By Benjamin Yount Illinois Statehouse News
SPRINGFIELD — The differences between Illinois' 2011 budget and the still-to-be crafted 2012 budget are becoming more apparent each day.
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.
Senate GOP budget point man State Sen. Matt Murphy, R-Palatine, said just having a conversation about spending and different numbers is a break from the past.
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.
A super-majority 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.
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 and 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.
Can someone please fire Kelly Kraft!
I mean this is the one mid-west state with democratic control in both houses and with a Dem. Governor. Illinois has a chance to show the rest of the country how you can stimulate and stabilize the economy with intelligent debt restructuring, an increased tax base and targeted spending cuts. But do I ever hear this? Do I ever read about how Illinois is bucking the trend and is an example for positive reform?
No! Never!! and why?
I think its because Ms. Kraft doesn’t get it.
This article was about a new budget process – a submission of a line-by-line budget proposal from the legislature to Quinn…. but instead of speaking to the merits of this change she talks about borrowing.
Does she have any communications strategy at all!?!?
Ms. Kraft, all you had to say was something like: “this process allows more voices to be heard in the allocation system – which may or may not yield positive benefits insofar as reducing waste is concerned. But for now we are pressing legislators to be responsible and realistic in their proposal.”
- that sets you up to criticize the House or Senate if they do something foolish like deny the State’s ability to borrow.
sheesh!