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Officials: No budget, but it’s OK
By Mike Riopell
mike.riopell@lee.net
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SPRINGFIELD — Today marks the day the state’s stopgap budget is set to run out, and lawmakers don’t appear poised to approve another one before Wednesday.

“Tomorrow’s not a pressure point,” House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, said Monday.

Comptroller Dan Hynes says the absence of a spending plan doesn’t have to mean prisons, universities and state parks will close immediately.

He says Aug. 8 is the key date. That’s when Hynes says he needs to know the spending plan so he can get money to schools and make the state’s payroll.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Monday the state has a backup plan, but didn’t elaborate.

“We’re prepared to meet whatever contingency is necessary,” he said.

Aug. 8 also is the date House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, has set for a special hearing on education, indicating that he might believe lawmakers could still be working on a budget then.

Blagojevich said the deadline shouldn’t be an issue. He wants lawmakers to approve another one-month budget so the state can continue to pay its bills.

“I see the glass as half full,” Blagojevich said. He added about Madigan: “Evidently, he sees it as half empty.”

Legislative leaders say they’re not interested in another stopgap spending plan for the state. They continued a recent trend Monday of meeting without Blagojevich to continue trying to work out a deal.

Hynes wants them to all sign an agreement to finish by Aug. 8, a move he says would better assure that state workers would get paid on time for the work they do in the first days of the coming month.

Hynes took reporters’ questions Monday, saying he wanted to ease the fears that state government would cease to function Wednesday. That situation made waves in Pennsylvania earlier this year, when a one-day government shutdown furloughed 24,000 workers.

Hynes said a similar situation probably isn’t imminent yet, but said nonessential services might suffer if lawmakers go past Aug. 8 without a budget.

Among the possibilities are problems with the state fair, which is set to open Aug. 10, two days after the deadline Hynes has set.

“The state fair is definitely an open question as well,” he said.

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Reader comments on this story - 6 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.

Rich Daily wrote on Jul 31, 2007 12:15 PM:

" This guy is sticking it to Illinois just like I taught him. "

garand wrote on Jul 31, 2007 11:00 AM:

" the citizens have a backup plan, but didn’t elaborate. “We’re prepared to meet whatever contingency is necessary.........quote fixed "

JJ wrote on Jul 31, 2007 9:37 AM:

" Ah, the ole non-existant back up plan. And they talk about it as they actually feel bad about hurting it's citizens. Well, everyone, I guess, but the smoker, cause they don't seem to mind giving them the you-know-what. SEGREGATE THEM WITH A BAN AND THEN TAX THE CR$P OUT OF 'EM. Makes me proud to be an Illinian and an American. I do agree with what the guy said on the news last night. Lock them all in a room and give then nothing but bread and water. "

Any bets on wrote on Jul 31, 2007 6:28 AM:

" weather Blogo's benefits get stripped? I'd say he won't do without any perks while others will take a hit. Wonder if he'll get any more $600 makeup jobs? "

Flash Back wrote on Jul 31, 2007 5:39 AM:

" Sure, Governor isn't concerned and claims there is a back up plan for state services. Interesting this plan hasn't been revealed to actual state employees. Been here done that. Under Gov. Ryan state employees were forced to "take" 3 furlough says - working those days without pay. Never did get them back. So Rod, what's the plan now? Have work continue Aug 1-8th and then not meet payroll? If this were a private business it would never survive. "

Sarcastro wrote on Jul 30, 2007 11:48 PM:

" I wonder if our so-called representatives would consider it a non-issue if their big fat paychecks were eight days...scratch that....three months late? "
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