need2hunt Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 I really can't say what I think about this here online:mad::mad: State to lay off 450 and close parks and historic sites By Kurt Erickson [email protected] UPDATED 2:20 p.m. SPRINGFIELD -- The Blagojevich administration is planning to lay off more than 450 workers and close nearly two dozen state parks and historic sites in response to the state’s lingering budget impasse. One union official described the plan as a ’’bloodbath’’ that will have wide-ranging effects on the services provided to state taxpayers. The Department of Children and Family Services will lose 304 workers, while the Department of Human Services will be cut by 73 employees. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will lose 39 workers and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency will be cut by 34 employees. Parks targeted for closure include Moraine View State Park near LeRoy, Hidden Springs State Forest in Shelby County and Weldon Springs State Park in DeWitt County. Historic sites that will close include the David Davis Mansion in Bloomington, Lincoln Log Cabin near Charleston, the Bryant Cottage in Bement, the Cahokia Courthouse in Cahokia and Bishop Hill. The cuts hit tree sites in Randolph County -- Fort Kaskaskia, Fort de Chartres and the Pierre Menard Home. The historic sites will close Oct. 1 while parks will close Nov. 1. Blagojevich has said the cuts are necessary because the governor slashed $1.4 billion from the state’s spending plan in July. He says the Democrat-controlled legislature wanted to spend more money than the state will receive in the coming fiscal year. State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, said the governor is trying to force the General Assembly to return to Springfield to approve new revenue streams. ’’I know he’s trying to make people feel the pain,’’ Luechtefeld said. Jonathan Goldman, director of the Illinois Environmental Council, called the cuts ’’utterly appalling.’’ ’’The governor is off at the Democratic convention in Denver hugging people. When he returns to Illinois there will be many families needing more than hugs,’’ Goldman said. DNR spokesman Chris McCloud said park entrances will be locked Nov. 1. People who venture into the parks after that date could be charged with trespassing. ’’These aren’t decisions we wanted to make,’’ McCloud said. The cuts come as other state agencies are grappling with the effects of the governor’s actions. On Wednesday, Comptroller Dan Hynes said his office was poised to lay off workers. Other statewide officers have imposed hiring freezes and are asking whether some workers want to take early retirement in a bid to trim costs. Secretary of State Jesse White is mulling whether to close some driver’s license facilities. Blagojevich also has tied his plan to close Pontiac Correctional Center to the budget impasse. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union vowed to fight to keep its workers on the job. ’’Lawmakers should return to Springfield as soon as possible to take whatever action is necessary to fix the budget and stop these cuts,’’ AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Henry Bayer said. The cuts at the Department of Natural Resources are troubling to some lawmakers because the agency has already lost scores of workers. ’’It’s obviously unfortunate,’’ said state Rep. Kurt Granberg, D-Carlyle. Granberg, who is retiring as a lawmaker, said it will be a challenge rebuilding the state park system if money is ever restored to reopen them. ’’It’s going to be a hard road,’’ Granberg said. List of parks and historic sites closing The following Illinois State Parks will close effective November 1: Castle Rock State Park, Oregon Lowden State Park, Oregon Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park, Sheffield Illini State Park, Marseilles Wolf Creek State Park, Windsor Channahon Parkway State Park, Channahon Gebhard Woods State Park, Morris Hidden Springs State Forrest, Strasburg Kickapoo State Park, Oakwood Moraine View State Park, LeRoy Weldon Springs State Park, Clinton Historic sites closing Following are Illinois state historic sites that will be shuttered Oct. 1 as part of the state's budget woes: Dana Thomas House, Springfield Hauberg Indian Museum at Blackhawk State Historic Site, Quad-Cities Lincoln Log Cabin, Lerna David Davis Mansion, Bloomington Fort de Chartres, Randolph County Vandalia Statehouse, Vandalia Bishop Hill, Henry County Carl Sandburg, Galesburg Cahokia Courthouse, Cahokia Bryant Cottage, Bement Jubilee College, Peoria County Apple River Fort, Elizabeth Fort Kaskaskia, Randolph County Pierre Menard Home, Randolph County SOURCES: Illinois Historic Preservation Agency; Illinois Department of Natural Resources Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 WOW .. ..That's just plain Wacko Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flintlock1776 Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 Time for Obamma bin Bamma to show his leaderships skills in his home state to set this right.. You think? nah............................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntnMa Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 that is soooooooooo screwed up........I worked for the park service down here for a a few years...Those parks need those people , if for no other reason , the land/historical sites need to be managed.....can't do that without people......How can they just close the gates, the people have the right to go onto state owned land, it's theirs, they're the ones who paid for it.....It's so sad... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 obama has been a legislator in illinois for a while. he's showing his leadership skills with what's happening there now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJL Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 Haven't they put Blago into a cell by now???? That entire state is a screwed up mess from top to bottom. It was a definate motivating factor in us moving west. I don't miss it one bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mach1 Posted August 30, 2008 Report Share Posted August 30, 2008 We can't get this clown out of office fast enough. We may not have any state run facilities open by the time he's done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ildrhntr Posted August 30, 2008 Report Share Posted August 30, 2008 Isn't it amazing how in just a few short years two politicians from Chicago have screwed up an entire state. When Jim Edgar left office and The convicted felon George Ryan took over there was a surplus in the budget. It really is embarassing how many politicians from Illinois have been brought up on charges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowtech_archer07 Posted August 30, 2008 Report Share Posted August 30, 2008 This is absolutely terrible and not right. Our governor is sooooooo screwed up in his way of thinking and his way of doing things is absolutely nuts. He has this state in chaos and IMO has done nothing good for us, the residents of the state of IL. I cannot wait until he is gone. I have not been able to vote in a state or federal election, but I cannot wait until he is out of office. :mad: Again, all of this is JMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted August 30, 2008 Report Share Posted August 30, 2008 I hate to hear about the closures. As a state of IL employee I have to sweat out my 3% raise every year since Ryan initially screwed things up. One year no one received a raise where I work. School started 2 weeks ago and I still have no idea if I'l lget a raise. I know the cost of living has to be up more than 3% and I'll bet Blog. is getting his. Whitetail hunting is one of the few things IL has going it for it. Maybe next year the larger state parks will close and deer hunting in those parks as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyman Posted August 30, 2008 Report Share Posted August 30, 2008 Whitetail hunting is one of the few things IL has going it for it. Sad to say, that is quickly changing. I feel for anyone who had permits to hunt in the affected State Parks. When are Illinois residents going to wise up and quit electing Politicians that are products of the Chicago Democrat Machine? First our Governor and now possibly the next President of the United States. As far as Obama helping out, forget it. Not only is he a Blago crony, he is a US Senator, not a State Senator. Nothing much he could do even if he wanted to. There isn't any reason to believe a Governor who won't even live in Springfield is going to care anything about the Illinois that exists South of Chicago. Illinois residents need to make sure we don't have to put up with "Rod" past 2010. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mach1 Posted August 30, 2008 Report Share Posted August 30, 2008 I hate to hear about the closures. As a state of IL employee I have to sweat out my 3% raise every year since Ryan initially screwed things up. One year no one received a raise where I work. School started 2 weeks ago and I still have no idea if I'l lget a raise. I know the cost of living has to be up more than 3% and I'll bet Blog. is getting his. Whitetail hunting is one of the few things IL has going it for it. Maybe next year the larger state parks will close and deer hunting in those parks as well. I hear ya. As someone who is paid at the county level through state grants, we're feeling it too. We're probably not getting our raise and may have to cut back our work hours because of the lack of money available to our department. That not only hurts our pockets, but hurts the clients that we deal with because of less available times for them to come in for appointments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowin_in_illinois Posted August 31, 2008 Report Share Posted August 31, 2008 A friend of mine has worked at Moraine view for many years, and is part of the layoffs. He is beside himself. He is devastated...and very angry. Way to go blagoyawitch (thats the nice spelling ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whttlbucksteve Posted August 31, 2008 Report Share Posted August 31, 2008 I think he needs leave the state for good like yesterday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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