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Lawmakers React to Possible Borrowing for Bills and MAP Grants
The possibility that state government will again rely on borrowing to help the tanking state budget is likely to leave lawmakers shaking their heads during this last week of veto session.

Governor Pat Quinn hopes to borrow nearly $1 billion to help pay off some of the $3.7 billion backlog in unpaid bills, plus the Monetary Award Program, or MAP grants to college students. But Republicans say that only shows that the state has increasing spending problems, and that the problem won't get better when taxpayers are paying interest, even if it's only one percent.

Senate Minority Leader Christine Rodogno (R-Lemont) and House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) again say the state needs to control spending. But both acknowledge that without borrowing, human service providers and others could lose their jobs, which will only hurt the economy.

House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) didn't say much, but did offer that the state may have "no other choice." Quinn does not need approval from state lawmakers to borrow, but he does need approval from the state comptroller and treasurer.

(Illinois Radio Network)
10 28 09 by Newsroom
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