State Sen. Bill Brady said it's time the Democratic leaders in Springfield give Gov. Rauner authority to fix the state's massive budget shortfalls. (WJBC file photo)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – Gov. Bruce Rauner is negotiating with the legislative leaders to get authority to sweep funds to help plug immediate shortfalls in the state budget.

State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, said the Democrats should cooperate. He told WJBC's Scott Laughlin talks are at a standstill because the Democrats who control the legislature don't want to give the Republican governor that power.

"They could wash their hands of it, give it to Gov. Rauner, as they probably need to do because that's what we have a governor for, to fix problems like this," Brady said.

Rauner wants full authority to sweep funds so that court reporters can get paid and day cares and prisons can stay open. The Democrat-controlled legislature is unwilling to give him that power.

Brady said if Democrats aren't willing to fix the mess, they'll own it.

"If they continue to stall, they are going to pay the piper I think"

There is concern that funds for court reporters and child care for low-income families could run out of money soon unless the state can find the money.

Local government funding

Brady said Rauner's proposed budget makes necessary cuts to fix a budget shortfall, but he said a three-percent drop in funding for local government will be a hard sell to the legislature.

"It's going to be tough to cut local governments, in spite of the fact there's been huge growth in that fund from the state to the locals," Brady said.

The plan would cut local government's share of income tax revenue, which would cost Bloomington and Normal more than 6 million dollars combined annually.

PODCAST: Listen to Scott and Colleen's interview with Brady on WJBC.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].