Final week of the spring 2021 legislative session brings budget pressures

Posted on May 24, 2021
Greg Harris (D-Chicago). (Photo courtesy: Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The final week of session is here for the spring 2021 edition of the Illinois General Assembly.

“The calendar’s not our friend. We’ve got to be done by May 31, so we’ve got to work with the information we have and the money that’s available,” House Majority Leader Greg Harris (D-Chicago) told reporters late last week.

What about the need to make cuts, given the expected $1.3 billion deficit?

“Those are still being worked through by committees,” Harris answered, “But if you have to cut $1.3 billion, nothing is left unscathed. Education will be cut, (there will be) severe cuts to our human services. It’s a very bad scenario.”

The new budget is to begin July 1.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]. 

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