SPRINGFIELD — Not even Honest Abe came out unscathed in a 34-page report on how to cut state spending.
The Illinois Policy Institute, a free-market think tank based in Lincoln’s hometown of Springfield, released a study Tuesday showing $350 million worth of what it considers wasteful state spending.
Among a lengthy list is about $140,000 the state has contributed to the national celebration of the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln at a time when there already are streets, towns and schools named in his honor.
“If those were the only ways that the nation’s 16th president was honored, they would be considered sufficient (after all, nobody gets the day off for President Taft’s or President McKinley’s birthdays,)” the report notes.
The study, compiled in conjunction with the Washington, D.C.-based Citizens Against Government Waste, comes as state officials grapple with a budget gap that could exceed $11 billion by June because of a drop in state revenues.
The authors of the “2010 Illinois Piglet Book” acknowledge that they won’t completely fix the state’s money woes by cutting some of the programs they found, but they said eliminating some of the expenses could avoid reductions to other state programs.
“Cutting nonessential spending is a good start,” said Nicole Kurokawa, who authored the report.
Among the targets of the group are many smaller programs that rely on state funds for just a portion of their financing.
For example, the group claims Illinois is “lavishing money” on outdoor programs and conservation initiatives, criticizing a $2,000 grant to the Illinois Raptor Center in Decatur and $3,727 to the World Shooting Center in Sparta.
The group also takes a shot at Illinois’ winery business, which has grown at a feverish pace in the past decade.
“Illinois may have good growing conditions, but it is certainly not temperate enough for wine production,” the report notes in reference to the $72,000 received by the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association.
The group said Illinois should curtail spending on state and county fairs, Amtrak subsidies, libraries and public broadcasting stations.
By Kurt Erickson, [email protected]
Read the original article from Herald & Review.
Illinois Policy Institute reports $350 million in wasteful state spending originally published on Chicago Press Release Services