The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks,
The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and
spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."
Gov. Rod Blagojevich exercised his veto power Thursday to trim $222 million from the 2004 state budget -$25 million from the Illinois Department of Corrections, including $17.3 million of which was to fund captains' positions throughout the state.
He also vetoed legislation to open or re-open a 360-capacity juvenile detention center in Rushville and a 200-bed work camp in Paris.
Blagojevich said in a press release that the General Assembly's first step was important, but he was still searching for ways to do more with less so that the state could live within its means.
The state found itself facing a $5 billion budget hole entering the 2004 fiscal year. In April, the governor announced his plans for the budget, which included more than $100 million to select state departments, including the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Spokesmen for the governor's office could not be reached for comment.
IDOC spokesman Brian Fairchild said that between 50 and 60 of the fired captains would fill shift commander positions, which entail similar duties as the former captains. Others can be ushered into vacant Lieutenant and correctional officer positions, for variant pay decreases.
"Many of the captains could see paychecks not cut or cut very little, pending on the individual," Fairchild said. "But there is a potential that no one will lose their job due to reorganization and vacant positions."
Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, said the legislature sent two bills to the governor's office to keep the captains as prison staff. He said that by eliminating the positions, the governor is taking experienced staff out of the equation, endangering both inmates and officers.
"These are not just paper pushers," Bost said. "These people were involved in the coordination of cell block movements. They know the officers and where to put them based on how they can handle the situation."
Blagojevich also blocked pay increases for legislators, judges and himself. The General Assembly had proposed $3.7 million cost-of-living raises for Supreme Court, Appellate Court and Circuit Court judges. The budget also called for $791,000 for pay raises for the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, comptroller, treasurer, auditor, general agency directors, assistant agency directors and legislators.
"I don't think anyone should receive a raise with the budget like this," Bost said.
State employee health insurance was cut $20 million, Department of Human Services grants were cut $22 million, student assistance grants were also cut $6 million and $5.3 million was cut from the Department of Public Health.
The governor is also expected to make cuts to the capital budget, which covers state building projects and the budget for secondary and elementary education, though no actions have been taken.
