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Editorial: If they can't stand the heat ...
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With the mercury consistently flirting with 100 degrees up and down the state, we know it's danged hot out there. It's tough to think of doing any really hard work in such oppressive heat. But legislative leaders in Springfield had best beware: Things could get even hotter when voters go to the polls in November if the General Assembly doesn't get to work resolving Illinois' public pension crisis. Promises of the spring that a resolution would soon be found to the $85 billion and counting pensions crisis are evaporating along with the moisture in Illinois rain-starved fields. A drought of ideas and of courage on the part of state leaders threatens to destroy any chance of fixing this mess. Every day we ignore it, it grows worse. Against that back drop, Gov. Pat Quinn is reportedly kinda, sorta, maybe is considering calling legislative leaders back to Springfield next month to get back to work on the single biggest issue facing Illinois. "I think we have studied the issue in June and July, and at the end of this month, the time for study is complete," The Chicago Tribune quoted the governor as saying. "And now it'll be time for action. I don't think any legislators should plan to not be around in the month of August." Well, good, we think. But why not simply take the lead, set a date and demand that they leave the pleasures of summer behind and get back to work. So long as they insist on acting like children, lawmakers should be treated no differently than kids who don't finish their work during the regular school year. Send them to summer school. "We cannot have public pensions drowning out, squeezing out, the money we need for public safety, the money we need for our schools and our children, the money we need for our health care," Gov. Quinn reportedly said. "This is a fire bell in the night, and I don't want our legislators or anyone else to think that we're just going to drift through the summer and not do anything about it." Talk, however, is cheap. The time for action is now. It's not as though the governor lacks ammunition. House Speaker Mike Madigan didn't hesitate last December to call his House members into a special session to vote on huge tax breaks for CME Group and Sears Holdings in Illinois. The Chicago Democrats should show the same eagerness to provide a break via lowering pension costs to the millions of ordinary Illinois who make up the company for which he works: the State of Illinois. Negotiations are reportedly stuck over whether to shift retirements costs for suburban and downstate schools to local governments. But leaders can't unstick them the safety of their lake house or the local parade circuit. Return to finish the job or voters might just tell you: Since you can't stand the heat, get out of our kitchen. 
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Silvis, IL Details |
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Today is Tuesday, June 18, the 169th day of 2013. There are 196 days left in the year.
1863 -- 150 years ago: Fanatics have grown wonderfully civil since the president snubbedthem by revoking Burnside's infamous attack upon the freedom of the press.
1888 -- 125 years ago: The Interstate baseball league has collapsed, leaving Davenport'sleading team without a league connection.
1913 -- 100 years ago: Passengers were stunned yesterday when lightning struck a LongView street car at 9th Ave. and 25th St.
1938 -- 75 years ago: X-ray examinations today traced the trouble with Dizzy Dean's$250,000 pitching arm to a pulled muscle back of his right shoulder blade.
1963 -- 50 years ago: Radio station WQAD in Moline is being considered by the NationalCivil Defense Office for selection as a "secured communication center" Mrs. Gault,executive deputy director of the Moline Civil Defense unit reported today.
1988 -- 25 years ago: "Marketplace 29 A.D." an unusual vacation Bible school programthat will allow children to live three days as people did during the Bible Times June 21-23. The three day program, is a joint project of Aldersgate and Bethel-Wesley UnitedMethodist churches.
(More History)