Quinn gets more time to assemble budget, will post money details 2 weeks earlier

[February 11, 2010]  SPRINGFIELD (AP) -- In a proposal under consideration, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn would get three extra weeks to put together a state budget.

The Senate Executive Committee adopted a plan Wednesday that would require Quinn to disclose basic budget numbers online two weeks before his March 10 budget speech. The plan moves to the Senate floor.

State law requires Quinn to propose a budget by Feb. 17 for the year beginning July 1. The state faces a deficit of $11 billion or more, and Quinn wanted more time.

Quinn gets a delay under the proposal sponsored by Democratic Senate President John Cullerton. But all the state's revenues and spending obligations must be posted online by Feb. 24 for public comment.

Republicans objected, saying it compresses an already tight budget timeline.

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The bill is HB2240.

On the Net: www.ilga.gov/

[Associated Press]

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