The Illinois House of Representatives passed a Stopgap Budget for the last six months of this fiscal year by a vote of 63-49 yesterday. Senate Bill 2051 now goes to the Senate where it is likely to pass. The Governor is expected to veto SB 2051.
In the Senate, a mega bill package of 12 bills were introduced and the whole package lives or dies together. This package faded in the Senate but may produce an outline for future budget discussions.
We don’t expect much action in the Capitol today because many legislators are going to head north for President Obama’s Farewell Speech at McCormick Place tonight.
Wednesday, the new members of the General Assembly take office.
We really need to be focusing on what is happening in Washington D.C. We need to be calling our members of Congress about protecting the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid block grants, Medicare and other programs under attack!
Story from Chicago Tribune below on action in Springfield.
Tony
State impasse continues as plug quickly pulled on Senate plan
By Monique Garcia and Kim Geiger
SPRINGFIELD — With the state’s historic 18-month budget impasse looming large, Gov. Bruce Rauner was asked Monday morning what he realistically expected to happen as lawmakers met for a final two days before a new legislature is sworn in.
His response? A laugh.
By late afternoon, lawmakers had provided an answer. They quickly introduced — then spiked — a sweeping budget proposal that included everything from tax hikes to new casinos.
Senate leaders vowed to try again after the new crop of legislators takes the oath of office Wednesday, as the historic, nearly two-year budget stalemate that’s starved universities and social service programs rolls on. The idea, they said, was to jump-start stalled negotiations and send a message to the Republican governor and Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan that the Senate would no longer stand idly by while they duke it out.
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Tony Paulauski
Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
708-828-0188 (CELL)
Tony@thearcofil.org