[Comments are now opened.]
* Press release…
SPRINGFIELD – House Speaker Mike Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton and their caucuses passed a budget for the 2016 fiscal year beginning July 1 that is nearly $4 billion in the hole.
This latest broken Madigan-Cullerton budget comes on the heels of a Fiscal Year 2015 Madigan-Cullerton budget that was more than $1.5 billion out-of-balance when it was passed.
Since taking office, Governor Rauner has worked diligently to eliminate the inherited $1.5 billion budget deficit without raising taxes, and the state is now projected to end the year with a balanced budget.
With the upcoming Madigan-Cullerton budget deficit more than double that of last year, a mid-year solution is not a possibility this time. The Administration must immediately begin taking steps to manage state spending.
While the Administration is committed to managing the Madigan-Cullerton budget responsibly, because their budget includes no reforms, the options available to the Administration are limited.
“Speaker Madigan, President Cullerton and the politicians they control refuse to act responsibly and reform state government,” Rauner Spokesman Lance Trover said. “It is time they come to the table with Governor Rauner to turnaround Illinois.”
Outlined below are steps the Administration is initiating today in order to begin balancing the phony Madigan-Cullerton budget. Many additional steps will be announced as they are finalized.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Effective Immediately
Action Initiated
- Prepare and provide notice for the July 1 suspension of the State Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (SLIHEAP).
- The federal portion of the program, funded at about $170 million, will continue.
Department of Transportation
Effective Immediately
- In light of the state’s current fiscal crisis and a lack of sufficient capital resources, the Illiana Expressway will not move forward at this time. As a result, the Illinois Department of Transportation will remove the project from its current multi-year plan. It is the determination of IDOT that the project costs exceed currently available resources. The Department will begin the process of suspending all existing project contracts and procurements.
Action Initiated
- Beginning July 1, the Department will “ground” all state plane passenger service. Planes will be maintained and available for emergency services.
Department of Juvenile Justice
Action Initiated
Department of Corrections
Action Initiated
Department of Healthcare and Family Services
Action Initiated
- Implement an audit review of nursing home reimbursements to ensure payments comply with recently implemented new rate structure.
- Recover overpayments to nursing homes and implement financial penalties for improper billings.
Illinois State Police
Action Initiated
- Immediately freeze all vehicle purchases.
Department on Aging
Action Initiated
- File emergency rules to enact means testing to Aging’s Community Care Program. No income limit currently exists.
- Increase the Determination of Need (DON) Score required to obtain services through Aging’s Community Care Program
Department of Human Services
Action Initiated
Department of Natural Resources
Action Initiated
- The Department will not award Open Space Land Acquisition Development Grants in FY16.
- The Department will begin the process to suspend operations and close the five state museums to visitors. The state will continue to maintain and secure the museums to protect the artifacts and exhibits.
###
*** UPDATE *** Daily Herald…
Gov. Bruce Rauner says he’s preparing to close up to two youth prisons in Illinois, and the centers at Warrenville and St. Charles are among those “under review.”
Rauner says he’s preparing contingency plans in case his budget fight with lawmakers extends deep into the summer. The state loses a lot of its authority to spend money on July 1 if Rauner hasn’t signed a budget into law. That means much of the state payroll would be in question. […]
The Illinois Youth Center in St. Charles houses juvenile offenders and the similar facility in Warrenville is the state’s sole female-only youth prison.
“All facilities are under review,” spokesman Lance Trover said.
* Tribune…
Many of the moves by Rauner appeared aimed at trying to sow discontent among various segments within the Democratic majorities in the Illinois House and Senate. Democrats have remained largely unified in their opposition to what Rauner has called his “turnaround agenda.”
Rauner’s actions are aimed at showing how he would implement a spending plan approved by Democrats for the budget year that begins July 1 which is at least $3 billion short of anticipated revenues. Despite its passage, Democrats have not sent the proposal to Rauner given his vows to reject it outright.
*** UPDATE 2*** State museum closures do not include the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the governor’s office says.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 9:44 am:
This is a first phase of political leverage. A fired shot across a bow. These are the low hanging fruits. This governor will not stop here because he wants what he wants and doesn’t care who pays the price for what it is he wants. As a true believer, he believes that with each life who gets kicked, they will in the end, be in a better place. He believes that with each life he harms, it opens an opportunity for that life to become more focused, harder working, less lazy and more frugal. Governor Rauner believes that the uncertainties of life are necessary in order to make people better off, enhancing our entire society.
So this man doesn’t respect you as a citizen. He only respects you as a consumer, someone who can prove their worth in a marketplace. As the head of a government, this kind of thinking is downright dangerous for everyone. When everyone is on their own, there will be no constructive means of binding them together to address an issue.
If Illinois wants to be shaken up like this, then expect acceptance of a new way of thinking about who we are. Less equal. A wolf at every door, an empty pot in every kitchen - for your own good.
Not a kinder, gentler state - a chaotic free for all where only the folks with the money rule.
- Pass45 - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 9:44 am:
How do you say the Democrats passed an unbalanced budget when you present a $2 billion budget hole by not paying into the state pension system? You fix it by threatening layoffs. Who’s being dishonest here? It’s not the legislature….
- Just Observing - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 9:45 am:
Rauner should commute the sentences of all non-violent drug offenders — that will save some serious cash.
- Rahm'sMiddleFinger - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 9:46 am:
Where is his budget?
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 9:49 am:
So the governor is making cuts to a budget that doesnt exist for the fiscal year that has not started.
That’s good practice, I guess.
Perhaps after the ad campaign, he can get down to it for realsies.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 9:50 am:
This is actual governing in crisis.
If the $34 million that may be used in Ads forthcoming also try to put the blame squarely on the Democratic leaders, in targeted districts, that will have more of a political impact then just, by press release, announce this first round of Rauner governing by crisis.
The point of no return? It’s up to the “3″ to decide that: Rauner, Cullerton and Madigan.
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 9:51 am:
So these are the first of the Rauner cuts. Time to own them pal. You just made them, instead of working with the Dems on a needed revenue boost.
Oh, but you say the dems aren’t working with you on your turnaround agenda (all 5 items).
Quit holding out for that. You’re hurting real people in the meantime.
- Linus - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 9:52 am:
Because taking away working parents’ child care help is going to *help* business and cut the unemployment rate.
Right?
- DuPage - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 9:53 am:
So this is how Rauner is able to “not need” the income tax extension. Suspending programs to attract businesses is exactly opposite to his campaign promises to bring more businesses into Illinois.
- A Jack - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 9:54 am:
I actually didn’t know we had five state museums. I think Dickson Mounds should be closed permanently anyway. While they do now cover the remains, it still seems a bit disrespectful to me.
These cuts look like tiny drops in the bucket. Are we going to get some numbers for the savings?
- Liberty - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 9:54 am:
What crazy spin. Rauner is having to cut all these services because the GA won’t cut services?
Politicians come up the the best non sequiturs…
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 9:56 am:
Here’s what I always reminded my fellow GOP friends when they assume that Speaker Boehner “caved” on budget negotiations:
Barack Obama is the President. Similar to our Governor, the President is required to submit a budget proposal to Congress. Congress then puts it into motion via the legislative process. President Obama can veto, pocket veto or line item veto cuts. He and his staff can also shift funds around as needed, and they call the shots on programmatic spending. Congress can hoop & holler all they want, but that’s about it.
This furor reared its ugly head during the recent immigration debate. Congress can’t pass a budget and then force the President to only spend money on things they want.
Yes, there are protected programs. But even that is not as sacrosanct as people think.
The point here is that the Governor still controls the overall budgeting process after the money comes in. Again - he can’t necessarily just start plucking protected funds out of the pension system or federally-matched Medicaid programs. But he and his staff have enough leeway to make a point and stick with it. I’m sorry if people don’t like that, but as with the federal system that’s just the way it is.
The state had a chance 7 years ago to vote for a new Con-Con. The voters rejected it - even in the midst of Blago going down in flames. Why is that important?! All proposals have to meet Constitutional muster. For all the bloviating, we had a chance to fix how the Executive Branch handles the budgetary process. We had a chance to enact term limits and real redistricting reform. We voted it down. This is the system the voters decided to keep. So if people decided to cry about it, they need to wipe their tears and find the nearest mirror.
- Rod - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 9:59 am:
Here is what is interesting last Firday at the press conference at the mansion he pretty clearly said he wasn’t going to sign off on the Democrats budget bills. Now in this press release his office says: “Outlined below are steps the Administration is initiating today in order to begin balancing the phony Madigan-Cullerton budget. Many additional steps will be announced as they are fin
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:02 am:
Rauner can say what he wants, but these are his choices. Choices that appear to be more vindictive than strategic.
Next step?
- Cassiopeia - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:02 am:
I assume he will do a line item reduction to the budget that has passed the GA in order to match the available revenue and the Dems will scream.
Normally this would be seen as the responsible thing to do.
- DuPage - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:05 am:
@Team Sleep9:56 =President Obama can veto, pocket veto, or line item veto cuts.=
I might be mistaken, but I have always heard the President does not have line item veto power.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:06 am:
Agree, these aren’t “cuts”, that’s why calling this Rauner governing in crisis.
There needs to be something tangible, existing, to cut.
With no budget approved, voted, signed, and implimemted, no cuts.
We’re still in FY2015, so can these “decisions” be beneficial, back-handedly, to FY2015 ending numbers?
These first round decisions by using the power of the Executive is the political leverage Rauner is choosing. Choosing.
- Peoria Guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:06 am:
^^Oh, but you say the dems aren’t working with you on your turnaround agenda (all 5 items).
Quit holding out for that. You’re hurting real people in the meantime.^^
Maybe Madigan and Cullerton should quit “holding out”. It is a two way street
- Casual Observer - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:07 am:
Get ready to hear “the Madigan-Cullerton budget” over and over and over. He’s going to keep saying it until it sticks and people can’t call it the Governor’s budget.
- Georg Sande - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:07 am:
In the political messaging war that has begun and will likely continue throughout the summer, the Governor is squarely ahead … he also has the easiest message for citizens to accept. #GameChanger
- Peoria Guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:08 am:
Um, I don’t think Rauner invented “political leverage.” Madigan has turned it into an art form.
- Rod - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:08 am:
On Friday the Governor at his mansion press conference seemed to indicate he was going to veto the Democrat budget bills. Now we get this: “Outlined below are steps the Administration is initiating today in order to begin balancing the phony Madigan-Cullerton budget. Many additional steps will be announced as they are finalized.”
So is he now going to sign off on the Democrat budget and carry out $3 billion in administratively directed cuts? You can’t do both. Some clarity needs to be provided to the public, because some of the media has interpreted this press release as a preparation for for a government shut down on July 1. I don’t see how that interpretation makes any sense because if there is no appropriation only essential emergency services continue as I recall. So these proposals would make no sense I the situation of a full shut down.
- Percival - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:10 am:
Wow. You guys are really going to hate the next round.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:10 am:
DuPage - you are correct. My apologies for the error. Upon further research, SCOTUS actually found the line item veto to be unconstitutional (Clinton v. City of New York).
I do know that Presidents Reagan and Clinton both called for it, and various Senators have attempted to insert a limited provision to allow for the line item removal of “pork”.
- Shemp - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:11 am:
Regardless, I think the Gov has managed to find the upperhand in the debate (take the prior “Decatur” post for example) and the Dems are going to be fighting an uphill PR battle the rest of the way. People may not know all the nuances, but they know the status quo is broke, the State is beyond broke, and now some outside guy (regardless of tactics or background) is waving a reform battle flag while the “opposition” submits a $3-4billion deficit. Talk about optics….
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:12 am:
It can be argued that Rauner can take any budget, his, the Dems, an agreed to budget, and just not follow through on the spending of certain non-essential or required budgetary necessities.
- Goldwater Republican - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:12 am:
I am pretty sure he is owning these cuts. Originally some of these items were going to happen quietly, they were necessary cuts that were going to happen regardless of the budget or not. Because this is being publically announced he is completely owning the cuts and he is proving that he is not playing around. come to the table or the government may face a shut down. and Vanilla man I enjoyed your rhetoric If i didn’t know better I would say you were writing the prologue for some type of manifesto…
- Salty - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:13 am:
They claim this would save $400 million and the budget is $4 billion out of whack. 10% of the way there and presumably it only gets harder…
- walker - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:14 am:
Some of these will play well with the public, and would have been announced by Governor Rauner no matter what Madigan handed him.
Good to have a scapegoat, though, just in case.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:14 am:
TS, s president is not Constitutionally required to submit a budget and does not have line time powers. In addition, through the budget and impoundment act, a president cannot shift money around.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:15 am:
Well …
At least in this first round, he isn’t targeting K-12 education which is normally the first thing to be cut, so I’ll give him a bit of credit for living up to his campaign statement about education being a priority.
I would like to see the estimated savings numbers for each action; somehow, I don’t think there is $3B here.
Like other commenters, I’m thinking some of the proposed cuts are penny wise and pound foolish … but I guess we’ll know for sure in several years.
- Georg Sande - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:16 am:
This —> “Wow. You guys are really going to hate the next round.”
- walker - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:20 am:
Rauner’s message to the public: “Because the Democrats didn’t give me a balanced budget, I must make these spending cuts now.”
Think about that for a second…
The Dems didn’t give him enough money to spend.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:21 am:
Grounding the state planes is just a little poke in the eye to Madigan and Cullteron.
Museum closures don’t make sense to me, but whatever.
- Juice - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:22 am:
Salty, they can claim $400 million, but a number of those items aren’t even GRF. So unless the Governor is proposing another sweep of the Road Fund, the Illiana cut is pointless since it can’t happen anytime soon anyways, he’s just trying to lay blame on the Dems for that.
And Peoria Guy, what are Madigan and Cullerton holding out for? Do tell? Because it doesn’t appear to be revenue. They seem to be more than comfortable passing an unbalanced budget and handing it over to the Governor and say “you said you can balance it without new revenue, go for it.”
- SAP - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:23 am:
==It can be argued that Rauner can take any budget, his, the Dems, an agreed to budget, and just not follow through on the spending of certain non-essential or required budgetary necessities.== I have made that argument several times. The danger for the Governor, of course, is that $3 Billion in Rauner cuts or Rauner taxes make it the Rauner Budget. The Governor doesn’t get out of this as anything other than the Grinch.
- The Unknown Poster - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:23 am:
State parks and historic sites could be next. Remember when Obama shut down national parks during the partial federal shutdown a few years ago?
- walker - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:28 am:
Georg Sand and Percival:
Don’t hate this at all.
Just laughable that Rauner thinks he can pull off these cuts not being his to own.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:30 am:
President Obama can veto, pocket veto or line item veto cuts.
No he can’t. Congress attempted to grant this power to the president by the Line Item Veto Act of 1996 to control “pork barrel spending”, but in 1998 the US Supreme Court ruled the act to be unconstitutional in a 6-3 decision in Clinton v. City of New York.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:31 am:
This has now become political Ping Pong. Unfortunately, this is the kind of thing that can go on for a while.
While we’ve always been warned what could happen, we’ve never really had to see or experience it because gaps were plugged with irresponsible borrowing and irresponsible decisions not to fund pensions.
Now you’re seeing the “effect” side of cause and effect. It’s not pretty and it can only get uglier. Ugh.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:34 am:
==People may not know all the nuances, but they know the status quo is broke, the State is beyond broke, and now some outside guy (regardless of tactics or background) is waving a reform battle flag while the “opposition” submits a $3-4billion deficit.==
Yeah, that all worked great for the last two Governors…
- Peoria Guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:35 am:
well said A guy.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:36 am:
==I assume he will do a line item reduction to the budget that has passed the GA in order to match the available revenue and the Dems will scream.==
Well, they’ll “scream”. But I suspect it’ll be along the lines of “No, please don’t throw me into that briar patch!”
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:42 am:
I believe Madigan was quoted the other day in an article that he’s willing to offer up Medicaid cuts. Democrats have repeatedly taken the knife to a few of their key constituents–public unions and recipients of social services. Now Democrats are supposed to give special consideration to a few of Rauner’s agenda items because it’s impossible for Republican voters to accept tax increases without the items? I’m sorry, but don’t color me willing to buy it.
If cutting benefits to the poor and sick is not enough compromise for small or moderate tax increases, it raises questions to me about our character.
I want a millionaire surcharge and helped campaign for a progressive income tax amendment. I had to wait for MMJ and SSM, which didn’t pass the first time around. I recommend that the governor may also want to consider waiting for his agenda items and pushing them at another time, if he can’t get them now.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:48 am:
Word - yes and no.
The Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 requires the President to submit an actual budget proposal to Congress (i.e. not just bullet points and requests). I did some quick research on the matter and, to date, no President has skirted that duty and (from what I could find) SCOTUS has taken no cases on the constitutionality of the Act.
On the other, good catch. However - and I say this without wearing a tin foil hat - I am not so sure that the Budget & Impoundment Act of 1974 is followed as strictly as some people assume or hope. Before you think I am the one making that argument, I offer you analysis from a man who is much smarter and in tune with Constitutional Law than myself:
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/11/18/constitutional-limits-of-presidential-action-on-immigration-12/the-constitutional-authority-for-executive-orders-on-immigration-is-clear
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:49 am:
VMan - thank you for being the 3rd person to correct me on that. I admitted my error and apologized.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:53 am:
TS, no good deed goes unpunished early and often here. Good thing is; you can copy and paste your apology for the next 6 hours! lol
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:01 am:
His expertise in nursing home’s is stellar
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:02 am:
VMan - thank you for being the 3rd person to correct me on that. I admitted my error and apologized.
Third time’s the charm!
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:09 am:
==I assume he will do a line item reduction to the budget that has passed the GA==
I wouldn’t assume anything.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:10 am:
If you generously give the Governor the full $400 million in savings, that means the budget is only what, $2.8 billion out of whack?
And does this mean he’ll sign this budget? He is making hypothetical cuts to a hypothetical budget. I guess that makes him a hypothetical Governor.
- aunt_petunia - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:16 am:
Isn’t it past time for Governor Rauner to detail what we bought for the $120K in state funds spent on the Arduin contract? Or was that just Governor Rauner using state funds to kiss the rings of Laffer and the right-wing supply-siders in preparation for a future presidential run?
- G'Kar - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:20 am:
I’m not into the minutia as many of you (and that is not meant to be snark, as I read this blog because I learn so much from all of you–those I agree with and those who I don’t). So, I was wondering what is cut in the budget passed by the GA? Didn’t they cut between 2 and 3 billion from the FY 15 budget? TIA!
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:22 am:
Demoralized, this is not about contingency planning. This is about making people scream. He’s just hoping that more people scream at Madigan/Cullerton than scream at him.
- illinifan - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:30 am:
Would love to see a cost impact statement on these $400 million in cuts. Some of these cuts may actually cost the system more than they save. For example seniors who lose home care wind up in nursing homes. 80% of nursing home costs are paid by Medicaid and nursing homes cost more than home care (this is cut that won’t save but cost). Lose child care options could result in lost jobs, lost state income taxes and cost of other welfare benefits increasing. Sometimes it takes money to save money. These cuts come across more as being mean spirited and not really cost effective.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:32 am:
==Demoralized, this is not about contingency planning. This is about making people scream.==
That’s part of it. Of course. But I can tell you it is about contingency planning.
People act like everyone should just sit around until everything is figured out. Nothing to worry about. Don’t need any plans. We’ll just wing it when it comes time.
I get annoyed when people start yelling “it’s just to scare people.” Of course it is. But guess what? If they don’t approve new revenues you ain’t seen nothing yet. I defending Quinn against those that cried “scare tactics.” The stuff is about to hit the fan. Why in the world would anyone sit around waiting to get hit in the face. You plan. That’s what responsible people do.
A guy - you’ve got to give me props today. C’mon man. I sound like you. lol
- zonz - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:39 am:
@ Team Sleep
You are ignorant of the federal budget process, and it shows
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:43 am:
Demoralized, you’re still in and involved so if you tell me that your agency was involved in contingency planning for some of these announced cuts than I have to defer to your experience.
Otherwise, I think we’re talking about apples (what you and I agree should be happening) and oranges (what Rauner is trying to do).
- Nieva - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:59 am:
One thing for sure he has accomplished is a reduction in the amount of work getting done by state workers. Most of the folks I know are spending several hours a day talking about what is going to happen to their jobs when he gets done cutting….
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:03 pm:
===A guy - you’ve got to give me props today. C’mon man. I sound like you. lol===
I almost needed a cigarette after that comment and then remembered I don’t smoke!- lol.
Demo, I give you props everyday. And we disagree a lot on stuff. But, we don’t disagree on the fact you’re a pro. Preparation is more important than just about everything else. Peace brother.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:06 pm:
=== zonz - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:39 am:
@ Team Sleep
You are ignorant of the federal budget process, and it shows====
Throwing a yellow flag on you Z. Be nicer. Your posts are formatted on another planet. People are patient with you. pay it forward.
- Gary from Chicagoland - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:10 pm:
It’s a revenue problem and politics are getting in the way solving this impasse quickly. Follow the blueprints from California? First make major cuts that give pain to the public, then get Springfield and the public voters to pass constitutional State income tax changes. In other words, allow Illinois get a progessive State tax: the more income you earn the more State tax you owe. In CA, I think the millionaires tax is 13.3%, while a $25K income is taxed only at 4%. CA is now rolling in tax cash when before they were broke. However, it took years for CA to complete this task. Getting Almighty Bruce to sign off on the higher tax rates and Springfield to pass some of Rauner’s agenda items will take time, which will be much longer than the July 1 deadline.
- zonz - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:16 pm:
basics of federal budget process
http://www.cbpp.org/research/policy-basics-introduction-to-the-federal-budget-process
This backgrounder describes the laws and procedures under which Congress decides how much money to spend each year, what to spend it on, and how to raise the money to pay for that spending. The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 lays out a formal framework for developing and enforcing a “budget resolution” to guide the process but in recent years the process has not always worked as envisioned.
We address:
the President’s annual budget request, which is supposed to kick off the budget process;
the congressional budget resolution — how it is developed, what it contains, and what happens if there is no budget resolution;
how the terms of the budget resolution are enforced in the House and Senate;
budget “reconciliation,” an optional procedure used in some years to facilitate the passage of legislation amending tax or entitlement law;
and
statutory deficit-control measures — spending caps, pay-as-you-go requirements, and sequestration.
- Hit or Miss - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:41 pm:
===Immediate suspension of all future incentive offers to companies for business attraction and retention.===
From the Rauner point of view I can see all but of the cuts that he has announced. The one I do not understand is the suspension of the incentives to business. He has shown him self, except in this case, to be very pro-business. I wonder what his reasoning is for this specific cut? He has said he is not for tax increases. However here is Rauner ending some tax breaks which effectively will mean a tax increase for some businesses.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:50 pm:
Zonz - you’re a jerk, and it shows. I’d say worse but I really like participating on this site and I don’t wanna get banned.
I’m a former Congressional staffer. I know the process all too well, and I faced a minimum of three potential missed/delayed paychecks because of budget standoffs. I’ve seen more budgetary maneuvers than one of Rod Blagojevich’s old accountants. So please don’t lecture me on my knowledge or (your perceived) lack thereof.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 1:08 pm:
TS, Z isn’t worth the band width. Let it go.
- Juvenal - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 1:49 pm:
From the news release:
=== Implement an audit review of nursing home reimbursements to ensure payments comply with recently implemented new rate structure.
Recover overpayments to nursing homes and implement financial penalties for improper billings. ===
Um, governor, why haven’t we been doing this already, and isn’t it a good thing?
- Ghostbusters - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 2:54 pm:
@ The Unknown Poster - “State parks and historic sites could be next. Remember when Obama shut down national parks during the partial federal shutdown a few years ago?”
The President didn’t decide what parts of the gov’t to shut down or not.
Congress legislates the authority (or not) for the President to spend money to execute government functions (Congress = legislative; President = executive). Congress decided to not authorize any more spending at all - other than defense and some other vital functions.
If the Republicans running Congress thought national parks were vital to the survival of these United States they should have authorized the President to keep them open and then funded it appropriately.
That entire scenario is entirely different than Gov. Rauner’s plan to shut down state museums in order to save a few percent of the overall state budget gap.