Governor Calls For Job Cuts, Facility Closures

Gov. Pat Quinn has said he will move to eliminate nearly 2,000 jobs and close seven state facilities, including prisons and mental health facilities.

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the Quinn blamed state lawmakers for giving him a budget that was $2.2 billion short of what he wanted.

Lawmakers will return to the state Capitol next month for its fall session, and the Tribune said in its story that the governor's actions today are an effort to put pressure on them the next several weeks before they head back to Springfield.

House Republican Leader Tom Cross released a prepared statement this afternoon. In it Cross said: “We have been pushing for cuts and efficiencies and will analyze the governor’s proposal—unfortunately on its face—it appears that Governor Quinn has targeted Republican facilities and Republican jobs in his endless quest to spend more money on things that he wants. It is still not clear how he chose the facilities and jobs on his list. Instead of engaging the legislators who live in those districts and getting their input as well as the residents—he made his announcement to the media in Chicago—in some cases hundreds of miles away from the facilities he wants to close. This appears to be a quid pro quo by the Governor to get votes for more spending that he wants. If we are going to cut – we need to let the cuts stand.”

According to the Tribune, Quinn’s administration is seeking to close mental health centers in southwest suburban Tinley Park, Rockford and downstate Chester. Quinn is also seeking to close facilities for the developmentally disabled in downstate and the Illinois Youth Center at Murphysboro and Logan Correctional Center.

Read more of the Chicago Tribune story.