A new poll of southern Illinoisans shows more than a third are directly affected by the state's budget crisis - and one political analyst says that should be a wakeup call for leaders in Springfield.
Paul Simon Public Policy Institute Analyst John Jackson says the Southern Illinois Poll shows nearly 40-percent of those surveyed have been affected by the budget stalemate. He says people want a resolution.
"People hold the chief executive accountable, and they think the Governor - or the President - ought to be in charge. On the other hand, if you're an incumbent legislator, you can't just say, 'It's the governor's fault.'"
But more than 50-precent of respondents say they're not affected by the lack of a budget - something Simon Institute Director David Yepsen says may be contributing to a lack of urgency at the capitol.
The poll allowed people to give open-ended answers to questions, and results show those who've been hurt by the budget have lost jobs, daycare subsidies, health coverage, and more.