Gov, Jones told not to raid special funds

By Dave McKinney and Leslie Griffy

Sun-Times Springfield Bureau  

May 22, 2004  

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Blagojevich and Senate President Emil Jones faced a flurry of criticism Friday for their plan to help balance the budget by raiding $1.7 billion in special funds set aside, in part, for veterans homes, schools and victims of violent crimes.

The two Democratic leaders turned to about 180 special state funds in a bid to find a relatively painless way out of a budget stalemate expected to come to a head next week.

But the idea has set off alarm bells with veterans groups, child-welfare advocates and others who are fearful their causes will be gored during the rush to craft a budget by a Memorial Day deadline.

''Tell them to keep their cotton-picking hands off the veterans' money,'' said J.C. Tromp, a 79-year-old World War II veteran from Shorewood who is a spokesman for the state American Legion. ''They forget so quick what these people have done for their country.''

The operational funds of veterans homes in LaSalle, Quincy and Manteno are all under scrutiny. An analysis given legislative leaders by the governor's office said the three homes are estimated to contain close to $9 million in ''surplus'' cash by late June.

The list, obtained from House Speaker Michael Madigan's office, also identifies $81 million in an unidentified state pension fund, $23 million in a fund for foster care and abused and neglected children, and $9.1 million in a fund to pay legal bills for death-penalty defendants.

Another $70 million is identified in school technology loan and building funds, $3.1 million in a fund to assist victims of violent crimes and $152 million in the state's road fund.

''I don't think this is a silver bullet that solves the problem. I think there are sensitive funds people won't want to touch,'' said David Dring, a spokesman for House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego), who estimated no more than $300 million could be wrung from the various funds.

A Jones aide said the list will be pared down significantly, but Senate Democrats still believe $1 billion can be found from the various sources and applied to the state's projected $1.7 billion deficit.

''These are funds that would lay there not being used,'' Jones spokeswoman Cindy Davidsmeyer said. ''We're not taking one dime that's dedicated to something.''

But Bill Ryan, with the Illinois Campaign Against the Death Penalty, warned any reduction in the newly created capital litigation fund could cause an innocent person to wind up on Death Row. ''It's just not responsible. ... There's got to be a better place to get this.''