Met with Dem House and Senate leaders today. We want to match spending and revenues. That’s a novel concept in the General Assembly where it hasn’t been done for many, many years. First step is straightforward, and it is the law: certify FY19 revenue.
Resign? Just kidding. He should develop a budget based on anticipated revenue. With full pension payments and getting current on past due bills. He should then show the cuts necessary to get to that number. That’s what fiscal conservatives do. Let his opposition rail for the exact tax increases needed to restore those cuts. That what he should do.
There’s a sexy topic to rally the base around. Starve the state of a budget (again) until we certify those revenues!
I can already see the bumper stickers. If he goes to the wall for this he’s even more inept than every one of his previous actions has indicated. No one in the general public cares about revenue certification. Sign a budget.
If his budget director agrees to the numbers, I think he will need to go along this time. That being said, the Governor rarely does the right thing. He will probably let the process play out, blame others for everything, and issue a veto.
I think he should set conditions that will be met anyway (full year rather than six month budget, no new taxes, sun to keep rising in the East, balance revenues with expenses), have his legislators vote for it, sign it, and proclaim that the Democrats finally compromised with him and that this is just the beginning of what he’ll accomplish in his second term. And he and his legislators can then campaign on voting to fund payment of state vendors, higher education, social services, etc.
I’m not sure what costume one wears for this, but he should sit with his BTIM and make some budget assumptions and then try to develop a budget that serves the needs of the people in Illinois.
“We want to match spending and revenues. That’s a novel concept in the General Assembly where it hasn’t been done for many, many years.” Gov. Rauner, May 8, 2018
The actual record:
Illinois last ended its fiscal year with a general funds budgetary surplus (GF available balance > lapse period spending) in FY2001, when the AB was greater than LPS by some $300 million.
As measured by declining GF budgetary deficits, however, Illinois last had a balanced budget (current year spending less than current year revenues) in FY2015, when the deficit declined by slightly more than $1 billion.
Starting with FY2002, Gov. Ryan’s next-to-last last budget, through FY2015, Gov. Quinn’s last budget, the GF budgetary deficit improved in eight of 14 years, meaning spending was less than revenues in each of those years, with each year’s surplus reducing the deficit.
Sources: Illinois Comptroller Reports, Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability.
FY15 balanced after the GA and the Governor came together to fix the out of balanced budget that was originally passed. It included, borrowing, borrowing forgiveness, and fund sweeps
- Casual observer - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 3:36 pm:
My apologies for my ignorance on this, but who has the authority to certify FY19 revenue? It sounds like the Governor is drawing a line in the water.
- blue dog dem - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 3:36 pm:
Resign? Just kidding. He should develop a budget based on anticipated revenue. With full pension payments and getting current on past due bills. He should then show the cuts necessary to get to that number. That’s what fiscal conservatives do. Let his opposition rail for the exact tax increases needed to restore those cuts. That what he should do.
- RNUG - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 3:39 pm:
Already testing his excuse for vetoing the FY19 budget.
- PJ - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 3:41 pm:
There’s a sexy topic to rally the base around. Starve the state of a budget (again) until we certify those revenues!
I can already see the bumper stickers. If he goes to the wall for this he’s even more inept than every one of his previous actions has indicated. No one in the general public cares about revenue certification. Sign a budget.
- Retired Educator - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 3:44 pm:
If his budget director agrees to the numbers, I think he will need to go along this time. That being said, the Governor rarely does the right thing. He will probably let the process play out, blame others for everything, and issue a veto.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 3:44 pm:
Rauber needs to veto the budget.
Rauner, politically, cant sign a budget the uses the 32% tax increase to balance. It ruins his re-election message.
This is just a setup for a man that will in his entire term never signs any budgets. Whew.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 3:47 pm:
Revenue estimates are certified by joint resolution through the House and the Senate and are required by statute.!
- Earnest - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 3:47 pm:
I think he should set conditions that will be met anyway (full year rather than six month budget, no new taxes, sun to keep rising in the East, balance revenues with expenses), have his legislators vote for it, sign it, and proclaim that the Democrats finally compromised with him and that this is just the beginning of what he’ll accomplish in his second term. And he and his legislators can then campaign on voting to fund payment of state vendors, higher education, social services, etc.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 3:53 pm:
===and are required by statute===
OK, but should he veto the budget without one?
- JS Mill - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 4:02 pm:
If there is an estimate then yes. Formal or informal an estimate is just that and not exact.
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 4:06 pm:
If the revenue estimate has changed, is Rauner going to submit a newly “balanced” budget that accounts for the changes?
- MickJ - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 4:14 pm:
move to Italy now - not kidding
- Jocko - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 4:29 pm:
==First step is straightforward, and it is the law==
Um, I thought the first step was for you to prepare and submit to the GA a budget for the ensuing fiscal year.
- Flynn's Mom - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 4:34 pm:
I’m not sure what costume one wears for this, but he should sit with his BTIM and make some budget assumptions and then try to develop a budget that serves the needs of the people in Illinois.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 4:53 pm:
An incumbent without accomplishments won’t play nice, just for the headlines.
- Huh? - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 5:07 pm:
“I’m not sure what costume one wears for this”
Short pants,Charlie Brown t-shirt, and a spinner beanie
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 5:20 pm:
When was the last time the HDems submitted a revenue estimate?
That notwithstanding, yes he should require it.
- Ron - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 5:33 pm:
I agree with Blue Dog.
- Barrington - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 5:36 pm:
Rauner should do what will be best for him when he is no longer governor.
- Annonin' - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 5:49 pm:
Let’s say “yes” to the budget veto IF he repays the state for the $1.3 billion of unautrhorized, unappropriated spendin’ in the current FY18 budget.
Let’s all acknowledge the nonsense of asking for a revenue estimate
- charlie wheeler - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 6:29 pm:
Points of Information re balanced budgets
“We want to match spending and revenues. That’s a novel concept in the General Assembly where it hasn’t been done for many, many years.” Gov. Rauner, May 8, 2018
The actual record:
Illinois last ended its fiscal year with a general funds budgetary surplus (GF available balance > lapse period spending) in FY2001, when the AB was greater than LPS by some $300 million.
As measured by declining GF budgetary deficits, however, Illinois last had a balanced budget (current year spending less than current year revenues) in FY2015, when the deficit declined by slightly more than $1 billion.
Starting with FY2002, Gov. Ryan’s next-to-last last budget, through FY2015, Gov. Quinn’s last budget, the GF budgetary deficit improved in eight of 14 years, meaning spending was less than revenues in each of those years, with each year’s surplus reducing the deficit.
Sources: Illinois Comptroller Reports, Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability.
Charlie Wheeler
- Anonymous - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 8:37 pm:
= charlie wheeler - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 6:29 pm: =
Thank you for stating the Facts. It is very refreshing.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 8:57 pm:
FY15 balanced after the GA and the Governor came together to fix the out of balanced budget that was originally passed. It included, borrowing, borrowing forgiveness, and fund sweeps