Updated: Governor to Shutter World Shooting Complex & Amtrack

This from the Southern Illinoisan

SPRINGFIELD — Hoping to ratchet up pressure on his Democratic foes, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner announced a new round of threatened cuts to state services on Friday.
Included in a laundry list of reductions designed to save an estimated $420 million are cuts in state payments to Amtrak, a shutdown of the World Shooting Complex in Sparta in September and the suspension of all state building projects.

Also on the chopping block are funds for Operation CeaseFire and the Franklin County methamphetamine treatment program.

The immediate effect of some of the reductions was unclear. An Amtrak spokesman, for example, could not immediately be reached for comment.

The new round of threatened reductions comes after Rauner earlier said he would lop $400 million from an assortment of state programs if House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton don't push a series of pro-business reforms through the chambers they control.

“Governor Rauner has compromised repeatedly, but Speaker Madigan and the politicians he controls continue to block any real reform,” Rauner spokesman Lance Trover said in a statement issued Friday afternoon. “It’s deeply troubling to see that Speaker Madigan remains committed to sacrificing the middle class in order to protect the political class.”

Madigan and Cullerton have held a series of test votes to show Rauner that lawmakers do not support his agenda, which includes business-friendly changes to worker compensation laws, a property tax freeze and civil justice reform.

The impasse has left the state without a budget agreement and facing a potential shutdown when the new fiscal year begins July 1.

In a statement, Rauner described Friday's action as a way to "responsibly manage the state's finances" in preparation of having no budget deal in two weeks.

Cullerton spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon said there is still enough time to work toward a resolution.
"There is no need to race toward a shut down," Phelon said Friday. "We can pass a budget that reflects our joint priorities to protect the middle class and fund our schools."
A spokesman for Madigan did not immediately return messages Friday.

State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, said the governor's plan to close the World Shooting Complex came as a shock. The expansive facility, which is located in his Southern Illinois district, serves as a magnet for tourism spending in the region.

"I think it is all part of the war between Mike Madigan and the governor. It's kind of a game of chicken. It's Madigan trying to show the governor who's boss," Luechtefeld said.
The suspension of construction projects at state facilities, schools and colleges includes a variety of projects, large and small.

Among those potentially affected are the $41 million construction of the Western Illinois University riverfront campus at Moline, the $6.2 million student success center at Richland Community College in Decatur, renovations worth $1.5 million at Capen Auditorium on the Illinois State University campus and upgrades at the Choate Developmental and Mental Health Center in Anna.

Those moves drew a sharp rebuke from state Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago, who said stopping construction projects runs counter to Rauner's own philosophy because it will put people out of work.
“He’s further cutting essential programs. He’s even cutting what he wants. He’s proposing cuts to businesses that bring in millions of dollars. He’s shutting down construction projects that employ hundreds of workers. Construction companies are businesses," Trotter said.
His rollbacks also include changes to the Medicaid program designed to wring savings out of ambulance services, hospitals and equipment purchases.

The temporary closure of the World Shooting Complex in Sparta will not begin until after August, which means the Grand American — a major tourist draw — will not be affected by the governor's decision.

Also on the chopping block are funds for county fairs, 4-H clubs, the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service and soil and water conservation districts.

Funding for Choose Chicago, a tourism promotion program, also is being suspended.
For the second time in two months, Rauner also is suspending funding to the Tobacco Quitline. The program was temporarily shut down earlier this year when current year funding ran out. It recently started again after funding was restored.

Heather Eagleton, Illinois government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, called the quitline shutdown "rash."
“We understand Illinois continues to face tough financial choices, but fighting cancer should always be a top policy priority. We urge the governor and lawmakers to come to a budget decision that will not jeopardize the health of Illinoisans," Eagleton said.
Rauner also said he will suspend funding for all coal promotion programs and delay the opening of a new veterans home in Chicago.
kurt.erickson@lee.net / 217-782-4043

 

Maybe do away with some of the entitlements?????

 

Gee

Who saw this coming? Blind sided?

 

In all honesty I saw this coming. That state sucks.

 

Big city politics are sucking the rest of the States dry, eg, Detroit, Chicago, Baltimore, and probably others to come.

Losing the WSC would be sad indeed.

Regards....Gerald

 

This is damaging as you cannot unring the bell. Assuming it would be a temporary shutdown investors will not want to invest if it could be on the chopping block next year or the year after. Very bad!

 

Should have gone to Springfield

 

Gerald
What percentage of the taxpayer dollars do you think should be spent on the rich trap shooters?
This has little to do with the big cities mishandling their funds. More to do with gross ATA mismanagement.

 

Time will tell - hopefully cooler heads will prevail and an agreement can be reached

 

Illinois is NOT a pro-gun state, so the idea of moving ATA operations and HOF to Sparta sort of through me off to start with.

 

The bigger fool was Illinois.