So much for deadlines. Like students waiting until the end of the semester to do their term papers, Illinois lawmakers tossed together a budget at the end of May that doesn't meet the "course" requirements. It deserves a failing grade.

To top it off, Senate President John Cullerton blocked the budget from even going to Gov. Pat Quinn for his signature - or expected veto - by filing a "motion to reconsider" that essentially freezes the bill.

Illinois faces a deficit of $11.6 billion in a budget of roughly $53 billion.

Quinn is meeting again today with Cullerton, House Speaker Mike Madigan, House Republican Leader Tom Cross and Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno. We hope the meeting is more fruitful than the first session. At least all the parties are talking -an improvement over the Blagojevich era - but Illinois doesn't need talk, it needs results.

Furthermore, it needs specific proposals, not vague generalities about cutting waste.

Individual lawmakers must be leaders, not simply followers. That includes Pantagraph-area legislators.

State Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, said fundamental changes are needed for the biggest savings impact

- Increasing the percentage of Medicaid recipients in managed care programs.

- Changing state pension programs, including retirement ages, for future employees.

- Refinancing long-term debt to take advantage of current lower rates, but not extending the terms of that debt.

State Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, said there must be line-item-by-line-item accounting to assure money from any tax increase does not go to new programs. He wants to see across-the-board cuts, with department directors prioritizing where their money will go.

The frustrating part is taxpayers have gone through severe belt tightening, yet our legislative leaders don't seem to get it. They're more interested in playing the blame game or shooting holes in ideas, as opposed to rolling up their sleeves and working together.

Here's a good place to start looking for spending cuts: the programs instituted or expanded by Rod Blagojevich when he was governor, especially those instituted without legislative approval.

Also look at programs that are not part of the state's core mission, such as the money-losing, formerly privately owned DuQuoin State Fair.

Several independent groups have made specific recommendations.

The Illinois Policy Institute has suggested holding general fund allocations to Fiscal Year 2009 levels in areas where Quinn proposed increases and cutting agencies for which Quinn proposed no change.

On the revenue side, the Civic Federation has endorsed Quinn's proposal to tax sweetened tea, coffee drinks and grooming and hygiene products at the full sales tax rate and also recommends reinstatement of sales taxes on food, drugs and medical appliances.

Businesses have been coping with the economic downturn by setting budget priorities and sticking to them; state government must do the same. Social service agencies also have been making cuts and treading water, awaiting action from the General Assembly, which seems afraid to make tough decisions.

The bottom line: Elected officials must put Illinois' future, not their political futures, first - and they must do it now.

Let them hear from you

State Sen. Bill Brady: (309) 664-4440

State Sen. Dan Rutherford: (815) 842-3632

State Rep. Dan Brady: (309) 662-1100