Dear Fred,
Springfield: The Democrat majority in the Illinois House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a budget bill in the House, the Senate is expected to vote on the bill today or early tomorrow and send it onto Governor Quinn for his signature. At this point it appears that the political budget designed to be the least painful for Democrat legislators running for election this fall. Republicans continues to be excluded from the process, but be highly critical of the outcome, saying it will only push Illinois problems into next year. Christopher Wills of the Associated Press filed this article regarding the budget as it stands tonight. At this point it appears that higher education will be cut by about 5%, the Department of Children and Family Services will be cut by about 25%. The budget allows the Governor to continue to cut/decrease funding at his discretion.
As Illinois Partners for Human Services put it:
"Under this budget no human service organization will know about contracts to take affect July 1 for several more weeks, thereby dumping the costs of a quick shut down on the community, clients and staff
The Governor will be able to cut budgets at any time
There is no solution to late payments; they are simply kicked further down the road
There is no comprehensive solution to inadequate human services funding.
This is not an acceptable budget!"
However, as of this writing the Senate has not passed the bill, the hang up appears to be the borrowing authority to pay the 4 billion for pension payments. There is a group of Democrat legislators who are apposed, and without Republican assistance the Democrat majority can not pass the bill. Doug Finke of the State Journal Register posted this article at 7:30pm this evening (5/26).
Sincerely,
John Reese Bill Johnson
CORE-Illinois