Could IL High Court Get Everything On Its List?
From the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
The Illinois Supreme Court could potentially get everything it asked for from legislators this year.
House lawmakers last week approved a high court budget of $367.5 million for fiscal year 2015 — the exact number Chief Justice Rita B. Garman requested in March — among a multitude of appropriations bills during a polarizing, marathon session.
But that number could hinge on the General Assembly voting to extend a politically perilous income tax increase — a battle that’s far from over.
The high court received $301.8 million in the 2014 fiscal year, so the bump in funding contained in House Bill 6156 would be roughly $66 million if it’s approved by the Senate and signed by Gov. Patrick J. Quinn.
Spending on county probation departments, which the state paid $63.6 million for in fiscal year 2014, would rise to $117.2 million in fiscal year 2015.
Rep. Fred Crespo, a Democrat from Hoffman Estates and chairman of the House Appropriations-General Service Committee, said the panel has heard from several Supreme Court chief justices over the years, including Justice Thomas L. Kilbride, who he said “made a compelling case as to why that (budget) line needed to be appropriated.”
“The committee felt, ‘Well, maybe this year if the money’s there, we want to make sure we take care of that,’” he said.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
The Illinois Supreme Court could potentially get everything it asked for from legislators this year.
House lawmakers last week approved a high court budget of $367.5 million for fiscal year 2015 — the exact number Chief Justice Rita B. Garman requested in March — among a multitude of appropriations bills during a polarizing, marathon session.
But that number could hinge on the General Assembly voting to extend a politically perilous income tax increase — a battle that’s far from over.
The high court received $301.8 million in the 2014 fiscal year, so the bump in funding contained in House Bill 6156 would be roughly $66 million if it’s approved by the Senate and signed by Gov. Patrick J. Quinn.
Spending on county probation departments, which the state paid $63.6 million for in fiscal year 2014, would rise to $117.2 million in fiscal year 2015.
Rep. Fred Crespo, a Democrat from Hoffman Estates and chairman of the House Appropriations-General Service Committee, said the panel has heard from several Supreme Court chief justices over the years, including Justice Thomas L. Kilbride, who he said “made a compelling case as to why that (budget) line needed to be appropriated.”
“The committee felt, ‘Well, maybe this year if the money’s there, we want to make sure we take care of that,’” he said.
Read more in our daily News Update...