Pantagraph.com Weather forecast, local radar and more
NewsWednesday, July 25, 2007 4:43 PM CDT
Comments Comments (3) | E-mail this page E-mail this page | Print this page Print this page | Enlarge type Enlarge type | Reduce type Reduce type | Search archives Search archives | RSS RSS feeds | Add to My Yahoo! Add to My Yahoo!
Despite movement, some see no end to budget stalemate
By Kurt Erickson
kurt.erickson@lee.net
Advertisement

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois lawmakers are moving closer to resolving two key issues that have kept them in the Capitol for much of the summer.

But, some are scoffing at the suggestion that the loosening of the logjam on the issues of electric rates and health care could be a sign that the record-setting overtime session is nearing an end.

"I don't think we're anywhere closer than we were a week or two or three or four months ago. We're in suspended animation. We're going nowhere fast," said House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego.

With a temporary spending plan set to expire in a week, lawmakers have crafted a plan to offer customers some relief from high electric rates. A vote on the proposal could come Wednesday.

At the same time, Gov. Rod Blagojevich appears to be dropping his push for a massive increase in state health insurance programs in exchange for a smaller, scaled-down plan.

Instead of his original $3.1 billion proposal aimed at providing health insurance to 1.4 million Illinoisans, Blagojevich is now floating a new version that would cost about $1 billion and be financed by taxing companies that don't spend at least 4 percent of their payrolls on employee health care.

By structuring the legislation so it doesn't go into effect until next year, Blagojevich could get it approved without Republican votes.

While both those issues have kept budget talks at a virtual standstill since March, Democrats and Republicans agreed Tuesday that there remains widespread disagreement over the state's spending plan.

''I think the problems that exist with the budget still exist,'' said state Rep. Gary Hannig, a Litchfield Democrat who serves as point man on budget issues for House Speaker Michael Madigan.

There is disagreement over school funding, gambling expansion and pension payments, each of which pits not only Democrats and Republicans against each other, but lawmakers from Chicago and the rest of the state.

In 2004, it took lawmakers until July 24 to approve a budget for the fiscal year that started July 1. With that record broken, the next major deadline is July 31, which marks the day a temporary budget expires.

Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes says the state could keep operating for at least another week after the state's spending authority expires on August 1.

But, Hynes insists he needs a budget outline by August 8 in order to send out the first round of school aid payments. After that, the comptroller said he needs money to pay state workers by August 9.

State Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, said Tuesday that he would vote for another temporary budget in order to keep schools from being harmed by the stalemate.

''The debate and the discussion that's going on here and the unwillingness to come off of some positions should not affect whether kids go to school on time,'' said Righter.

Other Republicans are opposed to giving Democrats another extension.

''I don't see myself giving them another 30-day operations budget when we need to bring this thing to a close,'' said state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington.

Video
Most commented stories
Browse online archives
Recent issues:
Reader comments on this story - 3 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Gov't Opressed MUle wrote on Jul 25, 2007 12:33 PM:

" Things like this are EXACTLY what I've been talking about, while yelling NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION! They (lawmakers) continually give themselves raises, kick backs, and overtime pay for not completing the work that they've already been paid for. I agree COMPLETLEY w/ Leland's statements, especially "in a month-by-month budget it is harder to hide political payoffs from the public's eyes" yet there is NO WAY this would ever happen, because they don't want it to, for the reasons stated prev, and with them voting it will NEVER CHANGE. That is why we need to fire all representatives and senators and vote individually. (the same as removing the electoral college and going w/ a popular vote.) "

Money wrote on Jul 25, 2007 8:15 AM:

" Why should they finish the budget? The lawmakers get bonus pay and free meals when they're in Springfield over the summer. They have a terrible record of finishing the budget on time year after year, but there's never any consequence: just more overtime pay. "

Leland Lesher wrote on Jul 25, 2007 6:08 AM:

" Let's be realistic here. Shutting down State government and services is a political ploy, not in the best interests of the people of Illinois. If the State has to operate on a month-to-month budget, like many homes in Illinois, then so be it. At least at the end of the year we would see our FIRST truly balanced budget in decades. Also, in a month-by-month budget it is harder to hide political payoffs from the public's eyes. Not a bad thing in my estimation. "
Add your own comments

Please read the rules before posting comments.

You must be logged in to leave comments.
If you don't have a member ID, please register.

*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?
 
Lee Enterprises Customer Service | 301 W. Washington St., PO Box 2907, Bloomington, IL 61701-2907 | Ph. 309-829-9000 | 800-747-7323
Copyright © 2008, Pantagraph Publishing Co. and Lee Enterprises. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy