Illinois is broke.

Illinois can’t afford to fix its crumbling infrastructure.  Two years ago, the state cut $1.6 billion in Medicaid coverage for the elderly, the disabled and poor parents and children and $200 million from education funding.  Lawmakers used accounting gimmicks to avoid cuts for this fiscal year. However, if lawmakers don’t find additional revenue, Illinoisans will face profoundly painful budget cuts beginning July 2015.

But Illinois doesn’t have to be broke.

Two-thirds of corporations in Illinois pay no income tax to the state.

Eighty-one percent (81%) of Illinois’ revenue comes from the payment of income taxes by people like us and by the collection of sales taxes on the goods we purchase. ONLY 8% of Illinois’ revenue comes from corporate income tax payments.

Because 2/3 of corporations pay no Illinois income tax, working people must pay higher taxes and our children, the elderly, the disabled and our state employees must bear the burden of cuts to education, healthcare and retirement security.

If corporations simply paid their fair share of taxes, the rest of us won’t have to accept these cuts – which really amounts to the state refusing to meet its obligations and not investing in the common good.

The good news is, there are a two of common sense pieces of legislation that can help Illinois restore its fiscal health and keep its commitments to educate its children and keep its citizens safe.