STAR bill doesn't shine

Legislation that provides a big tax giveaway to private developers has passed both houses of the General Assembly despite the state's dismal fiscal picture.

SB 2093 would rob the state treasury of more than $280 million in lost revenues over the next 20 years in order to subsidize the development of an entertainment complex in Southern Illinois.
 
Despite the fact that state funding for hundreds of human service agencies all across Illinois is being slashed, legislators from every area of the state voted in support of the STAR bonds measure which would cost Illinois taxpayers approximately $12.5 million annually for the next 25 years.  Political commentator Rich Miller has called the STAR bonds legislation "the worst bill ever" because it is such a blatant giveaway to a small coterie of private developers.
 
AFSCME led the opposition to this measure and will be urging Gov. Quinn to veto the bill.