Cullerton: Time to act on state budget proposals

Posted on February 7, 2017

Illinois Senate President John Cullerton said the Senate has developed a spending plan outline in a bipartisan fashion. (Photo courtesy Facebook/John Cullerton)

By RFD Radio/WFMB

CHICAGO – Action at the Illinois legislature is picking back up this week and the leader of the Senate said it’s time for the state to move forward.

The original package of bills has been reworked and is still designed to give a little and compromise a little for a state budget.

Senate President John Cullerton said a hike to the minimum wage won’t be part of the grand bargain. But he said enough is enough and state government has to start working again.

“If we can pull this off, we will pay businesses on time, fully fund MAP scholarships, ensure state workers get paid and government doesn’t shut down, assemble a complete budget for the first time in two years and put Illinois on a path to a balanced budget,” Cullerton said.

The Senate will hold hearings on the bills and expects votes by the end of the week.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…