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* The most important sentence in this story is the last line below…
The Illinois House could begin voting as early as Wednesday on the outlines of a bare-bones state budget. […]
Hannig offered few details about the proposal Monday, but said lawmakers will be given the opportunity to vote on a no-growth budget plan that essentially keeps state government operating when the new fiscal year kicks in July 1.
In a new twist, Hannig said lawmakers also will be then given the option of boosting spending on various programs. For example, lawmakers could vote to add up to $600 million in new funding for schools. […]
Action in the House, however, may be nothing more than a political maneuver.
The aspect of the House budget plan that allows members to tack on almost whatever they want to the spending proposal is pure politics. The rest, not so much. There are some useful things being done this week outside of the grandstanding.
* A long summer session is not favored by the Senate Dems this year…
I don’t think there’s a will from any member to be down here this summer,” said Sen. Donne Trotter of Chicago, the budget point man for the Senate’s Democratic majority.
That’s good news, but they’ll still have to deal with the governor…
Blagojevich sees a state budget and a major construction program as connected, because the construction bill would “relieve pressure on an operations budget. That remains our focus,” said spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch.
That’s pretty ominous if the guv sticks to his guns.
* I couldn’t have said this better myself…
Talks about a state capital building plan are still occurring in Springfield, although it’s hard to see much progress. […]
Rich Miller, who writes the political insider newsletter The Capital Fax, hit on the real issue recently.
It’s trust.
Few legislators trust Blagojevich to spend the money fairly and equitably. It’s hard to blame the legislators.
* Back to the Tribune’s story…
Blagojevich is not charged with a crime and has denied wrongdoing. But the confluence of the scandal and the growing disenchantment with him takes a toll on budget negotiations. […]
[Senate President Emil Jones] downplays a lack of trust.
“We’re talking about money,” he said. “In God we trust. It’s on our money.”
I’m not quite sure what that means, but whatever.
* Meanwhile…
The horse racing industry leaders are back at the state Capitol to plead for state assistance. This time they’re trying to convince lawmakers that if the state helps them, they can turn more profits and help fund a $20 billion infrastructure program for the entire state.
The argument is that horse racing in Illinois is losing horses, trainers, agribusiness, and lots of money tied to the industry to other states. Many of those states subsidize the industry and offer larger prizes for winning a race. Blagojevich signed a measure into law nearly two years ago that would have shaved 3 percent of the profits from the state’s casinos to support the ailing horse racing industry, but the measure immediately landed in court.
* Related…
* Proponents say slot machines at tracks would help racing industry, state
* Hastert, Poshard campaign for state roads
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 20, 08 @ 9:43 am
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And TC& The Sock Puppets and Sock Puppet wannabees have crafted a reprise of their gas tax holiday rant. Yawn.
Why give the refiners and retailers more $$$$. Was he dozin’ in 2000?
Comment by Wild Bill Tuesday, May 20, 08 @ 10:11 am
I don’t see how slots at the track would raise much money. Jockeys don’t make that much, and even if the horses had opposable thumbs, they probably wouldn’t be allowed to stop and play. Probably better to put the slots in the grandstand area.
Comment by Muskrat Tuesday, May 20, 08 @ 10:16 am
THIS JUST IN….
But a spokesperson for House Speaker Michael Madigan said it’s unlikely the bill will ever get out of committee, adding its passage would only hurt the state’s cash-strapped coffers.
And AAA spokesperson Beth Mosher says the 2000 suspension didn’t really make a difference.
“Consumers found very little if any relief, but what’s critical about this is the government and local municipalities were hit very, very hard,” Mosher said.
Comment by Wild Bill Tuesday, May 20, 08 @ 10:18 am
How does the capital bill “relieve pressure on an operations budget”? Is Blago planning to divert capital funds to cover shortfalls in the GRF (just like he’s been doing with the road fund for years)?
The Trib should have follwed up with Rausch on this.
Comment by Bluefish Tuesday, May 20, 08 @ 10:29 am
Sen. Jones is right. That IS on the money. There’s also that pyramid topped off by an all-seeing eye. Maybe they’re clues to secret treasure buried by Freemasons beneath the Capitol…
Coming soon to theaters everywhere, a Commonwealth Edison production: Indiana Avenue Emil Jones and the Numb Skull!
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 20, 08 @ 10:57 am
is it printed on food stamps also?
Comment by Vote Quimby! Tuesday, May 20, 08 @ 11:02 am
Every road I drive is under construction. The Governor’s construction contractors are doing just fine and don’t need more capital billions or no one will get anywhere.
Construction + high gas = absolute nightmare.
Comment by Garp Tuesday, May 20, 08 @ 11:30 am
The amendments put on House appropriation bills in committee this morning don’t include any money for merit comp employee salaries.
Comment by Curious Tuesday, May 20, 08 @ 11:40 am
Bluefish, the gov has been diverting capital and maintenance funding since he arrived in office. Agencies don’t have money to do even the minor repairs. Taxpayers will be paying for the neglect caused by this administration for years to come.
Comment by ex state employee Tuesday, May 20, 08 @ 12:12 pm
Blago’s capital bill is so off-balance that it does not deserve passage. In an age of $4+ gasoline, in a state that has previously funded transit and roads pretty evenhandedly, it seems insane to push a capital bill that gives eight times as much to roads as it does to transit. We’re just going to be building roads to nowhere that the citizens can’t afford the gas to use and the state can’t afford to maintain, without providing people with an option for reducing the impact of gas prices.
Rather than, what is it, $25 billion for roads and $3 billion for transit, how about at least $6 billion for transit to make sure we fulfill our local matches to the feds, an equal amount for roads as it was with Illinois FIRST, enough to pay back the other state budget lines Blago has pilfered, and just DON’T BORROW OR SPEND THE REMAINING SEVERAL BILLION? We can’t afford the size of bill Blago is proposing, especially if it’s being spent on wasteful projects.
The only respect in which Blago is right is the idea of the capital budget relieving impact on operations — but as ex state employee above points out, that is SOLELY because Blago has been unethically looting every other budget line to cover his butt on road construction. Go down to UIC and look at all the unrepaired, exposed, rusty rebar sticking out of all the concrete buildings. I’m sure you’ll see the same on any other concrete state-owned building. That’s Blago for you.
Comment by Angry Chicagoan Tuesday, May 20, 08 @ 2:37 pm
Angry Chicagoan,
You misread ex-state employee’s statement, which is exactly the opposite of what you imply. It is the road fund which has been raided to fill other budgetary needs, not the other way around.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, May 20, 08 @ 2:47 pm
Curious do you find no raises again for merit comp folks surprising? You know what it means. Only merit comp folks getting raises will be Blagoidiots.
Comment by Leave a light on George Tuesday, May 20, 08 @ 3:17 pm
I’m not talking about merit comp raises. One of the bill versions appropriates money for only Non-Merit Compensation Employees, which means no Merit Comp could be paid period.
Comment by Curious Tuesday, May 20, 08 @ 3:38 pm