* House Republican Leader Tom Cross said yesterday that he won’t vote to override Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget vetoes…
In cutting the budget, Quinn proposed closing several facilities including the high-security Tamms prison and the women’s lockup at Dwight. The Democratic governor says the money should instead be spent on child-protection services.
Cross says an override vote is “purely symbolic.” It wouldn’t force Quinn to spend money on the prisons. It would simply restrict him from spending it elsewhere.
Cross says the state has money problems and “we have to recognize that someday.”
The Senate voted 35-16 last week to override the vetoes. It’s a sign that the bill might not be overridden today. We’ll see. Keep an eye on live blog for constant updates.
* Meanwhile, Gov. Pat Quinn refused to talk to reporters or address protesters yesterday in Decatur…
The fate of the Decatur Adult Transition Center and other facilities across the state remains uncertain, despite lawmakers in Springfield working to allot money for their operation.
Gov. Pat Quinn was in Decatur on Tuesday afternoon to speak at Richland Community College on an unrelated capital project for which funds were recently released. After finishing his remarks, the governor made a quick exit and did not speak to reporters or others in attendance.
Quinn cut $56 million from the budget and proposed shutting down several prisons and transitional centers across the state. But the Illinois Senate voted to reject the cuts last week, while the House may still call a bill to restore the money to the budget during its fall veto session this week. However, even if the House does reinstate the money, it would largely be a symbolic message. Quinn would not have to spend the money on prisons or facilities, though he couldn’t spend it elsewhere, either.
Students and other local politicians came to Richland to see the governor speak, while dozens of representatives of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union came to send a message to Quinn. As the governor took the podium, AFSCME members brought out signs in support of their workers at the facilities, as well as criticizing Quinn’s and other lawmakers’ attempts to reform pensions.
* He did speak in Peoria, however…
“We believe we’ve got to invest in clean water in the state of Illinois,” said Quinn. “We’re not too far from the Illinois River — that connects to great Lake Michigan, to the great river Mississippi — the mighty Illinois flows through our state.
“It is very, very important that we protect the Illinois River by making investments in wastewater treatment that we’re doing right here in Pekin, Ill.”
Ramble on, guv.
LIVE session coverage...
- Fair Share - Wednesday, Dec 5, 12 @ 10:38 am:
And so begins the siren call that will lead Cross to crash upon the jagged shores of Quinn’s island. Remember - Quinn can’t and won’t help you when you need him.
- cassandra - Wednesday, Dec 5, 12 @ 10:42 am:
Assuming many legislators agree with him, maybe they can find the child protection money somewhere else? I hope we (and the state employees involved) don’t have to go through another big layoff drama. And government money is fungible. Not to say DCFS couldn’t go on a diet. Take a look at the surfeit of desk jobs, plump personal services contracts, and overtime and perhaps some savings might appear as well.
- dupage dan - Wednesday, Dec 5, 12 @ 11:50 am:
Gov Quinn’s really got some poise,
while he talks of Illinois.
He promises too much,
and appears out of touch,
But it’s only just so much noise.
- johhnypizza - Wednesday, Dec 5, 12 @ 11:58 am:
Who is the Democratic leader that has had the gumption to state the obvioius and has tried to take real steps to solve the budget crisis in Illinois? I am hardly a fan of the man, but I have to give kudos to Pat Quinn. Many people stand on the sidelines and snipe at him; but noone is putting forth any solutions other than Quinn. With Democrat leaders like Cross, Madigan, and Mautino firmly in the pocket of AFSCME real solutions to he budget problems are not being proposed by this trio.
- johhnypizza - Wednesday, Dec 5, 12 @ 12:00 pm:
Who is the Democratic leader that has had the gumption to state the obvious and has tried to take real steps to solve the budget crisis in Illinois? I am hardly a fan of the man, but I have to give kudos to Pat Quinn. Many people stand on the sidelines and snipe at him; but noone is putting forth any solutions other than Quinn. With Democrat leaders like Cross, Madigan, and Mautino firmly in the pocket of AFSCME real solutions to the budget problems are not being proposed by this trio.
- Small Town Liberal - Wednesday, Dec 5, 12 @ 12:02 pm:
- He did speak in Peoria, however… -
- we’re doing right here in Pekin, Ill. -
Oh man, at first I thought maybe the Gov forgot where he was at, but upon reading the article I was relieved he was actually in Pekin.
Great to see the Clean Water Initiative getting started, lots of good jobs and good infrastructure are going to come out of this.
- reformer - Wednesday, Dec 5, 12 @ 12:29 pm:
Cross isn’t doing it as a favor to Quinn. Instead, Cross is just supporting cuts in state spending, which is what Republicans are supposed to do but don’t do when it comes to facilities in their districts.
- cassandra - Wednesday, Dec 5, 12 @ 1:28 pm:
But there could still be an override vote in Jan, right? Is this really over, as Quinn seems to imply?
This does seem a little surprising given what must be considerable pressure from downstate Republicans (and Democrats) to keep the prisons open-on behalf of local economies, if nothing else.
- Walk in my shoes - Wednesday, Dec 5, 12 @ 4:59 pm:
Not sure what Cross is getting out of his antics. There are many employees at IYC Joliet that live in his district. If he wants to cut spending stop the mega millions being dumped into IYC St Charles. Hypocrite!
- Anon - Wednesday, Dec 5, 12 @ 9:30 pm:
I want the Truth to come out …. somewhere! AFSCME has ready taken over 400 million in cuts the last two years in the form of contracted pay raise “deferments” and voluntary furlough days. On top of this employees have agreed to an additional year pay freeze (equalling a total of 3). All added up AFSCME employees are making concessions closing in on a half billion dollars. Quinn’s reaction… It’s not enough. What else can you do. When you work in a job that will be the equivalent of minimum wage after Quinn cuts are made…. Well crazy is crazy… I don’t care who ya are.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Dec 5, 12 @ 9:52 pm:
@Anon:
I don’t consider deferring a pay raise to be a big hardship. You still got a pay raise, with the exception of some with regard to this last pay raise. As soon as you go years without a pay raise like I and other MC have then come talk to me. Otherwise you get no sympathy from me.