Deadline day arrives for Illinois lawmakers

Posted on May 31, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner insists a two-year property tax freeze passed by lawmakers is not long enough. (Photo courtesy Facebook/Bruce Rauner)

By Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – Wednesday is the final day for Illinois state lawmakers to pass a balanced budget with simple majorities.

The House has yet to take up a $37 billion budget bill passed by the Senate, or the $5.4 billion tax hike to pay for it.

Some reforms Gov. Bruce Rauner has pushed for have passed but there’s no sign of a bill to give local control of Illinois’ highest in the nation property taxes.

“There’s one more day left and we are working hard to get a balanced budget along with important structural changes so we can keep our budgets balanced in the future and provide lasting property tax relief to our homeowners and small business owners in Illinois,” Rauner said.

Rauner said a freeze is crucial to drive value for taxpayers.

“This is what we are working hard to do,” Rauner said. “We hope and believe we are close. We need to get this done and we have a little over 24 hours to do it.”

After 12:01 a.m. Thursday, it takes three-fifths vote to pass legislation with an immediate effective date.

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