Illinois General Assembly pulled an all nighter to get the budget together

Posted on April 11, 2022
House Majority Leader Greg Harris (D-Chicago). (Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Some things about the last day of session were new – adjourning in April, not May, for one. Not new – partisan disagreement.

Just before 6 a.m. Saturday, lawmakers passed a FY 23 budget of $46.5 billion, one Republicans say is salted with one-time gimmicks that will expire after a year or less – just in time for the election.

“You’re not fooling the folks on Main Street, they get it!” said State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City). “They’re tired of it, and they’re gonna clean this chamber out come Novenber!”

“Boy, oh boy,” responded House Majority Leader Greg Harris (D-Chicago). “You guys really hate that we balanced the budget and are paying our debts, don’tcha?”

The General Assembly does not plan to return until fall veto session – after the election.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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