The 2008 Illinois Piggie Book. Interesting, Interesting April 16, 2008
Posted by baxtersbrother2 in Illinois.trackback
Every Year, The Illinois Policy Institute along with Citizens Against Government Waste put out an annual report that determine government waste in Illinois. It is so interesting what you can find. Alot of items, can be interpreted as improving the quality of life for citizens ( ADA funding for handicap accessible equipment, etc). However, there were many items that were just bizzare or just waste.
The first relates to the Umbrella of Education Funding. I am a child of a teacher so I am somewhat impartial. As my Daddy would say, They could take away your house, car and money, but they can not take away your education. Illinois spends an Estimated $12.9 billion on education funding, an increase of 5% from last year. I can partly agree with the statement that this is investing in the future. However, here are some hard facts:
A Study by Education Week rate Illinois at a C level overall for the quality of schools which is lower than the National Average. The same study becomes more interesting. They rate the schools a D+ for K-12 Achievement, a D for School spending and a D+ for Quality of Teachers ( I would have to see the last part). We are not being as competitive as need be.
The Governor has proposed new funding ($10 billion over the next 4 years) for school construction, rural learning, teacher quality etc. However, to achieve this (goal setting) the Governor has requested an additional $1.5 billion. Shouldn’t this have been part of the original package?
The most startling of all, the National Assessment of Educational Progress tests were conducted in 2007:
For Math tests, 36.3% of fourth graders were proficient in Math, ranking IL #34 nationally. For 8th Graders 30.8% were proficient in Math, ranking IL # 31.For Reading, 32.2% of fourth graders were proficient in reading (#30 in the Nation), while 29.8% of eighth graders were proficient in reading (# 29 in the Nation)
WOW! Many educators will say that these numbers can be skewed unfairly. However, how can only 1 of 3 of our students can do math and read proficiently when we increase funding so much and we are competing on a global prospective. Something is definitely wrong.
The second item, is for $100,000 that relates to Breast Cancer research that is named after Neil Hartigan’s daughter, but the site has NO website or indication of it existing.
The third item, infuriates me the most, not because of what the state has done but because of peoples basic sense of responsibility. Everyone knows that it takes alot to raise a child and it is near tragic when one of the parents bails (not paying their child support) on the kid. Illinois collects/goes after “deadbeat parents” and actually collects about $187 million dollars. However, the state spends $13.0 million dollars on “administrative costs” and spends $16.2 million dollars on getting the funds to the families who desperately need the money. Therefore, It costs the state $29.2 million to get money to people who are entitled to it in the first place. My proposal, If a person does not want to be part of the kids life, fine. The person is a scumbag. However, when the issue goes to court, the parent who is not supporting their kids should shoulder most of this cost because they simply do not seem to have a sense of duty to support their kids. It is only fair because why should Illinois Taxpayers pay because of some scumbags inability to determine right from wrong.
The fourth is funny. $550,000 for the study of Pheasants. Oh Lord.
Fifth, is using $ 1 million and relates to a creation of an “Illinois Channel.” However, doesn’t Comcast do this anyway?
But the final piece relates to something that is almost treasonous to serious North Side Cubs Fans! That is the possibility that Wrigley Field could be taken over by The Illinois Sports Facility Authority. The Authority gets about $41 million in state funds for corporate purposes, when some can call it corporate welfare.
Just interesting things you find.
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