Rep.
Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora) apparently agrees. During an appearance on WFLD's
Fox Chicago Sunday yesterday, the Elementary Appropriations
Committee Chair made the important point that the state's over-reliance
on property taxes to fund education and other crucial services has been
a consistent problem. "It's broken," she said. "And it's been broken since I got there eight years ago." She added that both sides "need to get to the table ... and find out how we can restructure our tax base so we can fund education." Watch it (the full interview is available here):
Meanwhile, Carl Nyberg points out that, elsewhere in the interview, Chapa LaVia didn't exactly have her facts straight about the controversy surrounding Mark Kirk's military record.
With the state's finances in a tailspin, there are rumblings that members of the General Assembly's Latino Caucus are planning to revive tax hike legislation withing a matter of weeks.
State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora) is trying to put the breaks on a proposed private Medicaid managed care initiative until the program's merits are studied further.
State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora) is warning that, if the state budget crisis isn't resolved soon, schools across Illinois will face major funding. We explain why low-income schools will be hit much harder than wealthier ones.
A state lawmakers says the 2011 budget could include a 10 percent cut in the school funding "foundation level," costing Illinois districts millions in state aid.
