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* Senate President John Cullerton talked to reporters a short while ago about lump-sum appropriations, the pension “holiday,” the cigarette tax and adjournment. Watch…
*** UPDATE 1 - 6:48 pm *** The “Worst Bill Ever” (STAR bonds) moved out of the House Revenue Committee and is heading to the floor for a vote tonight. The House Democrats substituted two people off the committee to make sure it passed.
* House Majority Leader Barbara Currie unveiled the budget outline at committee tonight. It’s a five percent across the board cut with lots of emergency powers for the governor, most of which we’ve talked about here before. Contingency reserves, extended lapse period, furloughs, interfund borrowing, selling tobacco proceeds, and a temporary suspension of the Contuing Appropriations Act.
The Democrats are also “suspending” the pension payment for 6 months. They say they’ll still pay the entire amount, but the scheduled payments will be delayed until January 31st.
*** UPDATE 2 - 7:47 pm *** House Speaker Michael Madigan talked to reporters earlier this evening about the McCormick Place reforms, which is being debated on the House floor now…
Madigan also talked about the budget and other stuff…
The House passed a nursing home reform bill a few minutes ago as well.
*** UPDATE 3 - 7:49 pm *** Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Sandoval isn’t talking much about this story, but he is clearly interested in the job and suggested that some higher-ups have talked to him about it…
At Metra, where Executive Director Phil Pagano has been put on leave amid a financial scandal and is likely to be gone soon, the name of Illinois Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Martin Sandoval, D-Cicero, has come up as a possible replacement.
*** UPDATE 4 - 8:00 pm *** As I told you earlier, the STAR bonds bill is heading for a House floor vote tonight, but the mayor of southern Illinois’ Mt. Vernon thinks they ought to slow down…
Mount Vernon mayor Mary Jane Chesley already echoes the concerns that halted the Glen Carbon project.
“We have a new interchange and are in the process of building infrastructure on approximately 600 acres around the interchange to attract businesses to the area,” she wrote on May 6.
“What are our chances of attracting these businesses when only 40 miles down the interstate lies Marion with this proposed added development tool?
“While I am all for regional development, I cannot support projects utilizing state sponsored programs that give one community an advantage over others.”
*** UPDATE 5 - 8:04 pm *** Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno is on her way to her daughter’s college graduation in Arizona, so she isn’t present for the floor action tonight.
*** UPDATE 6 - 8:06 pm *** In case you were wondering, the end of session party is scheduled for tomorrow night at the building which houses the Pizza Machine and other establishments. Same place as last year. Show your Statehouse ID to get in.
*** UPDATE 7 - 8:08 pm *** Budget director David Vaught talked to reporters this evening about borrowing to pay the pension funds, among other things. Have a look…
*** UPDATE 8 - 8:22 pm *** The House just overwhelmingly approved the McCormick Place reform bill.
…Adding…
Rep. Marlow Colvin of Chicago explains his “No” vote on the McPier overhaul bill…
The bill passed 93-25-0.
*** UPDATE 9 - 11:15 pm *** The Senate Democrats pulled a bit of a stunt in Senate Approp 1 tonight. They stripped out all the reappropriations of Senate GOP capital projects and added them onto a separate amendment. The idea was to make the Senate Republicans vote for their own pork projects separately. The Dems said at least the Repubs would be voting for something. The Repubs accused the Dems of violating the original capital projects agreement by stripping out their projects and forcing a special vote on just their capital items.
The Republicans announced that they would refuse to vote for their own projects. They were willing to allow it all to go down and the SDems weren’t willing to put more than nine votes on the amendment - the bare minimum required to help the Repubs get to 30 votes.
The Democrats, however, are now having second thoughts. As I write this, the debate is beginning on the budget including the capital reapproprs, but the Democrats will now just drop the whole thing and apparently vote for the GOP projects.
…Adding… Sen. Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) explains why his caucus was so upset about what the Democrats did in committee tonight…
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 6:07 pm
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The IDEA bill for STAR Bonds passed out of the Revenue and Finance Committee on a 11-2 vote.
Comment by Downstate Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 6:48 pm
White balance your video. It all look orange.
Comment by Sean Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 7:08 pm
Can you beleive that the Star Bond mess may very well pass ! No wonder this State is in such a mess. How much will Mr. Holland soak the taxpayers for on this one ? How about $200 - $300 million ! What a disgrace.
Comment by Taking Marion for a Ride Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 7:19 pm
What’s the bill number for the budget outline?
Comment by Leatherneck Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 7:47 pm
SB1211 HAM1
It’s long. Last 2/3 is capital stuff.
Comment by In The Know Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 7:54 pm
HA2 to SB1211 contains some differences to HA1, some agency cuts appear to be there.
Comment by Captain Flume Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 8:10 pm
Check out HB 859 and its many amendments. Looks like the Senate is running its own budget
Comment by ILPundit Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 8:51 pm
All the tension over state finances this year and last. Late payments to vendors. This group just doesn’t care, so I stopped caring. It is time to rename Chicago, Athens.
Comment by fredformeranon Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 9:46 pm
We already have an Athens, IL. Its a respectible community. Don’t sully our name by associating it with Chicago.
Comment by Jack Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 10:18 pm
Dems just rammed budget down the repubs throat in Seate Approp committee. Stripped out all of the Repubs capital projects, which repubs argue is a violation of the agreement made when repubs put votes on the cap bill. Senator Althoff very emotional about it. Says she worked very hard on getting support to pass the bill on an agreement between the leaders.
Comment by Moderate REpub Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 10:40 pm
The big shows really had the whip hand in this round of Mac Place reforms. With Reilly likely moving in, some positive news there for once.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 11:11 pm
I think the SDems make a good, hilarious point. The Senate Republicans want to get their projects funded without voting for them?
You would think they would relish the opportunity to vote for their projects WITHOUT having to vote for the larger budget.
Comment by George Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 11:22 pm
Giving the Governor “a new set of tools” to manage the budget.
Do those tools include a vertebrae?
Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 11:26 pm
Matt Murphy with regard to the Capital Bill:
“There was an understanding that there would be appropriations in exchange for those votes.”
Ummm, Matt?
Comment by George Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 11:27 pm
The Senate Republicans DID vote for their projects. They voted for the capital bill, the projects statewide for schools, roads, bridges, etc and the funding sources to pay for it. Senate Democrats trying to “undo” that bipartisan legisaltion — that was approved in both chambers and signed into law.
Comment by Think People Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 11:28 pm
Sen. Trotter “In order to respond, I guess I would have to read the legislation”
I know that’s asking a lot, but I would like to think that if you are sponsoring it, you would at least have read it, and know what it says.
This is pathetic!
Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 11:38 pm
In fairness to Sen Trotter, I can’t find what Sen. Syverson was referring to either. It doesn’t look like it is in the legislation.
Comment by George Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 11:46 pm
Legislative Leaders (Are there any?)
Logical and Responsible Lawmakers - (Oxymoron?)
Reasonable People
Dan Hynes
Rich Miller et-al
RE: Prompt Payment Act Revision
Please take action on the legislation enacted last year to the PPA and stop the unintended consequences of the State sending out what may be 100,000 or more checks for small amounts under 5.00. Lots and lots of checks for under$1.00 many checks for pennies. The State’s cost for processing a check likely to be $50 to $100 per check. The State is paying almost all of its bills late. Stop this silliness of paying the small dollars that are much less than the cost of processing a check. If the bond rating firms learn of this activity they will do more than just roll their eyes. Lets FIX THIS before you leave town.
Can you imagine the frustrated vendor of the State who has waited months to be paid? Then finally receive its money in one check and then receives a second check for 36 cents. Come On- fix this.
related article:
http://www.sj-r.com/news/x12615397/Illinois-short-by-billions-still-cuts-2-cent-checks
Comment by Sickntard Friday, May 7, 10 @ 12:04 am
So we had a drop in revenues, but we’re passing a budget that spends more than last year? OK.
Comment by Amuzing Myself Friday, May 7, 10 @ 12:21 am
Democrats: 37 Republicans: 22
11 out of 22 Republicans; maybe only 50% of your projects should get funded.
What is the percentage of Democrats voting for the bill, out of the total number of elected Democrats?
Comment by Quinn T. Sential Friday, May 7, 10 @ 12:35 am
Star Bonds must go. Bradley in the Southern Illinosan says that this is new to illinois. all it is is a regurgitation of Sales Tax TIFS that were eliminated 20 years ago. Nothing new here.
Comment by Ronbo Friday, May 7, 10 @ 8:32 am
nice job on budget coverage Rich — interview with Murphy was great. I’m a dem, but I respect that Senate GOP didn’t fall for a goofy trick like that. Trouble is that it would have been tempting to fall for it. I give them credit for standing up to the hardball.
Comment by dupage progressive Friday, May 7, 10 @ 8:53 am
So the dems are decrying Brady’s across the board budget cut plan but now will pass an across the board budget cut? Am I missing something here? Add to that this disastrous sus-pension plan makes me think I won’t have to travel far to visit Greece this summer. Where are the 300 when you need them?
Comment by dupage dan Friday, May 7, 10 @ 8:57 am