Southern Illinois State Representative Mike Bost says he's waiting to see what route Governor Pat Quinn takes with his plan to cut the state budget. The Murphysboro Republican says he's heard the Governor may go back to his original closure list which could include the Illinois Youth Center in Murphysboro. Quinn delivers his proposed 2013 Fiscal Year budget on Wednesday. In recent days Quinn has dropped broad outlines of many ideas he has in mind for trying to straighten out the state's finances including cuts to Medicaid and constitutional officers' budgets as well as closing a number of state facilities.
Bost says he knows the legislature will have to come up with about $3 Billion in cuts but he says it needs to occur in a sensible manner. Bost says the state can't just cut jobs and think that will generate enough revenue. Bost says he wants to see Governor Quinn call for Medicaid reform as part of the Gov's budget cutting plan. Bost says the Governor will also face a lot of questions that could affect local schools and towns throughout the state, the retirement security of tens of thousands of people, and health care for millions.
Governor Quinn's budget message is scheduled for Noon Wednesday. It can be heard live on WSIU Radio and WSIU TV as well as on line at www.wsiunews.org.