 Lawmakers in the House and Senate are working on their own versions
of a spending plan, complete with revenue projections and
line-by-line appropriations. It's not clear which chamber will set
the final total for a state budget, and that may not become clear
for a while.
This week, Senate Republicans said they are hoping to work with the
Democrats who control the upper chamber in Springfield to figure out
how to spend a little more than $34 billion. The House budget figure
is just above $33 billion. Gov. Pat Quinn wants to spend $35 billion
next year.
State Sen. Matt Murphy, R-Palatine, the GOP budget point man in the
Senate, said
just having a conversation about spending and different numbers is a
break from the past.
"This process feels a little different," he said. "We've got some
new players involved from years past, so I don't know that the past
is predictive of how this year is going to go."
Lawmakers have sent Quinn lump-sum budgets in each of the past two
years. The governor has then decided where to spend the money and,
more to the point, where not to spend the money.
The 2012 budget -- whatever the final price tag is -- likely will be
much smaller than what the governor wants. Murphy said the governor
is going to have to deal with it.
"The governor can line-item reduce spending, he can't increase it.
... He can veto the whole budget and have us down here all summer,"
Murphy said. "But then he's going to need a supermajority to pass
the budget. I would frankly relish the idea of having a bigger
impact on the budget in June or July than we would have in May."
A supermajority vote would require GOP support in both the House
and Senate.
Murphy said there have been talks between Republicans and Democrats
in the Senate, but not between the Senate and the House.
State Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, is leading the revenue process in
the House. He said lawmakers and the governor need to know how this
year's budget process is different.
"I want people to understand that I am serious about revenue
projections and the appropriation process," he said.
[to top of second column] |
Bradley said he has not yet spoken to his counterparts in the
Senate. Both chambers are working toward the May 31 adjournment
deadline.
Quinn's budget office says they too are waiting for the process to
move forward. Kelly Kraft, Quinn's budget spokeswoman, said the
governor's office hopes to use the next month or so to try to
convince lawmakers not to close the door on borrowing.
"We continue to work with legislators and are hopeful they will do
the right thing, which is to pay people for work provided and not
leave hundreds of millions of dollars in federal matching dollars on
the table," said Kraft.
Lawmakers have scheduled a spring break for later this month. The
House and Senate are due to return to the Capitol at least five
days a week through May as legislators push toward a budget
agreement.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By BENJAMIN YOUNT]
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