SPRINGFIELD - House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) put together a budget that passed the Illinois House Tuesday that could lead to layoffs in human services, corrections and state police, as well as slow down Illinois payments to vendors.
"This is a budget which reflects exactly what we can do this year," Rep. John Bradley (D-Marion) said. "It's cobbling together a budget we can without any kind of tax extension."
Thirty or so House Democrats - in addition to all House Republicans - would not vote in favor of making the 2011 temporary tax hike permanent, at least before the November election. Without the $1.8 Billion the 2011 tax hike brings into Illinois' coffers, Madigan and his budget lieutenants threw together a budget to finish the spring session, but left open the tax hike door.
Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) hinted that the tax hike vote could be delayed until the lame duck session after the November 2014 election. The Senate is expected to pass the same budget before Friday's adjournment.
Cullerton is quoted in Crain's Chicago as saying "the Legislature will have to look at other revenue options after the November election, whether it's extending the full tax hike, a smaller decrease or other changes to tax policy."
And Republicans - who were for the most part left out of budget negotiations again - were unhappy as well.
"The spending plan passed by the Illinois House today once again shows the dysfunction of our budgeting process. Borrowing from the government to pay for other government operations is a policy that will not work”, said State Rep. Darlene Senger (R-Naperville).
“In fact, it is the same failed policy that has caused a $17 trillion federal deficit. Illinois deserves better.”
