By Cole Lauterbach/Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – Negotiations between Illinois’ political leaders still have not resulted in anything resembling a budget.
With 25 days until the state loses the ability to spend money, state Democrats want to form a number of committees to talk about negotiating over reforms Gov. Bruce Rauner wants as part of any budget agreement. After a meeting today in Chicago, House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, wants to create more committees to address Rauner’s requested reform items.
“I have proposed to the governor and to Republicans that we establish groups for discussion on issues,” he said.
Madigan proposed creating working groups on pension reform, education, workers’ compensation, local government consolidation and the ongoing contract fight between Rauner and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Madigan is only proposing these working groups now, despite Rauner’s request for reforms having changed little since he took office in January 2015.
Rauner and GOP lawmakers have criticized Democrats for coming to the ongoing meetings unprepared in an attempt to run out the clock and force another stopgap spending plan without addressing reforms to help turn around Illinois’ stagnant economy.
House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, said the budget working groups are no longer of use and that this is another stall tactic by Madigan to create another crisis and pass another stopgap spending plan without reforms.
“The working group on the budget has already completed their work and provided a sound framework for us to be able to move forward in a responsible manner for taxpayers as well as people who rely on state services,” Durkin said.
Rauner’s Office of Management and Budget said in a statement today that Director Tim Nuding met Monday with budget directors from all four legislative caucuses to answer any remaining questions about the stopgap funding bill or issues needed for final decision making on a fiscal 2017-18 balanced budget framework.
Republicans expected a budget plan from Madigan at the meeting today. State Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, Madigan’s appointed participant in budget talks, said they never agreed to bring any budget proposal.
After the meeting, Rauner’s office release a statement: “Today the speaker refused to put forward a budget proposal and refused to commit to passing any budget whatsoever after Dec. 31. Republicans will not consider revenue without reform. Only Speaker Madigan has proposed raising the income tax,” referring to Madigan’s accusation that Rauner wants to pass a tax increase during the lame-duck session that ends Jan. 11.
At the forefront of the two-year-long impasse is Rauner’s unwillingness to sign off on any tax hikes without reforms that would help the state’s stagnant economy and create jobs. Democrats, led by Madigan, have resisted the reforms, saying they would lower the standard of living for the middle class.
Senate President Cullerton later spoke to the media, saying he and the governor are close to a compromise on a reform to the state’s workers compensation laws.
The two sides will meet again on Thursday.
