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Harmon: “Mechanical impossibility for us to pass a budget tonight”

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* Subscribers were tipped to this earlier tonight. Senate President Don Harmon…

We are approaching the hour of 11 pm. The Senate did file a budget earlier this evening. Our agreement with the House and the governor was to not act on that proposed budget until we had agreement with both the House and the governor.

The House is in caucus now as I understand it. We are eagerly awaiting their final input into the budget.

I think it is a mechanical impossibility for us to pass a budget tonight in time for the House to read it in on this calendar day, so I think the wisest course of action is to wrap up our business today, give more time for review of the introduced budget and consideration of proposed amendments.

We will ask our appropriation committee to meet at 9am tomorrow morning to take public testimony on the budget and to answer any questions that folks might have. We would plan to come in session shortly thereafter. I know the caucuses may want to meet, so we will leave ample time for that as well.

I appreciate everybody’s good humor today as we try to pass a responsible balanced budget. I appreciate the bipartisan way in which we addressed this issue and we’ll continue those bipartisan conversations through the day tomorrow. So, go home, get a little bit of rest, come back at 9am tomorrow for a committee hearing on the appropriation bill and related titles. And we’ll wrap up our business on the floor tomorrow. Thank you very much.

Please pardon all transcription errors.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 24, 23 @ 10:52 pm

Comments

So the House will be in Saturday and Sunday. It’s not failure yet, but it is turning your work in late. No one will care. The maps are a 10 year insurance policy that will protect the inept and incapable.

Comment by Trap Wednesday, May 24, 23 @ 11:46 pm
===will be in Saturday and Sunday===

IF, if they can get this straightened out, they can still adjourn at 12:01 Saturday morning.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 25, 23 @ 12:04 am
===The maps are a 10 year insurance policy===

Republicans are 0-8 in statewide offices.

Maybe the Republicans aren’t meeting the wants of polling of the voters… and aren’t victims of any map.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 25, 23 @ 5:22 am
==Republicans are 0-8 in statewide offices.==

It must be Congress’ fault, when they drew the boundaries of the state, that Republicans haven’t come within ten percentage points of winning statewide office in years.

Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Thursday, May 25, 23 @ 5:53 am
== and aren’t victims of any map==

This is the height of intellectual dishonesty. We have been over this before. Republicans have their own issues and yes would not be in the majority. But quit pretending the maps are fair. Nobody is buying it.

Comment by Mr. Middleground Thursday, May 25, 23 @ 6:54 am
===But quit pretending===

DuPage isn’t Blue?

Here in Kendall, it’s turning Blue?

Cook county suburbs? Blue

Quit pretending that the GOP is a victim, because frankly voters aren’t buying abortion restrictions, easier ways to own a gun, and folks who cheer racism, insurrection, and book banning.

It’s dishonest to think the GOP Cult has popular and majority thoughts to governing.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 25, 23 @ 6:59 am
==But quit pretending the maps are fair.==

They aren’t, and they don’t have to be according to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Comment by Gruntled University Employee Thursday, May 25, 23 @ 7:02 am
Nothing is late. They have until May 31st. Besides I recall when they used to go to June 30 and beyond.

As for maps, for the umpteenth time, when Republicans in Texas and Florida and other red states start implementing fair maps then get back to me.

Comment by low level Thursday, May 25, 23 @ 9:09 am
===Besides I recall when they used to go to June 30 and beyond.===

I seem to recall in 2021 they joked that May had 32 days so they could say the FY22 budget was (initially) passed “in time”.

Comment by From DaZoo Thursday, May 25, 23 @ 10:58 am
Stop the clock… been here in July waiting for a budget agreement, so getting out earlier than the 31st is a bonus. The maps are what they are. Find good candidates for the district and work hard.

Comment by NorthSideNoMore Thursday, May 25, 23 @ 11:35 am
== They aren’t, and they don’t have to be according to the U.S. Supreme Court.==

Completely agree. This statement is intellectual honesty.

Comment by Mr. Middleground Thursday, May 25, 23 @ 12:09 pm
===This statement is intellectual honesty.===

Then stop whining.

Realize voters don’t want abortions banned, guns freely available, books and intellectual thought stifled…

… and be it populated counties or statewide, it ain’t the map turning off voters from the GOP Cult.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 25, 23 @ 12:14 pm