* From the twitters…

For a rundown on an epic #Illinois Senate appropriations committee, check out @hannahmeisel's tweets. Real, dire threats? Or scare tactics?

— Amanda Vinicky (@AmandaVinicky) March 21, 2014

* So, I took a look. It appears that the Senate Republicans are still claiming that there’s plenty of money to go around, even with the expiration of most of the income tax hike, and that the Democrats are just trying to scare people by laying out what programs will have to be cut. This rhetoric flies in the face of projections from the bipartisan, bicameral projections by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, which are incorporated into today’s testimony.

*** UPDATE *** I’ve experienced a bit of gnarly push-back, so let me be clear here.

The Senate Republicans have said for years that the Democrats weren’t cutting nearly enough to avoid a catastrophe when the income tax hike expired. The SGOPs have also complained for years that not enough was being cut so the state could pay down old bills.

But now, when their predictions appear to be coming true, the SGOPs say “All is well!!!”

They claim they can prove this is a nefarious Democratic conspiracy. I have no doubt, after years of watching budget battles, that some of the administration’s numbers are inflated. That’s usual. But I told Sen. Matt Murphy today to get me the proof. He pledges to do so.

[ *** End Of Update *** ]
Anyway, have a look at what’s going down…