 Rough fiscal waters aheadLawmakers have just begun the
2008 General Assembly, but state officials are already predicting
rough fiscal waters ahead.
After issuing a dire warning the first week of February,
Comptroller Dan Hynes was back in the spotlight Feb. 13, urging Gov.
Rod Blagojevich to cut spending and level with lawmakers about the
state's faltering economy.
Hynes' statement came exactly one week before the governor's
annual budget address on Feb. 20. Though it was uncertain how the
governor planned to balance the state's budget, media reports
revealed he might be considering raising business taxes or raiding
special dedicated funds.
State panel postpones consideration of health care expansion
In light of the shaky budget outlook, a panel of lawmakers opted
to postpone consideration of the governor's proposed health care
expansion plan.
The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules met Feb. 13 but chose
to push back consideration of rules dealing with Blagojevich's
Family Care program, which is expected to qualify an additional
147,000 people for discounted medical care.
Joint Committee on Administrative Rules members noted that the
unknown cost of the program, in conjunction with Illinois' impending
fiscal woes, made it imperative for them to wait until after the
governor's budget address to approve rules for such a sweeping and
costly initiative.
Reforms would give clearer picture of finances
Comptroller Dan Hynes has spoken out repeatedly about Illinois'
severely underfunded Medicaid system, pointing to a little-known
loophole in state law that has allowed both current and previous
administrations to push health care obligations from one fiscal year
to the next -- allowing them to present the state budget as balanced
when, in reality, it is not.
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 Senate Republicans have long advocated phasing out these "Section
25 Liabilities," which have been estimated to amount to as much as
$3 billion in backlogged payments to the state's Medicaid providers.
I am sponsoring
Senate Bill 1533, which would take steps to reduce the massive
bill backlog and ensure more prompt payment to Illinois' doctors,
hospitals and nursing homes. However, that bill continues to be held
in the Senate Rules Committee and has not been allowed to be
considered by Senate lawmakers.
Lawmakers filing legislation by Feb. 15
Lawmakers were busy filing legislation before the Feb. 15
deadline for introducing bills in the Senate. In an election year,
it is often requested that lawmakers only introduce legislation that
is budget-related or considered to be urgently needed.
By Feb. 15, however, Senate legislators had already introduced
more than 350 pieces of legislation.
As I told a reporter earlier, "Emergency nature is defined in the
eye of the beholder. Good judgment can't wait until next year if
there is a prevailing issue that is deemed immediately necessary,
but there's always a lot of politics involved."
Kudos
Congratulations to area organizations that have been awarded
state funds for Lincoln-themed art programs. The Illinois Abraham
Lincoln Bicentennial Commission awarded the money to programs
commemorating Lincoln and his upcoming 200th birthday.
Area programs that received funds include Bloomington -- $22,750
for statues and $10,000 for exhibit about Lincoln's time as
attorney; Decatur -- $50,000 for a 50-artist showcase and part of
$2,000 for a Lincoln-themed bike tour; and Logan County -- $56,000
for an information kiosk, signs and a Lincoln painting. (Related
article posted Feb. 12 in LDN.)
[Text from file received from
Sen.
Bill Brady, District 44] |
