(WGN-AM)- The Illinois House approved a plan today aimed at scaling back potential cuts in social services with more than $2.2 billion in short-term borrowing for public pensions.
But even supporters acknowledged the new funding leaves the state spending plan for the budget year that begins Wednesday billions of dollars short.
The legislation was sent to the Senate on a 101-7 vote and is the first major step in trying to resolve what is being viewed by lawmakers as a $7 billion budget deficit. Gov. Pat Quinn contends the hole is more than $9 billion.
Lawmakers on May 31 approved a state budget plan that severely cut funding for social services, prompting threats by Quinn to cut or eliminate grants to social service providers. The money from the pension borrowing plan is supposed to free up another $2.2 billion to supplement the funding legislators approved for social services at the end of May, easing some of the cuts.
Earlier today, the Democratic governor met with Democratic legislative leaders for about two hours, with Quinn reporting unspecified "progress" on budget talks.
Quinn acknowledged considering calling a special joint session of the legislature for Tuesday to create a sense of urgency for lawmakers to act by the July 1 budget deadline but apparently dropped the idea. It was not discussed in the leaders meeting.
"I'm hopeful we can get a process in place that will get us to a good budget that's balanced for the whole year for the people of Illinois," Quinn said.
He indicated the process would include changes in public employee pensions for new workers and using managed health care for state subsidized medical treatment for the poor.
But such a process could take time--longer than the deadline for the state budget.
Despite Quinn's ever-present optimism, dissatisfaction with the governor revealed itself as rank-and-file lawmakers cheered on Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) during a speech on the House floor.
Lang lifted a legislative hold he placed on four measures authorizing a $29 billion public works program, funded in part by legalized video poker in bars. That will send the measures to Quinn.
Lang put the hold on the bills after Quinn, who initially urged quick passage of the measures, made no commitment to signing them until a full state budget was approved containing an income-tax increase that lawmakers have been reluctant to support.
"We have just gone through six years of a governor that attempted to use the Illinois General Assembly as his own personal play toy and you and I for those six years were fed up with that," Lang said, comparing Quinn to his predecessor, the arrested and ousted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Lang said he doesn't have a commitment that Quinn will sign the bills, but he encouraged lawmakers to make sure that the governor heard from them.
(The Chicago Tribune contributed to this story)
Get the latest news at the top and bottom of every hour on Chicago's WGN Radio 720
But even supporters acknowledged the new funding leaves the state spending plan for the budget year that begins Wednesday billions of dollars short.
The legislation was sent to the Senate on a 101-7 vote and is the first major step in trying to resolve what is being viewed by lawmakers as a $7 billion budget deficit. Gov. Pat Quinn contends the hole is more than $9 billion.
Lawmakers on May 31 approved a state budget plan that severely cut funding for social services, prompting threats by Quinn to cut or eliminate grants to social service providers. The money from the pension borrowing plan is supposed to free up another $2.2 billion to supplement the funding legislators approved for social services at the end of May, easing some of the cuts.
Earlier today, the Democratic governor met with Democratic legislative leaders for about two hours, with Quinn reporting unspecified "progress" on budget talks.
Quinn acknowledged considering calling a special joint session of the legislature for Tuesday to create a sense of urgency for lawmakers to act by the July 1 budget deadline but apparently dropped the idea. It was not discussed in the leaders meeting.
"I'm hopeful we can get a process in place that will get us to a good budget that's balanced for the whole year for the people of Illinois," Quinn said.
He indicated the process would include changes in public employee pensions for new workers and using managed health care for state subsidized medical treatment for the poor.
But such a process could take time--longer than the deadline for the state budget.
Despite Quinn's ever-present optimism, dissatisfaction with the governor revealed itself as rank-and-file lawmakers cheered on Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) during a speech on the House floor.
Lang lifted a legislative hold he placed on four measures authorizing a $29 billion public works program, funded in part by legalized video poker in bars. That will send the measures to Quinn.
Lang put the hold on the bills after Quinn, who initially urged quick passage of the measures, made no commitment to signing them until a full state budget was approved containing an income-tax increase that lawmakers have been reluctant to support.
"We have just gone through six years of a governor that attempted to use the Illinois General Assembly as his own personal play toy and you and I for those six years were fed up with that," Lang said, comparing Quinn to his predecessor, the arrested and ousted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Lang said he doesn't have a commitment that Quinn will sign the bills, but he encouraged lawmakers to make sure that the governor heard from them.
(The Chicago Tribune contributed to this story)
Get the latest news at the top and bottom of every hour on Chicago's WGN Radio 720
