Illinois Senate Leader Warns Of $3B Budget Hole
From the Bloomington Pantagraph
Illinois Senate President John Cullerton warned Monday of a nearly $3 billion state budget gap _ including a $1.6 billion revenue dip with the expiring income tax increase _ and called on Republicans running for Illinois governor to offer solutions.
Cullerton said he held a budget briefing Monday because many Republicans objected to Gov. Pat Quinn delaying his budget address by more than a month, from Feb. 19 to March 26. GOP lawmakers called it a political move because the speech now falls after the March 18 primary and Quinn is seeking re-election. Quinn has said he needed more time for long-range planning.
Cullerton said he scheduled the news conference without Quinn's urging and previewed details expected at a hearing Wednesday in Springfield. Cullerton said slashing $3 billion would translate into roughly 27 percent across-the-board cuts. In education that could mean thousands of teacher layoffs. He said savings from Illinois' new pension overhaul _ which faces legal challenges _ wouldn't factor into the budget and he predicted difficult choices ahead.
The Senate president didn't offer his own ideas, aside from saying everything is on the table. That includes extending an income tax increase that expires in January 2015. He said Republican gubernatorial candidates _ particularly state Sens. Kirk Dillard and Bill Brady _ should be more active in budgeting, especially since the plan lawmakers have to approve by the end of May extends into 2015. The other GOP candidates are Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford and businessman Bruce Rauner.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Bloomington Pantagraph
Illinois Senate President John Cullerton warned Monday of a nearly $3 billion state budget gap _ including a $1.6 billion revenue dip with the expiring income tax increase _ and called on Republicans running for Illinois governor to offer solutions.
Cullerton said he held a budget briefing Monday because many Republicans objected to Gov. Pat Quinn delaying his budget address by more than a month, from Feb. 19 to March 26. GOP lawmakers called it a political move because the speech now falls after the March 18 primary and Quinn is seeking re-election. Quinn has said he needed more time for long-range planning.
Cullerton said he scheduled the news conference without Quinn's urging and previewed details expected at a hearing Wednesday in Springfield. Cullerton said slashing $3 billion would translate into roughly 27 percent across-the-board cuts. In education that could mean thousands of teacher layoffs. He said savings from Illinois' new pension overhaul _ which faces legal challenges _ wouldn't factor into the budget and he predicted difficult choices ahead.
The Senate president didn't offer his own ideas, aside from saying everything is on the table. That includes extending an income tax increase that expires in January 2015. He said Republican gubernatorial candidates _ particularly state Sens. Kirk Dillard and Bill Brady _ should be more active in budgeting, especially since the plan lawmakers have to approve by the end of May extends into 2015. The other GOP candidates are Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford and businessman Bruce Rauner.
Read more in our daily News Update...