Illinois' State Credit Worst in Nation; Help Me Change That

January 12, 2012

Dear Friends,


Is there a silver lining in Illinois’ recent credit rating downgrade?  This week, while Moody’s downgraded the state’s credit rating, our outlook for the future has been upgraded from negative to stable.  Both actions were influenced by the Budgeting for Results law I introduced during my first budget negotiations.

Budgeting for Results requires the governor to issue three-year spending and revenue projections to ensure that taxpayer money is being spent responsibly for the future.  While this newfound transparency has contributed to a credit downgrade, we now have a fuller understanding of the dire straits the state budget is in. I believe this crucial step toward fixing our budget woes is why Moody’s has upgraded our outlook for the future despite the credit downgrade.  For the first time in decades, we can plan our budget based on real numbers and outlooks, not politically advantageous spin.

It’s of little surprise that our nation’s credit rating agencies claimed state government has “weak management practices.”  Years of financial mismanagement, budget gimmicks and piles of overdue bills have led to Illinois receiving the lowest credit rating in the nation.  I am grateful that Illinois is starting the New Year off right admitting there is a problem, and I am hopeful our state’s leaders will take responsible action to adhere to the guidelines set forth in the Budgeting for Results Legislation and lift our state out of debt in 2012!

Budget & Legislative Town Hall

Increased transparency and budget forecasts are an important start, but there is still more to be done.  That is why I would like to hear your ideas at a Budget & Legislative Town Hall Meeting on January 24, 2012 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Laschen Community Center Century Room, located at 294 Evergreen Drive in Vernon Hills. If you have noticed wasteful spending that can be eliminated, or if you have ideas on how we could use state money more efficiently, I want to hear from you.  If you have other ideas for legislation that you would like to share, I encourage you to attend as well.  As your state representative, I am committed to representing the values of this community in Springfield so that taxpayer money is spent on the programs important to you and not wasted on ineffective projects or special interests.

Job Seeker Seminar

If you or anyone you know is unemployed, underemployed, or simply looking to change jobs, I’d like to take one last opportunity to tell you about the Job Seeker Seminar that I am hosting with the College of Lake County and the Job Center of Lake County on January 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the CLC Southlake Campus, located at 1120 S. Milwaukee Ave. in Vernon Hills.  The full agenda is as follows:

  • 9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.: Introduction and Inspirational Talk; Room V336-340
  • 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.: Concurrent Sessions A
    • Write Yourself Into a Job; Room V324
    • Small Business; Room V328
    • Illinois Worknet; Room V308
  • 10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.: Concurrent Sessions B
    • Interviewing/Dress for Success; Room V324
    • Run Your Job as a Business Workshop; Room V328
    • Illinois Worknet; Room V308
  • 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Employer Panel; Room V336-340
  • Career service booths will also be set up outside the workshop rooms from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Coffee Shop Stops

If you are unable to attend the Budget & Legislative Town Hall Meeting on January 24, you can still join me at my next Coffee Shop Stop to share your ideas to create a more efficient and effective state budget or any other legislation you believe should be changed or introduced.  I will be meeting with constituents on Saturday, January 21, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Buffalo Grove Starbucks located at 1665 Buffalo Grove Road.


If you cannot make it to any of these events but would like to share your legislative ideas, or if I can be of assistance in another way, please reach out to my full time constituent service office located at 430 N. Milwaukee Ave., Suite 8 in Lincolnshire, by phone at (847) 478-9909 or by e-mail at RepSente@gmail.com.  I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Carol Sente
State Representative