* Sen. Donne Trotter, who handles the budget for the Senate Democrats, is not pleased with Comptroller Dan Hynes’ warnings of a budget “meltdown” next month if the powers that be don’t get their acts together soon. We discussed the Hynes memo yesterday.

“I think it’s a lot of hyperbole on his part. I think he’s being disingenuous and also irresponsible,” said State Sen. Donne Trotter, (D) Chicago.

The chairman of the senate budget committee says there is plenty of time for a deal.

* And, in the same story, House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, who was dissed by the governor last week, explained that Blagojevich’s initial budget plan was so ambitious that it’s tough to reach an agreement that can be acceptable to the guv and a three-fifths majority in both chambers…

“I think that he was really asking the legislature and the public to bite off a whole lot more than we are comfortable chewing,” said State Rep. Barbara Flynn Curie, (D) Chicago.

* Meanwhile, last week the Daily Herald tried to get the comptroller’s office to talk about the possibility of a government shutdown and was flatly rebuffed…

Hynes spokeswoman Carol Knowles wouldn’t say when millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded state payroll are due out in July. For that matter, she wouldn’t provide the dates for when state payroll was mailed in April, May or this month either. She essentially wouldn’t answer any question about when the office does anything.

Instead, Knowles said she’d be “delighted” to discuss the topic – “next week.” Similarly, a message left with Hynes’ communications director Alan Henry wasn’t returned.

* And the State Journal-Register, which got the leaked Hynes memo before anyone else, editorialized on the subject today…

As we enter week three of the legislative overtime session, Comptroller Dan Hynes has sent what should be a sobering memo to the governor and legislative leaders. In that communique, Hynes notes all of the bad things that will happen if the governor and General Assembly continue to fail at their job of getting a budget in order for the state.

That would include not only missed pay checks for state workers, but also the possibility of poor people not being able to find doctors who will treat them because the state can’t pay the doctors, foster care parents not being reimbursed for their important services, schools denied certain funds, even the possibility that certain road projects could come to a halt at the peak of the summer construction season.

Exactly what more encouragement do our “leaders” need to do their job?

*** UPDATE *** Something for you state employees out there. From an e-mail…

Credit Union 1 is gearing up to offer 0% loans to state employees that miss a paycheck due to the budget impasse. Credit Union 1 has used this program during past budget impasses and it has been well-received by their members.