GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ST A TE OF ILLINOIS
HOUSE OF REPRESENT A TIVES

The Honorable Michael 1. Madigan

Speaker of the House
House of Representatives
State Capitol Room 300
Springfield, Illinois 62706

Thank you for your candor in explaining the State's dire fiscal condition, and the difficult
decisions that we must address before adjourning on May 31, 2009. We offer our support for
working with you and your staff to resolve the state's fiscal crisis.

We recognize the need for identifying efficiencies in the FY 2010 State budget. But, we are
opposed to any budget plan that reduces GRF appropriations in most State agencies by 25%
below the fiscal year 2009 level. This doomsday budget will endanger an already fragile safety
net for Illinois' most vulnerable populations - children living in poverty, senior citizens, and the
disabled. And, a 25% reduction to State Police and the Department of Corrections could
potentially threaten the public safety of Illinois citizens.

Finally, many State programs are preventative in nature; severe cuts to these programs could, in
future years,. create additional pressures on the State budget.

Drastic budget cuts may have the unintended consequence of prolonging the recession by
increasing 'unemployment rates and reducing aggregate demand for goods and services.

As mentioned above, we are eager to work with you to develop an alternative to the doomsday
budget proposal. To that end we offer our support for fair revenue enhancements, identifying
efficiencies in the base budget, and protecting the core of the State's safety net and prevention
programs.

William Davis, Representative Esther Golar, Representative

Marlow Colvin, Representative Arthur Turner, Representative
Ken Dunkin, Representative Al Riley, Representative
William Burns, Representative David Miller, Representative
LaShawn Ford, Representative Eddie Jackson, Representative
Eddie Washington, Representative Annazette Collins, Representative
Deborah Graham, Representative Constance Howard, Representative
Chuck Jefferson, Representative Andre Thapedi, Representative

cc: Honorable Governor Pat Quinn

Senate President John Cullerton
Chief of Staff Tim Mapes
Signature page to letter of May 13, 2009 to the Honorable Michael J. Madigan
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