Illinois Senate follows House lead in budget bills

Posted on May 28, 2015
Matt Murphy
State Sen. Matt Murphy says Democrats in his chamber should be above the tactics of calling bills that cut services the way the governor suggested, then voting them down. (Photo courtesy www.ilga.gov)

By Dave Dahl/Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate made a number of moves on a state budget, largely similar to those of the House: calling bills fashioned after the governor’s proposed cuts for debate, voting them down, and then passing pieces of a $36.3 billion budget that’s $3 billion or more out of balance.

State Sen. Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) ripped majority Democrats not only for their tactics, but also for not being above the earlier antics of the Illinois House. He accused them of “joining in the games of Speaker Madigan, the very guy you tell us all the time doesn’t dictate to you, and now you’re dancing to his tune.”

State Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria), twice using the word “circus” to describe the atmosphere, said his efforts to work with Rauner were dashed when he immediately insisted upon Koehler’s support for right-to-work measures before anything else could happen.

State Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields) voiced a sentiment that could be carved into the Capitol walls in partisan Springfield: “I don’t pretend that I am going to negotiate you into becoming a Democrat any more than I believe you can negotiate me into becoming a Republican.”

The session is scheduled to adjourn May 31.

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