content on what could be done to end a budget crisis

[cathydeng]

drop links here

[hunterowens]

Aside from the Call Reps/Legislators/Governor, which is our default call to action, what is there?

Letters to the editor, maybe? That's what I can think of

[cathydeng]

for this, I was thinking more potential ways the budget crisis could end, rather than what a reader could do. e.g. madigan gives in, rauner gives in. kinda tricky to map to a call to action, since I don't want to assume too much abt the reader's values

[kwritenow]

Here's an article that hits on some of the sticking points and suggests compromises:
http://www.rebootillinois.com/2015/09/01/editors-picks/andyshaw/4-steps-to-unlocking-the-illinois-budget-deadlock-from-someone-who-knows/45101/

"Workers’ Compensation. Combine the governor’s demand for tighter definitions of workplace injuries with closer oversight of insurance companies, a must for Democrats.

Tort Reform. Ask Democrats to choose among: stricter rules for deciding where to file personal injury lawsuits; restricting awards for medical expenses to what’s actually paid, not billed; or sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would let voters decide whether to limit medical malpractice awards, punitive damages and certain other judgments.

Property Tax Freeze. Persuade Rauner to drop his anti-union language, which would severely restrict collective bargaining and eliminate prevailing wage requirements on public works projects. That would enable Democrats to support a freeze.

Redistricting and Term Limits. Leave those volatile issues, which Democrats view as Republican power grabs, out of the legislative process and in the hands of outside groups that can organize petition drives to put those questions to the voters."

[kwritenow]

for better or worse, a "funds sweep" is a way to relieve some of the funding pressures: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-budget-special-funds-20151220-story.html

http://www.illinoishomepage.net/capitol-connection/could-state-sweep-its-budget-problems-out-of-the-way

[kwritenow]

We could stop paying legislators. Yep, they're still getting paid. http://www.rebootillinois.com/2015/07/02/editors-picks/caitlinwilson/two-illinois-lawmakers-say-no-paycheck-for-state-employees-no-paycheck-for-us/40341/

[cathydeng]

this is great stuff!! do you wana put together a polished bullet list, 1 sentence per compromise/solution (maybe 2, max), w/ links to more detail? or, we can get someone at hack night to do this task tonight.

[kwritenow]

Let's see who else can help with that. We'll need multiple contributors to keep this going, anyway.

[kwritenow]

Progress Illinois suggests changes to tax law to bring in more revenue from wealthier citizens.
http://www.progressillinois.com/posts/content/2015/03/11/report-tax-fairness-key-solving-illinois-budget-crisis