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Question of the day

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Illinois

State Rep. Bob Pritchard and state Sen. Dave Syverson didn’t pretend to know the answer to a question posed by Laurie Borowicz, president of Kishwaukee College: What happens next year, when it’s time to pass another budget?

“I think that’s the unanswered question,” Pritchard, R-Hinckley, said Thursday during the Unplugged Politics event at the Genoa Veterans Home. “It all comes down to what [Gov. Bruce Rauner] will propose in his budget address, and what the Legislature will craft, and whether those two can come together. Those are unknowns. We’re in an election cycle. Having gone through these first two years, and the reaction we’ve gotten, that could have some impact.

“Politics has gotten too big of a play in Illinois, as well as nationally.”

* WGLT…

Illinois State University President Larry Dietz said a looming state election cycle could hold new budget negotiations hostage.

Dietz told the campus community during his State of the University speech on Thursday that possibility is tempering his essential optimism and forcing planners to come up with contingencies in case stopgap budgeting returns.

Dietz says the last two years of deadlock reduced ISU funding by $51 million compared to budgets frozen at 2015 levels.

* The Question: What do you think will happen with the budget next year?

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 12:30 pm

Comments

It’s an election year. Expect nothing but game playing by the Governor and no budget until 2019.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 12:34 pm
They will fight over it until session ends, then they will convene for special session, then there will be lots of last minute drama, then they will sign a budget that kicks the can down the road that both parties heavily criticize but still claim as a victory.

Comment by AlfondoGonz Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 12:34 pm
I find it hard to believe that Governor Rauner will finally present an actual budget plan, but since this could be his last opportunity to do so, I hope he rises to the challenge. Show us where you’d make cuts, show us where you think more investment is needed, give us an honest assessment of the state’s priorities and long-term interests.

Sure, the General Assembly is more likely to pass its own budget instead, but I think the Governor really ought to fully embrace the moment and tell us all finally, what he thinks the state budget ought to fund and what he think it shouldn’t. If he mails in another half-cooked gimmick budget, the GA is going to ignore it anyway, as they have for three years. If he puts just a little thought and effort into it, he can make it difficult for the General Assembly to completely disregard his proposal. I hope he takes that shot.

However, if I was betting on the outcome, I’d say the GA will pass a maintenance budget that is essentially flat and looks a lot like this year’s budget.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 12:37 pm
lather…rinse…repeat

Comment by unclesam Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 12:38 pm
I think AlfonzoGonz nailed it, except he forgot Diana’s commercials praising her husband for cutting spending and taxes while forcing (imaginary) increases in education spending and for the needy.

Comment by Keyrock Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 12:39 pm
Why would the Gov or the GA want another budget stalemate in an election year? In 2016, they passed the 6 month measure to cover their posteriors. Now that the tax hike is in place, the hardest issue is off the table. I bet we get a budget that looks a lot like the one in place. (? when will amazon announce HQ2? If that decision is not yet made and Chi seems at all in the running, I can’t imagine Rauner and the GA risking another budget stalemate).

Comment by hexagon Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 12:47 pm
To the Post,

===However, if I was betting on the outcome, I’d say the GA will pass a maintenance budget that is essentially flat and looks a lot like this year’s budget===

To riff off this, and I’m in agreement, Rauner needs a signed budget come November and if Rauner can sign a caretaker budget, without really ripping it, but only embracing cooperation and “moving forward”, I can see a budget happening on time, because the campaign politics almost demand it.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 12:48 pm
The Tax Hike is permanent, so I think we’ll have a budget on 5/31/18.

Rauner could say he won’t sign a tax hike without reforms, but he’s not going to veto a budget that doesn’t include a tax hike, especially 6 months before an election.

Comment by Grand Avenue Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 12:49 pm
It all depends on how important those two US Supreme Court cases are to Rauner.

“…the reason we’re going to succeed is the biggest changes we’re driving have nothing to do with the General Assembly, nothing to do with any votes inside Springfield.” Rauner, Uncommon Knowledge interview.

Does he need a budget for those two goals? Can he successfully run for re-election under storm clouds of another budget impasse? What does Hud say???

Comment by Anon221 Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 12:59 pm
Governor, once again, will refuse to propose a budget that comes close to balancing. He will once again blame Madigan, and hope that carries him to Election Day.

The GA will struggle to produce a budget, having lost a whole group of serious legislators from who would have aimed for compromise solutions. Madigan will produce something to keep the state running without Republican voices.

A disaster in the making. I just don’t see any leopards changing their spots.

Comment by walker Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 1:23 pm
My guess is that the last budget battle will look tame compared to what’s coming.

The Congress seems to be heading toward a ACA reform which may cut back healthcare assistance to IL. The recent hurricane damage to Puerto Rico may result in federal law changes making a sovereign default more palatable. Who knows what the Congress is up to regarding tax reform. I’ll bet any changes negatively impact IL. And then there’s US vs N Korea and other areas which may negatively impact federal cash flow to needy states like IL.

And the IL issues that are festering won’t help. I’m reading that several minority municipalities are approaching melt-down. Speaker Madigan may be preparing to clip Cook County Commissioner Preckwinkle’s wings on her soda tax. And the less economically secure in IL have yet to feel the weight of the recent tax increases, including property taxes in many areas.

Add in a dollop of increasing automation and generally weak conditions, and I think a prognostication anymore than 90 days out is folly.

Comment by Cook Couny Commoner Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 1:28 pm
There will be plenty of games played (yes, I know that was a given). There will probably be some overtime, but both sides will want a budget going into the election.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 1:37 pm
At best a maintenance budget pending elections –

The WIU admin isn’t counting on anything, going to mediation with the faculty union while trying to impose draconian salary reductions for several years. Spokesman justifies it in part because of budget uncertainty for next FY.

Comment by Flapdoodle Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 3:10 pm