The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor

State workers in Illinois scheduled for raise while other workers get fired

Hey, it’s Illinois where the entire governmental apparatus is designed to form a more perfect political machine, establish special privileges, insure Democratic Party tranquility, provide for the indicted pols’ defense, promote the insiders’ welfare, and secure the blessings of government workers’ unions.

Unbelievable, you say? Who would have the brass to do that while so many people are suffering from the coronavirus economic shutdown? And while an Illinois Democratic leader has petitioned for a $40 billion bailout from the feds?

The Illinois Policy Institute has the skinny:

ILLINOIS SCHEDULED TO GIVE $261M IN AUTOMATIC PAY RAISES TO STATE WORKERS:Pritzker should join other Democratic governors in postponing automatic pay raises, which would free up funds for needy Illinoisans and potentially preserve state worker jobs in the long run.

Nearly 1.5 million Illinoisans – 24% of the state’s workforce – are vulnerable to layoffs and reduced hours. Over half a million residents filed unemployment claims in the past four weeks.

The mounting economic crisis is certain to be accompanied by a steep drop in state tax revenues – a University of Illinois study estimated anywhere between $4.3 billion and $14.1 billion – and Illinois lawmakers and the governor will need to allocate funds to deal with the most urgent budget priorities.

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www.dennisbyrne.net

My historical novel: Madness: The War of 1812

Filed under:
Budget, Illinois politics

Tags:
COVID-19, government workers, J. B. Pritzker