Everyone saw a crash coming
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Those legislators who refused to support the revenue increases the state needs to keep services afloat and now proclaim they oppose the governor’s cuts are hypocrites of the first order. They are complicit in the crime and nothing less than a reversal of their position will absolve them of the responsibility.

Responding to AFSCME members at the Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, Sen. Larry Bomke had the good sense to publicly proclaim his willingness to vote for a tax increase to prevent disastrous service cuts and widespread job loss.

But other officeholders, rather than responding positively to the pressure, whine about being picked on. The job of citizens who depend on public services is to make it clear that legislators who won’t support needed revenues are effectively wielding the budget ax and causing the pain. We have been down this road before, but this time it’s a lot bumpier. A budget deficit estimated to be as high as $10 billion is not a hole, it’s a crater, and clawing our way out of it is going to require a colossal effort.

Building a political mandate to raise revenues will require all of us who care about public services—including education, health care, public safety, human services and more—to make our voices heard.

AFSCME members are in the forefront of the fight to save services and protect jobs. But we’re counting on all those who rely on the services we provide to join us. The Illinois budget crisis affects us all.

Henry L. Bayer of Chicago is director of AFSCME Council 31, the largest union representing Illinois state government employees.