From The Times Record:

Calling Illinois’ budget woes the state’s “greatest crisis in modern times,” Gov. Pat Quinn outlined a budget plan Wednesday, March 18, 2009, that attempts to solve those problems by asking something from just about everyone.

If Quinn gets everything he asked for Wednesday, cigarette smokers will pay more to indulge their habit, drivers will have to shell out more to use Illinois roads and many wage earners will give more of their paychecks to the state through an income tax increase.

With an $11.6 billion budget hole to fill, Quinn even is going after the powerful state employee unions and state workers’ pensions. Quinn will have employees in departments he controls take four unpaid furlough days next year, saving millions in payroll costs. He also wants to require state workers to pay more for their health insurance and retirement programs.

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