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Just because we have checks doesn’t mean there’s money in the account
Tuesday, Apr 4, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller * Tony Arnold at WBEZ…
The comptroller’s office has been treating the transit district as a hardship case, so they’re pretty much current on their vouchers. As with everything else, this is a triage operation. You hand out enough cash to keep as many vendors alive as you can. * A set amount of money is supposed to be transferred from the General Revenue Fund (the state’s “checkbook”) to the Downstate Transportation Fund every month. But because the state’s revenues are dwarfed by its expenditures, that hasn’t always happened going back maybe a year. As of today, the comptroller has $79.1 million in pending vouchers for that fund, but the fund only actually contains $264,038.16. The lawsuit is here. The plaintiffs essentially want the judge to force the state to pay into that transportation fund as required. But the only way to truly resolve this is with a real budget. And that increasingly looks unlikely. * For instance, this is from CBS 2…
This is the second time in a couple of weeks that Harmon has said this. I checked in with him about it today and he said “I also emphasized that the Senate is ready to negotiate a balanced budget, including spending cuts and revenue, but we need a willing negotiating partner.” Harmon also said they’re working every day to get a budget because going without one would be “unthinkable.” But the unthinkable could become reality. And that means the day may very well be coming when the comptroller will have to choose which judicial order or consent decree to violate in order to abide by another one. What. A. Mess.
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- Cassandra - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 11:06 am:
It’s the judge (any judge) as the decider approach to state government budgeting.
If the judge says you get your money, you get it via court order. If the judge says get in line, you get in line.
Maybe we are all monarchists at heart. In which case why bother with the legislature and the governor. Just make sure you have enough judges.
- Montrose - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 11:08 am:
“As of today, the comptroller has $79.1 million in pending vouchers for that fund, but the fund only actually contains $264,038.16.”
This. I have gotten numb to the litany of devastating numbers we see on a daily basis related to the budget crisis. This number rocked me. I realize these numbers fluctuate a lot and that tomorrow the amount in GRF could quadruple for any number of reasons, but the state having barely over a quarter million in the bank against $79 million in expenses? We are never going to get out of this mess.
- Perrid - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 11:10 am:
What happens if the comptroller does have to pick “winning” consent decrees? Obviously the State gets sued for the violation, but could there be extra penalties/contempt charges? What could or would the judiciary do?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 11:12 am:
Montrose - the quarter million is in the Downstate Transportation Fund, not GRF.
- Juice - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 11:17 am:
Well, for what it’s worth, there’s nothing keeping the Comptroller from delaying payments to the pension funds or general state aid. So those could go before violating consent decrees.
- don the legend - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 11:19 am:
Today’s CF headlines cover Mass Transit, Community Colleges, AFSCME, Medicaid, Infrastructure, No balanced budget and Domestic Violence shelters. All these areas where Rauner is failing and we are worse off. Besides the IPI and Lucky who thinks Rauner can possible survive this? (50 million reasons, I know)
- Oh Boy - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 11:20 am:
Senator Harmon said “including spending cuts”?
That sounds like a breakthrough.
- The Dude Abides - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 11:38 am:
I agree that the Governor is in no hurry for a budget. He still believes that as the crisis continues and things worsen the Democrats will gradually give him more and more of what he wants. Rauner will need a balanced budget before November 2018 if he wants to get reelected so he still has time. He said just last week that “we are winning” so that tells me that he’s in no hurry.
- Last Bull Moose - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 11:46 am:
Unspecified spending cuts is a useless phrase. Most specific spending cuts hurt someone. Most cuts of State funds also costs the State Federal dollars. This compounds the pain.
- Foster brooks - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 12:05 pm:
I’m guessing both sides would rather have a judge do the dirty work for them
- Earnest - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 12:08 pm:
>“I also emphasized that the Senate is ready to negotiate a balanced budget, including spending cuts and revenue, but we need a willing negotiating partner.”
Agreed. I think the main reason we don’t have a budget is the control Rauner/Executive Branch has over the Republicans in the Legislative Branch. Unfortunately, I don’t see that changing.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 12:09 pm:
There are plenty of state funds that are not called General Revenue but that rely on regular infusions from General Revenue. As GRF has dried up, so too have those other funds. This is just the tip of the ice berg.
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 12:13 pm:
Senator Harmon predicted there would be no budget for the next two years a few weeks back.
He is not willing to negotiate permanent income tax increases in exchange for permanent property tax freeze.
He told Rauner to take it or leave it blowing up the Grand Compromise
- The Dude Abides - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 12:34 pm:
@LP People in the know said that they were a little surprised that the Senate Democrats went as far as they did in compromising, indicating that they really wanted a deal. You are engaging in revisionist history. You should get a job as a spokesperson for this Administration, you’d fit right in.
- J IL - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 12:58 pm:
Unfortunately people are going to have to die for this to come to some type of resolution. The unthinkable is that may not even be enough.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 1:10 pm:
== He is not willing to negotiate permanent income tax increases in exchange for permanent property tax freeze. ==
The State does not NEED a property tax freeze; Rauner just WANTS a property tax freeze.
Undeniably, the State NEEDS more revenue and the easiest path is an increased income tax. Rauner NEEDS the revenue; it is NEED of the State, not a want.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 1:15 pm:
===He is not willing to negotiate permanent income tax increases in exchange for permanent property tax freeze.
He told Rauner to take it or leave it blowing up the Grand Compromise===
That is 100% untrue.
Rauner blew up the Grand Compromise and Leader Radogno, herself…
… said there was no “take it it leave it” ultimatums.
Leader Radogno?
===No Governor’s spokesman, even Goldberg speaks for the Senate caucus. Also, the Grand bargain is not and never has been “take it or leave it” from Cullerton. We are still working on final version with more give and take.===
- Dee Lay - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 1:26 pm:
“The Senate is ready to negotiate a balanced budget, including spending cuts and revenue, but we need a willing negotiating partner.”
If the Dems had a capable communications org., this would be the message. Again and Again.
- tobias846 - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 3:04 pm:
Years ago, I remember hearing a second-hand anecdote about the GRF having only $19 in it at some point. I believe this was during the Blagojevich years.
- My New Handle - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 3:16 pm:
It surprises me that the Dems don’t have any consistent coherent messaging. Steve Brown works at developing messaging as a PR consultant (aside from being M. Madigan’s spokesperson) and has had some success in that field from what I understand.
- ste_with_a_v_en - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 4:25 pm:
Anyone see this today? http://senatormcconchie.com/Media/News/p/116348/v/2000/gop-senators-unveil-taxpayer-bargain
- blue dog dem - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 4:54 pm:
Just curious. Anybody know what this transit district charges for that round trip to the airport?