Madigan: Democrats Will Pass Their Own Budget; Need $3 Billion In More Revenue
From the Springfield State Journal-Register
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan Monday said Democrats are prepared to act on a spending plan that needs $3 billion in additional revenue to be balanced and advised Gov. Bruce Rauner to keep non-spending issues out of the discussions.
The statement was a reference to Rauner's "Turnaround Agenda," a series of pro-business reforms and other changes he said must be adopted before he will entertain discussions of raising additional revenue.
Even before Madigan held his late afternoon news conference, the Rauner administration issued a statement blasting Madigan.
"Speaker Madigan and the politicians he controls are walking away from the negotiating table and refusing to compromise on critical reforms needed to (turn around) Illinois," spokesman Lance Trover said.
"Instead, they appear ready to end the regular session with yet another broken budget or a massive tax hike and no structural reforms. The speaker and his allies in the legislature are sorely mistaken if they believe the people of Illinois will accept doubling down on a broken system that has failed Illinois over the last dozen years."
Madigan said Democrats are prepared to approve a budget that spends about $36.3 billion next year. He acknowledged that's about $3 billion more than estimated state revenues for next year.
Madigan said the Democratic spending plan "is consistent with our view of what the state of Illinois should do for Illinoisans who need the government to be helpful for them. We will publicly acknowledge that we don't have the money to pay for this budget. But we are prepared to work with the governor, negotiate with the governor to raise the monies to produce a balanced budget."
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Springfield State Journal-Register
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan Monday said Democrats are prepared to act on a spending plan that needs $3 billion in additional revenue to be balanced and advised Gov. Bruce Rauner to keep non-spending issues out of the discussions.
The statement was a reference to Rauner's "Turnaround Agenda," a series of pro-business reforms and other changes he said must be adopted before he will entertain discussions of raising additional revenue.
Even before Madigan held his late afternoon news conference, the Rauner administration issued a statement blasting Madigan.
"Speaker Madigan and the politicians he controls are walking away from the negotiating table and refusing to compromise on critical reforms needed to (turn around) Illinois," spokesman Lance Trover said.
"Instead, they appear ready to end the regular session with yet another broken budget or a massive tax hike and no structural reforms. The speaker and his allies in the legislature are sorely mistaken if they believe the people of Illinois will accept doubling down on a broken system that has failed Illinois over the last dozen years."
Madigan said Democrats are prepared to approve a budget that spends about $36.3 billion next year. He acknowledged that's about $3 billion more than estimated state revenues for next year.
Madigan said the Democratic spending plan "is consistent with our view of what the state of Illinois should do for Illinoisans who need the government to be helpful for them. We will publicly acknowledge that we don't have the money to pay for this budget. But we are prepared to work with the governor, negotiate with the governor to raise the monies to produce a balanced budget."
Read more in our daily News Update...