Illinois Senate passes operating budget $2 billion in the red

[June 02, 2008]  SPRINGFIELD -- With less than six hours left before the constitutional deadline of midnight May 31, the Illinois Senate approved the $29.4 fiscal 2009 state operating budget, according to state Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield, who voted against the proposal.

"The fiscal year 2009 budget will be more than $2 billion in the red. The Illinois Senate majority unwisely advanced a budget that will not adequately fund our state’s main priorities," Bomke said. "The budget includes a raise in the governor’s pay, but fails to properly take care of our state employees. The citizens of Illinois deserve better. We must begin to pay our outstanding debts, like the $2 billion backlog in Medicaid bills, before we unwisely expand government programs."

The fiscal 2009 appropriations were included in two main bills: House Bill 5701 and Senate Bill 1102.

[Text from file received from Sen. Larry Bomke]