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| Special Session Scheduled for Construction Projects |
(IRN)-Leaders in the House and Senate are being asked to consider an action that would avoid shutting down construction projects across the state.
The governor wants the leaders to let him know by Friday if they would be willing to pass a 12 month bill with no conditions that would allow funding for construction projects across the state to continue. A bill with no conditions would mean an amendment tacked on to a capital appropriations bill by Senate Democrats would be dropped. That amendment calls for an additional $430 million to be added to the operating budget. Lawmakers would then come back in the fall to discuss those additional dollars or stick to the $33.2 billion operating budget and reallocate funds based on what Senate Democrats want.
In the House, Republicans and Democrats agreed on an operating budget which Senate Democrats say doesn't include enough money. They crafted that amendment to make the House bend on the operating budget, but so far that hasn't happened.
While Democratic leaders purposely avoided the press by using a back exit after a meeting in Chicago, Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) says an agreement must be made to keep jobs going in the poor economy. House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) says he too is supportive of the construction bill and agrees with a 12-month bill.
Leaders are already talking to their members and trying to gauge how much support there is for returning to Springfield Wednesday (June 22) to take up the matter. A voluntary reconvening of the legislature would avoid a Special Session, which would have to be called by the governor.
If an agreement isn't made by Friday to vote on a clean bill Wednesday, the state would begin notifying construction jobs to shut down.
(Source: Illinois Radio Network) |
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| 06 16 11 by Newsroom |
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