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Voice of The Southern:
Get back to Springfield and fund education

Our view: The irresponsible dithering over the state budget needs to be resolved before it lands on the backs of schools and the futures of schoolchildren.

School superintendents from throughout Southern Illinois are stuck in a bind: They simply don't now how many teachers they'll be bringing back in the fall or how many programs will have to be cut.

It's not their fault. The educators aren't math-impaired. No, it is the governor and the legislators who have arithmophobia - a fear of numbers.

In Harrisburg, Superintendent Dennis Smith summed it up succinctly. To a great degree, he can only budget to the degree the state is willing to pay. In order to budget effectively, Smith should have had a solid idea of his district's state funding level in January or February.

Worse, the state is $1.2 million past due in its payments to Harrisburg schools. Smith acknowledges his district, its reserves gone, will have to borrow.

Jason Henry, superintendent of Sesser-Valier Community Unit School District 196, said even though there's been discussion of different budget scenarios, the state hasn't identified a revenue stream to provide funding for school districts.

Yes, there are calculators in Springfield, even computers. What our leaders and bureaucrats lack is courage.

We've been over the math before. The state needs some prudent combination of revenue enhancements (yes, those are taxes) and spending reductions. Namely, because it is broke. Really broke.

It is running a projected annual deficit of about $13 billion. Current bills past due are nearly $4 billion. The state's unfunded pension obligation is about $80 billion, and its total indebtedness is about $140 billion. To be deeper in the hole than that, you'd have to be the federal government.

And, as we've noted recently, Democratic lawmakers who control both chambers of the General Assembly blew off their self-imposed deadline of May 7. Passage of a budget after the next deadline, May 31, means super-majority, or three-fifths in each chamber. That means the Democrats would need Republican help to pass a budget - if either side cared to.

But, no, with a November general election approaching, Democrats are more likely to fiddle around with stopgap measures and, on the odd day, pose for ribbon-cutting and big-check photos. Republicans, meanwhile, will roast Democrats for lack of leadership - all the while holding the idea of more taxes at arm's length.

Heck, it's hard for incumbents to get motivated when they enjoy a reelection rate of around 98 percent.

Here's the bummer for the kings of fence-sitting: The backlash has started. It's called the Tea Party. It's called the recent party convention and primary election results.

Ask Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, who won't be returning to the U.S. Senate. His party bounced him. Ask former Republican and current Democrat Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. When the next Congress convenes, the longtime fixture won't be taking his seat in the Senate. His state's voters have called him home. Ask Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson how much good his pedigree and endorsements did him Tuesday night.

Downstate Illinois legislators: Do you think your constituents like you so much personally they will continue to tolerate the feudal homage you pay to your Chicagoland counterparts and the excuses you bring home?

Here's our advice. Get back to Springfield. Get something sensible done. Put teachers in those classrooms. Leave a legacy, one that includes honor and responsibility.

Otherwise, swell guys and gals that you might be, we're just not going to miss you that much.