Illinois Senate Democrats are proposing that the state sweep outstanding balances from special state funds to fill the current budget gap – and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's office is calling the plan "half-baked."
This partisan feuding means there's still no agreement on how to fill a hole in this year's budget.
The Illinois budget year goes through June but, thanks in part to the reduction in state income taxes, money already is running out for such needs as a program that helps low-income workers send their kids to daycare.
Appropriations Committee Chairman Sen. Dan Kotowski, D-Park Ridge, proposes using money now sitting in special state funds.
"This plan gives the governor, in particular, what he wants,” Kotowski said. “There is no borrowing contained within this. There are no taxes."
But the plan won't cover the entire shortfall. And it doesn't authorize spending the money.
The committee's minority spokesperson, Sen. Matt Murphy, R- Palatine, says Senate Democrats are walking away from negotiations.
"Rather than continuing that progress, and continuing to move forward to solving this problem for the working mothers and their children who are affected by this, you're effectively going rogue and breaking out of this agreed process."
But Kotowski says Republicans have yet to introduce legislation with a remedy, and Democrats are tired of waiting.
"And I think the people who are suffering in the state of Illinois no longer have any patience left,” he added, “because they're trying to take care of their families and they're trying to take care of their children."
Republicans say sweeping special funds is a short-term proposal that will lead to another financial crisis. Rauner's spokesman says Senate Democrats are "playing politics."
Murphy, who says lawmakers and the governor's office had made progress toward a compromise during an hours-long meeting Monday,
“What you're doing here today is choosing to play politics with the lives of the working mothers and their children, that you trotted in here a month ago,” he said. “Rather than solving their problem. And shame on you for that."
Still, the plan advanced to the Senate floor with all Democratic votes.
- IPR Statehouse Bureau Chief Amanda Vinicky contributed to this story
