It’s been a long week in Springfield. We’ve been setting records, reaching benchmarks, overcoming obstacles and searching for solutions.

Setting Records

On Wednesday, the Illinois General Assembly officially beat the record for the longest overtime session without a budget (post 1970 constitutional convention) surpassing the previous record of 55 days. That record was set in 2004.

Reaching Benchmarks

House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President Emil Jones have been battling over electric rate relief since the fall veto session. The skirmish came to an end on Thursday night when the House and Senate passed an electric rate relief measure. While the legislation provides only a small amount of relief for consumers it does end the battle of wills between the two leaders and is a major step toward ending the budget standoff. 

The newfound unity between Madigan and Jones could also help move the budget process forward. Madigan’s budget bill that passed the House before the May 31 deadline has been held by a parliamentary maneuver until electric rate relief was addressed. Now that the relief legislation has passed both chambers, the Speaker has the ability to send the House-approved budget to the Senate for consideration.

The Senate has also been busy, passing out of committee this week a budget plan, a cigarette tax increase and a scaled-down version of the Governor’s Illinois Covered healthcare plan.  All could be heard on the Senate Floor sometime in the coming week. If these measures pass, they move to the House for consideration.

The Obstacles

Both chambers and the Governor must approve the same budget plan, which may prove to be the biggest obstacle to avoiding a shutdown of state government. But there are a number of other issues to be worked through and walls to be knocked down before we find a solution.

·   The House Democrat’s original budget, which has been held in the House since May, includes a $300 Million increase in business taxes for school funding but does not include payments for pension and Medicaid obligations. Speaker Madigan now says he would consider a modest income tax increase to shore up the shortfalls. Obstacle: This budget doesn’t include the Governor’s healthcare plan and the Governor vows to veto any income or sales tax increase.

·   The House Republicans proposed a natural revenue growth budget that still provides increases for education and meets pension obligations, with no tax increases. We also introduced a long needed capital budget funded by adding gaming positions at existing riverboats without adding new gaming facilities. The increased revenue generated from the capital plan would be used for school construction, transportation projects and community colleges. Obstacle: This plan doesn’t include new funding for the Governor’s universal healthcare plan.

·   Senate Democrats support a measure to increase the number of riverboat casinos as a funding mechanism for education and the Governor’s healthcare initiatives. They also propose a 90-cent increase on cigarette taxes to pay down our Medicaid debt. Obstacle: There is little support for a large expansion of gaming (it failed in a House committee) and the Governor has vowed to veto any sales tax increases.

·   The Governor has held firm to his position that a universal healthcare plan must be approved. He has also vowed to veto any income or sales tax increases as a source of new revenue to pay for his plan. Since his GRT and lottery lease schemes have failed, he has indicated that he may support gaming as a source of revenue. He also would support another 30-day emergency funding plan and called a special session on the subject for this weekend. Obstacle: There seems to be little support for an expansion of gaming in the House and no political will for another 30-day measure in either chamber.

 Searching for Solutions

Meetings between leaders and the Governor have not occurred for several days, leaving the “four tops” no choice but to meet without the Governor. They have been negotiating a budget among themselves and when finished will put it to a vote in their respective chambers. When the budget passes it will be sent to the Governor for his signature. If he signs it, he will avoid a government shutdown. If he vetoes it, his actions guarantee a government shutdown.

On the other hand he can choose to participate in negotiations, show responsible leadership and avoid the shutdown of state government. The ball is in his court.

One for the History Books

As the legislature trudges our way toward the July 31st deadline, we are finally, systematically breaking down the walls that have thus kept us from agreeing on a budget. It’s the Governor’s turn to do the same. If he doesn’t, we will find ourselves as an entry in the history books under the heading of government shutdown.

Let’s hope not.