By IL Public Radio
Springfield, IL – ILLINOIS HOUSE LAWMAKERS WILL RETURN TO SPRINGFIELD NEXT WEEK TO CONSIDER RESTORING SOME OF THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET CUTS. BUT THE STATE SENATE WON'T BE JOINING THEM.
SENATE PRESIDENT EMIL JONES SAYS THAT CHAMBER HAS DONE ITS JOB. JONES WAS REFERRING TO REVENUE PROPOSALS THAT WOULD COVER MOST OF THE SPENDING IN THE STATE'S BUDGET.
THE HOUSE NEVER AGREED... AND THAT RESULTED IN GOVERNOR ROD BLAGOJEVICH CUTTING THE BUDGET BY NEARLY ONE AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS. THE HOUSE PLANS TO BE BACK AT THE CAPITOL NEXT WEEK TO WORK ON THE STATE'S FINANCES... BUT JONES SAYS THE SENATE WILL WAIT FOR NOW.
SOME SUSPECT JONES IS TRYING TO AVOID HAVING TO VOTE ON SALARY INCREASES THAT WILL TAKE EFFECT UNLESS REJECTED.
THE ONGOING BUDGET FLAP LEAVES AGENCIES THAT RELY ON STATE FUNDS IN LIMBO.
HOWEVER... THE GOVERNOR'S ACTION MEANS ILLINOIS HAS A STATE BUDGET IN PLACE... ALBEIT AT REDUCED LEVELS. BUT WORKERS WILL BE PAID AND OTHER PAYMENTS CAN GO OUT.
LAWMAKERS WERE ABLE TO AGREE LONG ENOUGH TO O-K PAYMENTS TO CONTRACTORS AND JUMPSTART SEVERAL STALLED CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. BUT THE HOUSE VOTED DOWN A STATEWIDE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM.
