 Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and Republican candidate Bill Brady
each took a shot at the other on Friday, as lawmakers tried to come to an
agreement on a state spending plan.
Brady attacked Quinn and the Democrats who control state government
as too quick to spend and borrow, and unwilling to cut.
"Six billion dollars in unpaid bills. Three-plus billion dollars in
unpaid pension obligations last year. And now you want to go deeper
into the hole by $5 billion because of the lack of leadership and
incompetence on the second floor," he said.
Brady, a state senator from Bloomington, is campaigning on a promise
to cut 10 percent "across the board" in state government. He chided
Democrats for what he called political games.
"The people get it," Brady said. "They get the fact that they cannot
ignore the shame that is going on in the Capitol. They get the fact
that we cannot leave our children without good schools, our state in
a mountain of debt that our children have to pay back."
Democratic lawmakers said it's Brady who is playing the games. They
accused him of running for re-election rather than representing his
voters.
Quinn promised that voters will see through Brady's promises as
well.
"I was very disappointed in Sen. Brady, running around trying to
prevent a bipartisan agreement on borrowing money to make sure we
meet our pension obligations," Quinn said. ... "We don't want anybody
in Illinois government, including Sen. Brady, to just think you can
foment chaos."
The governor worked his own budget plan, which included an income
tax increase, to no avail. Quinn finally jumped on board the
Democratic plan to borrow or delay payments for the five
state-funded public employee pension systems and use some one-time
revenues to pay the bills.
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But the Democratic majorities in both chambers in Springfield
couldn't push that plan through. The Illinois Senate on Thursday
approved parts of a budget, which the House did not consider on
Friday. Both legislative chambers adjourned until -- later. No specific date
was given.
Lawmakers have until midnight May 31 to pass a budget with only a
simple majority -- after that, most legislation requires a
three-fifths majority vote for passage, giving Republicans a say in
the Democratic-controlled General Assembly. Many in the Statehouse
expect lawmakers to return during the last week of May to try again
for a budget.
The new fiscal year begins July 1.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By BENJAMIN YOUNT]
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