Bill Text: IL HR0551 | 2009-2010 | 96th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Urges Congress to provide financial assistance to states so that state governments will be able to address budget deficits.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2010-03-17 - Resolution Adopted [HR0551 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2009-HR0551-Introduced.html

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HR0551 LRB096 13410 AJO 28137 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, At this time, the United States is continuing to
experience one of the worst economic downturns in its history;
and
WHEREAS, The Department of Labor recently reported that the
unemployment rate in June rose to a level of 9.5%; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 3.5 million jobs have been lost in
the United States since the beginning of the year; and
WHEREAS, State governments furnish assistance to the
unemployed and also provide direct and indirect services to the
neediest people in our communities, including the elderly, the
disabled, and the very young; and
WHEREAS, Although the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act of 2009 is providing funds to state governments as part of
the economic stimulus package designed to spur our nation's
economic recovery, the budget deficits of many states have
grown significantly, even with the original infusion of federal
funds, as shown by the current budget gaps of $26.3 billion in
California and approximately $9.2 billion in Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Each state with a revenue shortfall faces

HR0551 - 2 - LRB096 13410 AJO 28137 r
difficult decisions involving raising taxes and fees on its
citizens and businesses that are already adversely affected by
the recession and unemployment; reducing financial assistance
and grants to educational institutions, local governments, and
social service agencies; and laying off significant numbers of
employees from the state workforce; and
WHEREAS, The effect of a state, like Illinois, taking one
or more of those difficult alternatives may be to worsen the
effects of the recession in that state because of higher
unemployment, increased state costs of health care for the
uninsured, increased numbers of foreclosures, increased state
expenditures for unemployment insurance, and lower state tax
revenues due to reduced economic activity; and
WHEREAS, The federal government has the resources and the
ability to assist states with budget deficits during this
difficult time so that the rate of unemployment can be reduced,
or at least not increased, and so that educational and social
service programs can be continued at current levels; and
WHEREAS, The state budget deficits could be eliminated if
Congress passed new legislation, with reasonable repayment
requirements, to provide financial assistance to the states
with budget deficits; therefore, be it

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RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
urge Congress to pass legislation that would provide financial
assistance to those states with budget deficits in order that
the length and depth of the recession will not be worsened due
to the limited resources and difficult alternatives presently
confronting many states; and be it further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
presented to President Barack Obama, the Speaker of the United
States House of Representatives, the President pro tempore of
the United States Senate, and each member of the Illinois
congressional delegation.