* Press release…
Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) and Illinois Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) filed joint resolutions today to adopt a revenue estimate in order to begin the budgeting process for fiscal year 2019.
“It is our constitutional duty to taxpayers across Illinois to spend within our means – something we have not done in decades here at the Capitol,” Durkin said. “The rejection of certifying a revenue estimate in Springfield is not acceptable and is legislative malpractice. We owe it to Illinois taxpayers to take this first step in finally balancing the state’s checkbook and putting Illinois on the right track towards fiscal stability.”
House Joint Resolution 124 adopts a revenue estimate of $37.672 billion for fiscal year 2019, based on the estimate provided by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA).
* I might take them more seriously if the Senate President’s office hadn’t been told of their idea by a reporter…
Cullerton’s spokesperson said he welcomes the Republican leaders’ interest in being part of the budget process and he’s even more optimistic we’ll have an on-time budget deal. He adds the estimate is the first Cullerton had heard of it.
* I’m hearing that the budgeteers haven’t even gotten to a revenue estimate for next fiscal year because the administration wants to focus the talks on a supplemental approp for this fiscal year…
“Gov. Rauner has made his priorities clear on behalf of the people of Illinois, we need a balanced, full-year budget with no tax increases,” Rauner spokesperson Rachel Bold said in an email. “The governor presented a balanced budget to the General Assembly. It’s time for the General Assembly to work with us – acknowledge what revenue is available and control spending.”
Durkin said if House Speaker Mike Madigan doesn’t advance a revenue estimate resolution, his members will work to slow things down.
“We’ve shown this week and the last two weeks that when the Democrats are not going to be fair with us, that we could make the process not so easy,” Durkin said. “But the point of this is it is a damn state law that we do not follow.”
This is all so goofy. Yes, they should eventually pass a revenue estimate, but the GOGFA and GOMB estimates are nearly identical - less than 0.3 percent apart. They’re kicking all this dust in the air over what’s basically a premature process argument.
And, yeah, I get it. They’re the minority party. So, that’s what they do. But for once I’d like to see the Republican leadership triumvirate in this state actually negotiate in good faith on a budget without all the press conference nonsense. Former Leader Radogno did that last year, but the other two did not.
* And here’s an interesting little angle…
State Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, said a revenue estimate is required, but “the only revenue estimate I will support, the only one, is one that repeals the Madigan-Rauner tax hike.”
Rep. McSweeney is not alone. Some are claiming that any Republicans who vote for a revenue estimate bill are essentially endorsing last year’s tax hike. It’s just silly political gamesmanship, but it might be something that Durkin’s co-sponsors who are also targets (*cough*Parkhurst, Long, McAuliffe*cough*) might want to consider.
- wordslinger - Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 12:46 pm:
–* I’m hearing that the budgeteers haven’t even gotten to a revenue estimate for next fiscal year because the administration wants to focus the talks on a supplemental approp for this fiscal year…–
Say whaaattttt? Rauner spent all the new money from the tax increase already?
Dude, you got an income tax bump of 32%, and you spent all 12 months of it plus more in less than ten months?
Doesn’t anyone want to be in charge of the executive branch?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 12:52 pm:
===Some are claiming that any Republicans who vote for a revenue estimate bill are essentially endorsing last year’s tax hike.===
… just as Rauner signing the budget, Rauner would be considered endorsing that 32% tax hike too
===It’s just silly political gamesmanship…===
… as Rauner whining about the tax increase, then spending far over it, by $1.1 billion.
===…but it might be something that… might want to consider.===
(Insert Rauner)
You can’t hammer away at a tax increase you’re gk By to sign to balance a budget and run in as an accomplishment.
Rep. McSweeney is on point.
- illini - Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 12:57 pm:
=== It’s just silly political gamesmanship ===
Exactly correct.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 12:58 pm:
===It’s just silly political gamesmanship…===
Rich is also very much on point.
After what Rauner did to Radogno…
The Dem leaders should work with Republicans finished wit the destruction of Illinois, and cobble 71 and 36 in a bipartisan manner, and be done with this nonsense.
Rauner has yet to sign any budget, let alone thinking Rauner, politically, can sign a budget needing and requiring that 32% tax increase.
Let Rauner veto. Override. See what November brings.
Enough is enough.
- Perrid - Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 1:02 pm:
It would be incredibly foolish and irresponsible to roll back the taxes, even if they cut $5 billion, which would be more than just cutting the fat. We’re drowning in debt; how could anyone think limiting the state’s revenue is the first step?
- Demoralized - Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 1:12 pm:
Perhaps Rep. McSweeney can also show us what his budget would look like by adopting a revenue estimate that doesn’t include the additional revenue from the new tax rate.
- Anonymous - Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 1:28 pm:
“Less revenue, more spending” - close your eyes and guess which party champions this……. (If you said Democrat, you win. If you say Republican, you win.).
- Smitty Irving - Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 2:02 pm:
How about just a straight up or down vote on COGFA’s estimate?
- 47th Ward - Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 2:18 pm:
===Former Leader Radogno did that last year, but the other two did not.===
And it’s one reason why the adjective “former” is used to describe her. Too bad neither Durkin nor Brady have the (expletive deleted) that Radogno had to be her own person and actually lead her caucus.
- Honeybear - Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 3:12 pm:
Why is there a preference for COGFA if IDOR/GOMB numbers are only .3 percent off? Wouldn’t that show IDOR/GOMB have made the necessary improvements and proficiencies to be credible? It’s almost like they had the narrative before they had the numbers. Then shockingly the numbers proved to be sound and peer reviewed so to speak by cogfa.
I’m confused about what was supposed to happen if the numbers were off? And then what happened to make them so close?
Seems like a play got botched by people doing a good job.
I hope they were union workers
Wouldn’t that be great
Rauner thwarted by union folks doing their job
But seriously
What’s going on with this?
Seems more than games
I admit I don’t know
Not a leading question
I sense a big play here