IL without a balanced budget
From Sunshine Review
11 July 2008
Despite the efforts of many interested parties, the Illinois State budget remains unbalanced. At issue has been a $2 billion gap between spending and revenue. Not even two days of special sessions by the General Assembly was able to accomplish anything tangible outside of spending $80,000+, the estimated cost of a special session.[1]
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Budget Crisis
When originally approached with the $59 billion budget, which applies to the fiscal year that began July 1, Gov. Rob Blagojevich pointed out the $2 billion deficit. He called the special session in an attempt to stir the House into passing bills to make up for at least part of it. The Governor had previously floated bills on public works construction, pension bonds, and giving him the authority to use $530 million from restricted state funds, but before the House could vote on any of them, he went ahead and cut $1.4 billion from the budget himself.
House Speaker Michael Madigan said he will attempt to restore some of the cuts, while Senate President Emil Jones said he would do nothing of the kind. Jones stated, "There's no sense in playing games. The money is not there."[2]
Filling the Gap
A major part of Blagojevich's plan to fill the budget gap was by increasing revenue with an expansion of casino gambling. The bill would have created three new casinos and allow others already established to expand, while creating revenue to be used toward $34 billion in state construction. The House voted down the bill 47-55.[3]
Responding that he believed the issue of gambling was now dead in Illinois, Madigan proposed the negotiation of "fund sweeps," - where money is taken from accounts set aside for specific programs. He said the House would likely pass some $300 million in sweeps, with others calling this just a drop in the bucket.
The Blame Game
The budget crisis has been seen as a showdown between the forces of Gov. Blagojevich and House Speaker Madigan. The Governor has openly blamed Madigan for forcing him to make the deep cuts, with many standing behind him. Madigan responded, "There's no need to get into who's at fault, who wears the collar(for cuts)."[4] The Governor referred to Madigan's blockage of a capital bill as "mind-boggling," accusing him of wanting the state to suffer through the year in order to secure passage of an income tax increase in the spring.[5] Stating that spring is "a long time away," Madigan said a capital bill is possible, just in need of the right formula.
References
- ↑ The State Journal-Register, Lawmakers go home without balancing the budget, July 10, 2008
- ↑ The State Journal-Register, Lawmakers go home without balancing the budget, July 10, 2008
- ↑ Daily Herald, How your lawmakers voted on gambling expansion, July 11, 2008
- ↑ The State Journal-Register, Lawmakers go home without balancing the budget, July 10, 2008
- ↑ The State Journal-Register, Blagojevich says Madigan forced budget cuts, July 11, 2008
