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Overtime: State Heads Deeper Into Budget Fracas
Governor, Top Dem Leaders Fail to Reach Agreement by July 1 Deadline
Governor Quinn failed to reach an agreement with top legislative leaders this week ahead of today’s constitutional deadline to pass a new state budget. Once again, political games and misplaced priorities took precedence over meeting the real needs of Illinois families.
My House Republican colleagues and I stood firm in our demand that true budget reforms be enacted first, before any discussion of raising taxes or slashing services to the most vulnerable in our state. Last night, Senate Democrats voted down a short-term borrowing plan we had passed in the House to free up $2.2 billion to prevent devastating cuts to human service providers here in our local communities.
This afternoon, Governor Quinn vetoed part of a two-bill package approved by the General Assembly that would have kept state government and essential services up and running through the end of 2009 in the absence of a full-year budget agreement.
House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) and Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) have already called a special session of the legislature to meet on Tuesday, July 14th to deal with the unresolved budget issues and take action on the Governor’s anticipated veto message. Meanwhile, working families, retirees, the increasing number of unemployed, and those who receive state assistance for their health care needs wait as their future hangs in the balance.
The key fact getting lost in all the political games being played in Springfield is that families are struggling. Our unemployment rate has now topped 10 percent, food and gas prices are rising, the utilities are seeking rate increases and families are being forced to make dramatic changes in the way they live just to make ends meet. The families we represent are telling us that state government needs to change as well – you expect us to prioritize and live within our means – and I could not agree with you more.
This is the message and commitment I carry with me every day that I am privileged to represent you in Springfield: Reform – responsible and meaningful – must be part of any budget agreement we approve this summer. The people of Illinois deserve nothing less.
Before any bipartisan budget agreement can be reached, we must demand real transparency in how your tax dollars are spent in order to make government more accountable to the taxpayers – and enact fiscal reforms geared at paying down our historic debt while meeting current obligations.
I will continue to keep you updated on important developments from Springfield as they happen. In the meantime, please accept my best wishes to you and your family for a safe and Happy 4th of July weekend.
As always, thank you for the honor and privilege of serving you.
State Representative
62nd District
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