 Lawmakers went home until next week, even though the current budget
expires at midnight Tuesday and no new budget plan is close to being
finished.Officials couldn't even agree on the size of the deficit
they face. Is it $11.6 billion or $9.2 billion or maybe even $7
billion?
"We're going to be here for a long time," warned Sen. James DeLeo,
D-Chicago.
In general, Republicans want a temporary budget so talks on a
final spending plan can continue. Quinn, a Democrat, has remained
optimistic that they can come to an agreement -- which now seems
unlikely.
Quinn had been warning that a bare-bones budget proposed by
legislators would force him to slash spending for child care, drug
counseling, women's health and more. But he seemed to rule out such
moves Wednesday.
"We're not going to visit all the cuts on the most fragile and
vulnerable people in our society," he said.
State government faces a historic budget crisis. New programs,
rising expenses and a huge drop in revenues have combined to leave
the state without enough money to cover its costs for the fiscal
year that starts July 1.
Quinn originally put the shortfall at $11.6 billion and says he
and legislators have agreed on measures to trim the deficit to $9.2
billion. He wants to fill the rest of that gap with a mix of higher
income taxes, spending cuts, federal aid and financial maneuvers.
Many legislators -- mostly Republicans but also some Democrats --
are balking at raising income taxes. They have approved a version of
the budget without any additional tax revenue.
For weeks, Quinn insisted that the plan falls billions of dollars
short of covering state expenses and would require cuts of up to 50
percent to services for the state's sick and needy.
[to top of second column]
 |
Again and again, Quinn sought to build support for a tax increase by
visiting community agencies that depend on state support, to
illustrate what services would be cut under the legislature's budget
proposal.
Critics insisted Quinn was scaring people needlessly and that he
would never go through with such severe cuts.
On Wednesday, Quinn ruled out the cuts, although he didn't
explain how he would avoid making them if lawmakers don't come up
with additional money. He wouldn't say whether he intends to veto
what he calls "the half-baked budget" that legislators have passed
but not yet sent to his desk for final action.
"We're not going to be cutting the heart and soul out of
Illinois' human services. I never support that and never will, and
so we will not allow that to take place," Quinn said.
Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, said she was
indignant that the Democratic majority decided to leave with the
budget still up in the air.
She called again for a temporary budget to keep state government
operating after June 30 while officials negotiate a long-term
solution.
Legislators met for two days this week to consider technical
issues related to a public works program and to address the budget.
They didn't complete either chore. The Senate did, however, pass
a resolution reaffirming Illinois' sister-state relationship with
Taiwan.
[Associated Press]
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed. |
