Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: *** UPDATED x1 - School water tested positive for lead *** School tour derided as “stunt”
Next Post: Sandack gets blunt
Posted in:
*** UPDATE 1 *** WGN’s live stream is here.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Press release…
Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger on Thursday warned that hardship caused by the state’s ongoing budget impasse will grow significantly if Illinois enters a new fiscal year on July 1 without further action in Springfield.
While court orders, consent decrees and statutory authorization of some payments will continue, Munger noted that $23 billion in existing spending for schools, 911 call centers, domestic violence shelters, federally-funded social and human services and higher education will stop next month without new legislation. In addition, businesses and organizations that have signed contracts and provided services to the state this year face the very real possibility of having to go to Court to be paid in the absence of a stopgap budget.
“Our social service network is being torn apart, our most vulnerable residents are losing critical services, our colleges and universities are on the verge of collapse, and businesses and organizations are being forced into mass layoffs that are leaving families with no way to meet their financial obligations,” Munger said. “All of this is happening because of the state’s failure to pass a budget. It’s unconscionable, it’s irresponsible and frankly, it violates our Constitution.”
Munger highlighted four budget bills that were passed by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor that will sunset in the new fiscal year. The legislation authorized spending that included:
$13.7 billion for K-12 education
$3.1 billion that funded local governments, 911 call centers, domestic violence shelters, lottery winners and other programs and services
$5.4 billion in federal spending including the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, child nutrition programs, HIV prevention and home-delivered meals for seniors
$600 million for colleges, universities and MAP grantsCompounding Illinois’ challenges, Munger noted businesses that have provided goods and services to the state in good faith in the current fiscal year will continue to go unpaid without legislation in Springfield. Typically, unpaid vendors would go before the Court of Claims to compel payment, but without an appropriation that Court is not an option. As a result, the state faces the possibility of a wave of costly lawsuits.
“The best thing Springfield can do is pass a balanced budget that addresses the holes in this year’s budget and allows for those who rely on government to plan for the year ahead, as is required by the State Constitution,” Munger said. “And at the very least, our state owes it to its taxpayers to pass funding that allows our schools to open, ensures vendors are paid for services already provided and keeps critical state government operations running.”
* I’ll try to do a live feed if we get video or audio [ADDING: I have yet to find a live feed, but Munger is live-tweeting the presser, so click here]…
MUNGER TO DETAIL CONSEQUENCES OF CONTINUED IMPASSE
Comptroller to detail ramifications of further Springfield inaction
CHICAGO - Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger will hold a news conference Thursday to discuss the ramifications of entering another fiscal year on July 1, 2016, without a budget. Munger will discuss potential payment changes in the new fiscal year and challenges involved in paying for services completed in the current year before taking questions from media at the James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph St.
SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2016:
WHO: Illinois State Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger
WHAT: News Conference on State Budget Impasse
WHEN: 11:00 a.m. Thursday, June 9
WHERE: Blue Room, 15th Floor
James R. Thompson Center
Predictions?
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 9:39 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: *** UPDATED x1 - School water tested positive for lead *** School tour derided as “stunt”
Next Post: Sandack gets blunt
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
===Predictions?===
“I’m just here to double down on the Governor’s campaign message — I mean, the Governor’s public ridicule of the people he says he’s negotiating with.”
Comment by Anon Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 9:41 am
I predict Mendoza has already written her press releasing slamming the Munger/Rauner/Trump team for the state’s problems.
Comment by Just Me Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 9:47 am
Rauner good.
Dems bad.
Madigan worst.
Illinois doomed.
Comment by CharlieKratos Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 9:47 am
Prediction: Lackey will lack.
Comment by One hand //ing Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 9:50 am
Please… BE the Comptroller. Make this about Illinois, the job you have, and your commitment… to your job… and the state.
Please.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 9:50 am
Due to the ongoing impasse, she wants the cheesecake back.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 9:52 am
I’m sure Munger will — as usual — blame the legislature for the problems created *by Rauner*.
And I suspect Rauner’s press team is putting the finishing touches on her so-called speech.
Comment by Macbeth Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 9:52 am
If only we could dole out more corporate welfare…
Comment by Triple fat Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 9:52 am
I think there will be something to the effect that She has no choice but to do her job and stop workers paychecks. something that should have been done LAST July 1 IMO.
Comment by Allen D Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 9:53 am
Loving God, I fear what she is about to say.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 9:54 am
She’ll be classier than Sandack, but imply the same thing.
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 9:56 am
Going to be interesting to hear the rationale for what will be paid right now, what won’t be paid going forward, and what may never be paid.
And, like others, I hope she sticks to the facts and numbers,and doesn’t branch off into partisan politics.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 9:59 am
She will say what ever Rauner and the superstars tell her to say but she will say that it’s what she really believes and that her statements are not from Rauner and his crew.
Comment by Flynn's mom Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 10:05 am
!!!!BECAUSE MADIGAN!!!!!
Comment by Chungas revenge Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 10:05 am
“I have decided to stop paying state employees.”
Comment by Anon Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 10:09 am
1) She’ll be fairly non-partisan.
2) She won’t be very clear on which bills will be paid first.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 10:13 am
@ -Chungas revenge-and the Comptroller’s purse strings he controls!
Comment by Flynn's mom Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 10:14 am
“No matter how many bills won’t be paid, how many services abandoned, how many people losing their jobs as a result, I just want you to know the State Fair will still open as usual. See you there!”
Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 10:24 am
She’ll say she found a way to keep paying state workers and criticize Dems for trying to stop the payroll.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 10:28 am
She’ll grandstand a bit on delaying paychecks to legislators.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 10:44 am
Again, she’s using the office for press purposes. She’s taking advantage of the budget impasse to generate Munger press. She’s working the communications side of her office aggressively. I guess when you can’t write checks, because there isn’t money from which to write checks, you go to plan B: media.
Comment by Downstate Dem Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 11:48 am
The CTA/Metra should announce they’ll be raising fares to make up for the state subsidy money they’re not getting. That would be a huge pressure point.
Comment by Just Me Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 11:50 am
===Again, she’s using the office for press purposes. She’s taking advantage of the budget impasse to generate Munger press.===
The power of incumbency.
Get over it.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 12:05 pm
Dear Ms. Munger:
You twitted: “It’s unconscionable, it’s irresponsible and frankly, it violates our Constitution. #BalanceILBudget”
Agreed. So, take your governor to court & force him to do his Constitutional mandate & deliver a balanced budget(s) to the GA! Do your job for IL & its citizens that you expressed care about. Maybe Lisa can help you with the lawsuit.
With warmest personal regards,
sal-says
Comment by sal-says Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 12:36 pm
Did she say anything about state worker pay after July 1? Does that court order expire at the end of June?
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 12:43 pm
Guess Ms. Munger has come around to my prediction a year and a half ago about the large amounts of money this administration will end up spending on lawsuits.
You could see this one coming …
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 12:46 pm
With the ILSC ruling I can’t see how she can keep paying state workers.The Madigans and the ILSC they…..oh they don’t control it…..
Comment by illinois manufacturer Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 12:55 pm
I predict we’re f&%cked. As an employee at a state university, one that hasn’t had to cut too drastically and has stable enrollment…. I think it’s time to get the resume ready and put the house up for sale.
Comment by Ryan Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 1:19 pm
I’m pleasantly surprised she kept her comments factual and refrained from the blame game.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 1:28 pm
Glad she was professional. Someone has to be …
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 2:40 pm
on what basis can a vendor go to court? vendor payments go to the court of claims and without an appropriation, those claims are invalidated under the court of claims statute. and those hedge funders who have bought up state payables owed to vendors? unless the court of claims rules are/have changed; then no appropriations means no payment under the court of claims. Now we have hostages with the Gov’s ear!
Comment by Joe Cannon Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 2:49 pm
== on what basis can a vendor go to court? ==
If I was in that situation with a written contract that did NOT have the boilerplate non-appropriation escape clause in the fine print, I would be suing based on a fraud claim … and I would name state officials in both their public position AND as private persons, since the government shield laws don’t protect criminal actions.
You may not win but you would sure shake up some people if they realized they could be personally charged and liable. And I’d bet they would be a lot less likely to contract for unappropriated purchases and services.
Now if you have the non-appropriation escape clause, I would still try the fraud approach but know it would be pretty much a long shot.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 3:46 pm
Thank you RNUG. I may try just that.
Comment by Way Way Down Here Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 4:53 pm
- Way Way Down Here -
It will be tough to PROVE they knowingly and deliberately perpetuated a fraud.
And I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again. I’m NOT a lawyer, never have been.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 5:43 pm