State Budget Would Put Off Tough Decisions Until After Election
From the Chicago Tribune
Illinois Democrats on Tuesday rolled out a new state spending plan that puts off many tough decisions until after the November election by relying on a series of time-tested budget tricks.
To make ends meet, at least on paper, lawmakers would bump up how much money they think will come in, borrow from special funds, put off paying bills, lower estimated health care costs and skip putting in money to pay for raises for unionized workers.
The $35.7 billion spending plan — roughly $300 million more than this year’s budget — is a compromise that emerged after lawmakers declined to extend a temporary income tax increase that’s set to start expiring in January but also refused to make deep cuts.
The House approved much of the budget Tuesday with the goal of finishing up before Saturday’s adjournment deadline. As is the case most years at the Capitol, the plans are in flux with final numbers still being ironed out.
Speaker Michael Madigan acknowledged the budget proposal would leave unfinished business and vowed to spend the summer and fall working to get the income tax hike made permanent to provide more money to run state government. The approach also ensures the governor’s race will continue to be framed up by opposite positions on a tax hike Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and Republican challenger Bruce Rauner have staked out.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Chicago Tribune
Illinois Democrats on Tuesday rolled out a new state spending plan that puts off many tough decisions until after the November election by relying on a series of time-tested budget tricks.
To make ends meet, at least on paper, lawmakers would bump up how much money they think will come in, borrow from special funds, put off paying bills, lower estimated health care costs and skip putting in money to pay for raises for unionized workers.
The $35.7 billion spending plan — roughly $300 million more than this year’s budget — is a compromise that emerged after lawmakers declined to extend a temporary income tax increase that’s set to start expiring in January but also refused to make deep cuts.
The House approved much of the budget Tuesday with the goal of finishing up before Saturday’s adjournment deadline. As is the case most years at the Capitol, the plans are in flux with final numbers still being ironed out.
Speaker Michael Madigan acknowledged the budget proposal would leave unfinished business and vowed to spend the summer and fall working to get the income tax hike made permanent to provide more money to run state government. The approach also ensures the governor’s race will continue to be framed up by opposite positions on a tax hike Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and Republican challenger Bruce Rauner have staked out.
Read more in our daily News Update...