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Blagojevich
administration outlines steps to help keep budget process moving
forward 
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[June 05, 2007]
SPRINGFIELD -- On Monday, Deputy Gov. Sheila Nix, with other top
gubernatorial staff, announced next steps the Blagojevich
administration will take to work with the General Assembly and
leaders in order to reach a budget by the end of the state's fiscal
year, June 30. The governor wants to avoid relying on last-minute
budget negotiations, such as those that took place at the end of May
and resulted in no budget bills reaching his desk by the end of
session.
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To help move the process forward, the governor will call for
meetings with all four legislative leaders at the start of each
week, with additional meetings throughout the week as needed. He
will also call for meetings with all caucuses at the end of each
week and regular meetings with the budgeteers. He has already called
for a meeting of the leaders on Tuesday.
"The governor and his top staff want to be helpful over the next
few weeks to keep the dialogue going," Nix said. "We will all be
assembled here, as we have been throughout session, to assist
legislators and leaders in any way we can. It's our hope that by
beginning the month of June with an aggressive schedule, the General
Assembly can avoid dealing with tough budget choices too late in the
process. We don't want a repeat of what happened at the end of May."
Nix said that the governor and top staff responsible for the
budget, health care, capital and education will be on hand
throughout the month of June to help legislators and leaders address
any questions and issues in these key policy areas.
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 "We'll be here to work with the General Assembly every step of
the way in order to forge a budget that helps people get access to
health care, infuses our schools with new funding and is fiscally
responsible. We can do that by working together, but ultimately the
General Assembly needs to begin passing elements of a budget
immediately that the governor can sign," Nix added.
Joining Nix were John Filan, state chief operating officer;
Ginger Ostro, director of the governor's Office of Management and
Budget; and Barry Maram, director of the Department of Healthcare
and Family Services.
[Text from file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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