January 22, 2013
Schnorf will discuss Illinois’ budget, pension issues
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Stephen B. Schnorf, the former director of the Illinois Bureau of the Budget, will discuss the state’s current budget and pension options next week at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Schnorf, a senior budget and policy adviser to former governors Jim Edgar and George H. Ryan, will examine Illinois’ ongoing financial issues on Tuesday, Jan. 29, in the Student Center Ballrooms. The luncheon is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute is sponsoring the event.
Media Availability
Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to attend a media availability with Stephen Schnorf at 10:30 a.m., Jan. 29, in the Institute lobby, 1231 Lincoln Drive, in the old U.S. Forestry Building. The media is also welcome to cover Schnorf’s appearance at the Student Center later that morning. For more information, contact Matt Baughman, Institute associate director at 618/453-4009 or 618/201-0082.
The luncheon and lecture are free and open to the public, but seating is limited and advance registration is required for meal considerations. To register, contact Carol Greenlee, Institute project coordinator, at 618/453-4078 or by email at cgreenlee@siu.edu by Friday, Jan. 25. Open seating will be available for those who wish to only listen to the speech and not be included in the meal.
Schnorf’s visit is part of the Institute’s continuing emphasis on examining the state’s budget and pension troubles, Institute director David Yepsen said. Schnorf will also visit a political science class and speak with students later in the day.
“Steve is a well-regarded analyst who understands budgets, taxes and politics,” Yepsen said. “This is a part of our ongoing series of period speakers who we invite to campus to offer their perspectives on the financial issues facing our nation and our state.”
Schnorf’s presentation will give people an opportunity to “better understand the issues, the choices, and the tradeoffs that will have to be made to fix the budget problems of Illinois and the country,” Yepsen said.
“These budget issues have a huge impact on SIU and on Southern Illinois,” Yepsen said. “Decisions being made about how to plug a deficit, bring pension plans to a sound state, what to cut and what to spend affect the daily lives of many people in our region.”
Schnorf, a state budget and procurement consultant to Morrill and Associates, has more than two decades experience with state government, and held lead negotiating roles on many of Illinois’ key legislative initiatives. Schnorf was state budget director from 1997 to 2002, and his experience included contract negotiations with the state’s largest employee union; developing five state budgets and supervising all bond sales during that time.
Schnorf was director of policy for Gov. Edgar from 1994 to 1997, and also director of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services from 1991 to 1994, and again in 2002. He was director of drivers services for the Illinois Secretary of State’s office from 1983 to 1990, and administrator of that office’s senior citizens division from 1981 to 1983.
Schnorf is acting chair of the Illinois Liquor Control Commission, and a member of Gov. Pat Quinn’s Budgeting for Results Commission. He has also been on the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability board since 2004.
A former history and social studies teacher, Schnorf’s background also includes working with several not-for-profit organizations and associations prior to his career in state government. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Eastern Illinois University.
For more information on the program, contact the Institute at 618/453-4009 or visit paulsimoninstitute.org/
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