Politicians are on overtime with a late budget as usual - it seems like yesterday that the same news was in the media. Thank you, Sen. Bill Brady, for your attempt to get the job done and your disgust over the budget failure in Illinois.

I recommended last year that if the budget doesn't get done, stop pay for all individuals responsible for completing the budget on time until it is finished. Also no extra pay, motel bills or food bills should be paid for any time after the deadline.

If the individuals cannot do the job they are paid to do on time, then they should foot the bill for their untimely work ethics, not the taxpayers who pay their salary and pay raises - even though most taxpayers are making less, spending more or are jobless.

It seems that the public servants who are in charge still do pretty well while their employers are the ones who are getting the shaft.

The federal stimulus has to be a joke. The feds want to make it possible for the people to have money to spend, but before the people get it, the states vacuum it up and add more taxes or surcharges or whatever one wishes to call them.

Why save the auto companies if no one is going to be able to buy cars?

If Illinois is bankrupt, then why aren't public employees going through income reductions as private company employees are?

Dennis Maier

Bloomington