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| Lawmakers Adjourn Without Considering Borrowing |
State lawmakers have adjourned for the summer without passing a key portion of the fiscal year 2011 budget package. The House passed a $3.7 billion borrowing plan to make a pension payment, but the Senate did not even consider the proposal.
Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) says the chamber did not have the 36 required votes to pass the legislation. Democrats have a supermajority in the Senate, but a few refuse to vote for the plan and another was not present Thursday. Cullerton says the measure will need Republican support, and Senators could be called back this summer if there is any evidence of that support.
Senate Minority Leader Christine Rodogno (R-Lemont) doubts that will happen. She says she has not pressured her caucus, but they have come to their own conclusions that borrowing more money is bad policy.
Gov. Pat Quinn tried to drum up support for the bill from Republicans. He called state Sen. Larry Bomke (R-Springfield) and asked him to vote in favor of the measure. Bomke says he has not made up his mind about the bill.
Quinn's office also contacted state Sen. John Jones (R-Mount Vernon) and state Sen. David Luechtefeld (R-Okawville). Jones said he voted for borrowing last year but feels the governor did make promised cuts later. He said he would not support borrowing again. Luechtefeld said he is also against borrowing, but he was never able to schedule the requested meeting with the governor's administration.
Before leaving for the summer, lawmakers did pass a budget, but both parties question whether it is constitutionally balanced. The General Assembly also passed a measure to give Gov. Quinn emergency budget powers to reserve money from appropriated funds, extend the lapse period spending to December, and make decisions about borrowing money from special funds.
(Illinois Radio Network) |
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| 05 27 10 by Newsroom |
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