 The budget left out the sharp tax increase that Gov. Pat Quinn and
other top Democrats wanted, but it also prevented the extensive
service cuts that Quinn had warned would be necessary under an
earlier spending plan approved by lawmakers.
That would be made possible by borrowing about $3.5 billion and
not paying about $3.2 billion in bills.
"It's time to cut up our credit card. We've tripled our state's
debt," said Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale.
But some lawmakers defended the plan as the only viable way to
keep government running when the Legislature refuses to support
either a tax increase or harsh budget cuts.
"The responsible vote is a 'yes' vote because we have run out of
options," said House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie,
D-Chicago.
The vote on the key budget bill was 90-22 in the House and 45-10
in the Senate -- totals that reflected support from both Democrats
and Republicans.
Quinn and other supporters say major changes probably will have
to be made later in the year. They predict the layoffs and service
cuts it includes will show the need for a tax increase.
Top lawmakers met for about two hours with Quinn earlier in the
day and reached the tentative deal on how to react to an $11.6
billion budget deficit, the worst in Illinois history.
The state's new budget year began July 1 without a budget in
place, endangering paychecks for state employees and raising
questions for the many contractors and community groups that receive
state money.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
asked a St. Clair County court to order the state to pay employees
even without a budget. At least 5,000 checks were held up Wednesday
because the state doesn't have authority to pay its workers.
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The union said the case was ordered to federal court at the request
of the Illinois attorney general's office. Union spokesman Anders
Lindall said it appeared to be a delaying tactic to increase
pressure on lawmakers to approve a budget.
"Such a tactic, which jeopardizes the paychecks of tens of
thousands of state employees, is disappointing to say the least," he
said.
The tentative budget includes billions of dollars of financial
gimmicks and one-time sources of revenue: borrowing about $3.5
billion to help pay annual pension costs, using about $1.1 billion
worth of vaguely defined "inter-fund borrowing" and not paying about
$3.2 billion owed to businesses such as pharmacies.
At least some of the money would be put into lump sums for Quinn
to spend as he sees fit.
The budget is meant to prevent further disruption, and no one is
describing it as a sound plan that will last for a full 12 months.
Quinn and Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, continue to
argue that a tax increase will be the logical next step, despite
widespread opposition among lawmakers to that idea.
"We did not just magically move out of a deficit. What we're
looking at now is a temporary fix," said Cullerton spokeswoman
Rikeesha Phelon. "Things will not go smoothly just because we have
this temporary fix."
[Associated Press,
BY CHRISTOPHER WILLS; LDN staff]
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