Quinn to seek action on unpaid bills

Gov. Pat Quinn delivers his budget address Wednesday in a joint session of the General Assembly. (Illinois Statehouse News)

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget proposal will include a call for closing unneeded tax loopholes as a way of generating cash to pay off Illinois’ backlog of unpaid bills.

Quinn spokeswoman Brooke Anderson told The Associated Press yesterday that the governor envisions paying off the bills gradually. Illinois owes billions of dollars to businesses and community groups that work for the state.

Anderson said getting rid of loopholes that don’t contribute to economic growth also would pay for new tax breaks the governor wants, ending natural gas taxes, credits for families with children and businesses that hire veterans. Anderson said education will get more money in the proposal Quinn will present Wednesday. He wants to boost education by about $90 million, or about 1 percent.

House Minority Leader Tom Cross said it’s important to have a budget that spends less than last year.

“On top of that, we want a budget that is very detailed and comprehensive on how he is going to handle the pension problem. That’s an $85 billion problem in the state of Illinois,” Cross said. “How’s he going to handle the Medicaid problem?”

Cross said Quinn is facing questions that could affect local schools and towns, retirement of thousands, and health care for millions.