Quinn Stumps for Income Tax Hike at Champaign’s DSC

Governor Pat Quinn is underlining the prospect of deep cuts to state services in advance of next week's special legislative session. On Thursday he paid visits to three sites that offer services to people with disabilities, including one in Champaign.

The Governor is still confident lawmakers will see it his way and pass an income tax increase that eases the state's 11 billion dollar-plus budget deficit before making cuts that are too drastic.

"The people of Illinois understand at this tough time that we're going to have to raise revenue in order to have a balanced budget and to have decent services," Quinn said.

As it stands, the stopgap budget lawmakers passed before adjourning their session would mean cuts in state grants for agencies like Champaign's Developmental Services Center. That threat got hundreds of clients and supporters of the DSC out to rally. Roger Webber's son Alex is about a year from graduating high school, where he's been mainstreamed after years of DSC services.

"For 17 years we have assumed there would be group homes, job coaching and programs available, and there would be a network to pick him up," Webber told the Governor in his address to the rally. "With these cuts -- and I feel like I'm preaching to the choir -- we have no idea, we are scared of how he will do and what happens if something happens to us."

Quinn has backed off slightly from his original income tax hike proposal, saying it should be in effect for only two years. Republicans say long-term budget cuts are needed first.