By Illinois Radio Network
Springfield, IL – A top house democrat predicts the governor's call for more money will go down this week.
State Rep. Gary Hannig (D-Litchfield) says lawmakers have been willing to sweep special funds in the past, but only because the money would be tied to specific uses, and not as a blank check.
Hannig also says the governor shouldn't be putting a halt on construction projects because of funding language in next year's budget. The governor is stopping dozens of projects across the state, saying the budget prohibits payment on any project started after last Aug. 31. Hannig says the language affects only projects that were approved by lawmakers, then halted by the governor in the second year of construction.
Blagojevich says he'll make cuts to the budget if those measure don't pass to help plug what he says is a more than $2 billion hole in the budget.
