Sangamon Sun

Cindy Deadrick Wolfer,  Republican candidate for the 96th state House District seat, spoke out on the depth of Illinois' financial crisis last week.

Wolfer spotlighted an infographic developed by Illinois Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger, which compared the state budget with home finances.

The comptroller broke out the current state of Illinois' finances, with the current bill backlog at more than $7 billion. The budget impasse has resulted in more than $2 billion in unpaid bills. Unfunded pension liabilities add up to more than $110 billion. The state's daily revenue, however, is only $100 million.

Before the latest proposed budget was voted down by the Illinois Senate on May 31, Munger spoke out against the unbalanced budget.

"The consequences of implementing this proposed budget would be catastrophic to those who are already suffering from the state's continued fiscal mismanagement," Munger said. "Today, Illinois has more than $7 billion in unpaid bills, and payment delays are running more than six weeks behind at best. If the proposed budget is passed, our unpaid bills would surge past $15 billion, with payments delayed an unprecedented eight to nine months. That means everyone -- small businesses, nonprofits, schools, hospitals, elected leaders and others -- will wait even longer for what they are owed by the state."

Wolfer's campaign platform supports the comptroller's position. Wolfer said across-the-board spending cuts will help balance the budget. If policy reforms regarding workers' compensation, pensions and other business-friendly changes are implemented, she is willing to consider reasonable tax increases.