Springfield, Ill. - Governor Pat
Quinn vetoed a major budget measure, Senate Bill 1197, on July 1, claiming that
he had no choice but to reject the proposal, which he said “does not
effectively address Illinois’ growing budgetary and economic calamity.”
State
Senator Dan Duffy (R- Lake Barrington) said that the Governor’s veto was not unexpected – he
addressed a joint session of the General Assembly on June 30, and pledged to
veto the budget, saying he would keep lawmakers in Springfield until a budget
more to his liking is passed.
Fiscal Year 2010 began on July 1,
meaning
Illinois
is now operating without a signed budget – the Governor did not act on other
portions of the budget and would not say whether or not he intended to approve
the remainder of the budget.
It was not immediately clear
what impact the veto might have on human service providers and their clients,
as the Governor has sent mixed signals – alternately declaring that he would
shut off funding to providers and slash services, and then backing off his own
threats. The Governor’s flip-flops have left thousands of human service providers
in the dark, with some saying they have no choice but to assume the worst and
lay-off employees, reduce services or even close.
Springfield, Ill…The state’s
Democrat leaders adjourned a special legislative session and made plans to
return the following week, but made no progress toward adopting a Fiscal Year
2010 budget proposal, despite the fact the end of the current fiscal year is
rapidly approaching.
Frustrated by the lack of
progress, Senate Republicans offered an alternative “bridge” budget, which
would keep state government functioning and social service programs operational. State Senator Dan Duffy (R-Lake Barrington)
said they decided to offer the temporary proposal because negotiations that
should have been going on back in March are only now beginning to take place.
As was the case when Rod Blagojevich was governor, the current Governor and his
fellow Democrats who control the state legislature have been unable to agree on
any plan.
The Republican proposal would
roll spending back to the previous year’s levels, which is seen as more
equitable and manageable than the budget approved in May. The May proposal,
adopted on partisan votes with no Republican support, slashed human service
spending by 50%, while increasing funding in other areas.
Senator
Duffy said the bridge budget proposal
would still require sacrifice, but it is shared and manageable sacrifice that
will give the Governor and legislative leaders an opportunity to identify areas
of state government that could be reasonably cut or reduced.
Springfield,
Ill. – As the end of the current fiscal year rapidly
approaches, Governor Pat Quinn and lawmakers agreed to return to
Springfield on Tuesday,
June 23.
State Senator Dan
Duffy (R-Lake Barrington) said that although there has not been
substantial progress on resolving the state budget, lawmakers are expected to
address some technical changes to the capital infrastructure plan that must be
made before the legislation can be signed into law. Senator Duffy did applaud Governor Quinn for making the “call” for
a special session broad enough to encompass critical structural and ethical
reforms needed to move
Illinois
forward.
Because a special session can only address the issues laid
out in the Governor’s proclamation calling the legislature into session, Senator Duffy explained that is was
important that the proclamation be broad enough to include key reforms needed
to address the underlying causes of the gridlock that has become routine in
Illinois over the last
six years.
However, while the Governor’s action was an encouraging
sign, Democrat legislative leaders have yet to agree to effective ethics reform
measures, ending the partisan gerrymandering of the state and making needed
spending cuts and structural reforms.
SPRINGFIELD
– Legislative leaders met on Tuesday, June 9, as they continue to work toward a
resolution on the state budget. State
Senator Dan Duffy (R-Lake Barrington) said that the meetings continue to
focus heavily on the need for spending reductions and reform, with Republicans
pushing for additional ethics reforms, redistricting reform and recall
proposals.
Though the discussions have been meaningful, the leaders are still
divided on the best way to address the state’s budget woes.
Gov. Pat Quinn has been participating in the budget meetings;
however, he has also been traveling the state, warning of drastic budget cuts
to much-needed services and programs that will result if lawmakers do not
approve an income tax increase. Senator
Duffy explained that constituents’ concerns about the budget are well-founded,
but urged the public not to be scared by what many people view as fear tactics
by the Governor.
Fiscal Year 2010 began on July 1,
meaning
spending reductions and reform, with Republicans
pushing for additional ethics reforms, redistricting reform and recall
proposals.