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* Speaker Madigan says he’ll work with Gov. Pat Quinn to find money to avert facility closures. But there’s a catch. There cannot be any next spending increase…
On Saturday, Madigan indicated that despite the governor’s harsh words about lawmakers, Quinn already had told him about plans to ask the General Assembly to increase spending in some areas coupled with cuts in other areas as part of the fall session next month. Quinn lacks the power to shift money around.
“(Quinn’s) representation to us is that where he proposes new spending, he would have commensurate reductions elsewhere. Now, he hasn’t given us the reductions. But I’ve shared with him that if there are changes in the budget they’ll be revenue neutral,” Madigan said after addressing the fall meeting of the Democratic National Committee at a Loop hotel.
State law requires Quinn to go through a formal facility closure process. But given Quinn’s discussions with Madigan, it raises questions why the governor sought such a public platform to chastise lawmakers and give them what he called “a rendezvous with reality.”
“Well, the governor’s engaged in a certain amount of rhetoric relative to the legislature. I’ve come to expect it from the governor,” Madigan said. “I’m not going to get into a difference of opinion with the governor on something like that. I prefer to devote my time and resources toward working with that budget because that’s where the money is being spent. But again, the House is resolved, we are not going above the lid that we put on spending.”
* Moving money around won’t be easy, either…
Quinn suggested Thursday that the legislature simply sustain most of his $376 million in line-item veto reductions of spending in the budget. Lawmakers could then reallocate those funds to avert the $55 million in cuts he outlined this week, $76 million in pay raises for state workers that Quinn canceled that are now the subject of several lawsuits, and $183 million in other unspecified cuts Quinn says he will have to make in the future.
But Mautino said downstate was particularly hard hit in both Quinn’s line-item vetoes and his proposed cuts on Thursday. All but one of the seven facilities targeted for closure are downstate. It will be hard for the region’s lawmakers to sustain Quinn’s line-item vetoes and re-allocate those funds because the vetoes were for services that downstate lawmakers believe are vital, such as regional superintendents and school transportation, Mautino said.
* Also, it’s going to cost money to save money…
According to state officials, it will take at least $3.8 million to retrofit existing mental health centers in preparation for taking on residents from the shuttered facilities.
Under a plan announced by the governor Thursday, which is subject to action by the General Assembly, Chester Mental Health Center will be closed along with Singer Mental Health Center in Rockford and the Tinley Park Mental Health Center in Chicago’s south suburbs. […]
The facility in Chester, however, is unlike others in the state. It serves as a maximum-security facility for potentially violent individuals who have been deemed unfit to stand trial, not guilty by reason of insanity or unfit to remain in regional mental hospitals because of violent behavior. […]
DHS spokeswoman Januari Smith said the agency will spend the $3.8 million not just on modifications at Alton, but on upgrades to facilities in Elgin and Springfield.
Discuss.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 6:56 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: The governor’s serious credibility gap
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Downstate legislators have been screaming for years that the state shouldn’t spend more than it takes in. Careful what you wish for, there’s more to come.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 8:16 am
Off topic question - Rich, why are comments always off for the subscriber section? I have a question to pose about the ComEd bill that I’ve never seen answered. Thanks.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 8:48 am
PQ probably ought to expect an budget changes will go through the revenue and approp committees that is how the bipartisan budget plan got done in the first place and The Speaker’s interview did not hint that plan was changing.
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 10:04 am
Realistically, are the cuts from Quinn’s line item vetos worse for downstate districts than facility closures?
Comment by AC Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 10:09 am
When will politicians learn that the only way to cut expenditures is to go the across the board percentage cut route and then let the agency heads (who supposedly know their programs) figure out the best way to allocate the cuts? This is the best way to minimize the damage. We are (I think) sixteen percent over budget and cutting across the board would keep the current relative priority of each program intact.
Comment by wishbone Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 10:27 am
===the only way to cut expenditures is to go the across the board percentage cut route and then let the agency heads (who supposedly know their programs) figure out the best way to allocate the cuts?===
They did that two years in a row with lump-sum budgets. It didn’t work because the agencies resisted and the governor did not insist.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 10:33 am
Re:”Quinn suggested Thursday that the legislature simply sustain most of his $376 million in line-item veto reductions of spending in the budget. Lawmakers could then reallocate those funds to avert the $55 million in cuts he outlined this week, $76 million in pay raises for state workers that Quinn canceled that are now the subject of several lawsuits, and $183 million in other unspecified cuts Quinn says he will have to make in the future.”
Why the @#^&* didn’t Quinn make those suggestions when the budget was being put together? Why doesn’t he negotiate with the legislature now directly instead of by press release? Will he ever get a clue about his job description as Governor?
Comment by jake Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 11:42 am
===Why doesn’t he negotiate with the legislature now directly instead of by press release? ===
Because then he wouldn’t get his face on the teevee.
This has been yet another edition of simple answers to simple questions…
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 11:43 am
It appears that King Madigan has dug his heels in and while putting his head in the sand (as usual). Senate President Cullerton and numerous other legislators have said the budget is flawed and more money is needed to maintain current services.
Comment by Both Sides Now Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 11:47 am
BSN: Yep, and now for Mike Madigan’s impression of a messiah, but please do remember who brought us this out of whack budget in the first place…
Comment by Loop Lady Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 11:57 am
Re “Because then he wouldn’t get his face on the teevee.”
He always was a show horse rather than a work horse, and I guess he still is. But I can’t believe (or would not like to believe) that looking stupid on tv will serve him well in the long run (2114, for example).
Comment by jake Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 2:20 pm
They have now allocated more money in the budget for administrative purposes than for the operations of at least two facilities. Where is the sense in this? They did not initially give anyone a set budget, and then decided to take away 22% of it. What was left was like a building after it had been bombed in a war zone. Not safe for anyone to live in.
Comment by Wickedred Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 5:52 pm