Whoopee!
Does it solve anything?
Not really.
The problems in the Land of Lincoln are MUCH bigger than a stopgap.
Here are some reactions that I read.......
Rep. David Harris, R-Arlington Heights: "We will have acted, but we will not have acted responsibly."
Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago: “I think there was pressure everywhere you looked to do something, and this is that something.”
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs: “I believe the public participation over the past few weeks has forced this resolution, which is what they’ve been demanding, compromise, negotiate, get to the table.”
Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo: “I think the people of Illinois deserve better than this. I think we are kicking our problems down the road and making them worse. I believe this is a cowardly way to pretend we have done something.”
Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville: stated the stopgap budget was "setting ourselves up for a (fiscal) cliff come January 1. This is a budget that spends money with no additional revenue. We can’t continue to put more money into programs without more revenue.”
Governor Rauner: acknowledged that the deal was “just a small step in the right direction. It is not a budget. It is not a balanced budget. This is a bridge to reform. Reforms are essential."
Speaker Mike Madigan: “The difference today is the governor dropped his demand that his agenda be considered before a budget can be approved."
Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Raymond: regarding the public stated "They’re all frustrated with the ways government has been doing for years and years, and I think it is time to say enough is enough. Pressure, I think, has mounted for the last 12 months to a point where we cannot go any longer without really coming together."
Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn: "Under the Governor's leadership, we look forward to completing a safe and successful construction season that makes Illinois an even better place to work, raise a family and do business. But today is not the end. We look forward to working together with all stakeholders in the near future on a permanent solution and passing a balanced budget with structural reforms."
Rep. David Harris, R-Arlington Heights: "We will have acted, but we will not have acted responsibly."
Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago: “I think there was pressure everywhere you looked to do something, and this is that something.”
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs: “I believe the public participation over the past few weeks has forced this resolution, which is what they’ve been demanding, compromise, negotiate, get to the table.”
Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo: “I think the people of Illinois deserve better than this. I think we are kicking our problems down the road and making them worse. I believe this is a cowardly way to pretend we have done something.”
Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville: stated the stopgap budget was "setting ourselves up for a (fiscal) cliff come January 1. This is a budget that spends money with no additional revenue. We can’t continue to put more money into programs without more revenue.”
Governor Rauner: acknowledged that the deal was “just a small step in the right direction. It is not a budget. It is not a balanced budget. This is a bridge to reform. Reforms are essential."
Speaker Mike Madigan: “The difference today is the governor dropped his demand that his agenda be considered before a budget can be approved."
Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Raymond: regarding the public stated "They’re all frustrated with the ways government has been doing for years and years, and I think it is time to say enough is enough. Pressure, I think, has mounted for the last 12 months to a point where we cannot go any longer without really coming together."
Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn: "Under the Governor's leadership, we look forward to completing a safe and successful construction season that makes Illinois an even better place to work, raise a family and do business. But today is not the end. We look forward to working together with all stakeholders in the near future on a permanent solution and passing a balanced budget with structural reforms."
Meanwhile, the Chicago Tribune did not pull any punches:
Only in Illinois' bizarre universe of astonishing political ineptitude does this budget vote qualify as an achievement.
The job wasn't well done. It isn't even done.
Sure, the last-minute stopgap budget deal between House Speaker Michael Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton and Gov. Bruce Rauner helps the state avoid an even bigger and more humiliating emergency — starting a second year of budget stalemate and waiting for schools not to open.
But this six-month deal does precious little to bring Illinois back from the fiscal Walking Dead.
It doesn't curb chronic overspending.
Doesn't reform pensions or workers' comp.
Doesn't fix a broken educational spending formula.
Instead, it's a triumph of rock-bottom expectations. For lack of real fixes, some crises — such as the ruinous growth of Illinois' unfunded pension liabilities — will continue to worsen.
Yup, yup, yup!!
Out for now........
Matt
Only in Illinois' bizarre universe of astonishing political ineptitude does this budget vote qualify as an achievement.
The job wasn't well done. It isn't even done.
Sure, the last-minute stopgap budget deal between House Speaker Michael Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton and Gov. Bruce Rauner helps the state avoid an even bigger and more humiliating emergency — starting a second year of budget stalemate and waiting for schools not to open.
But this six-month deal does precious little to bring Illinois back from the fiscal Walking Dead.
It doesn't curb chronic overspending.
Doesn't reform pensions or workers' comp.
Doesn't fix a broken educational spending formula.
Instead, it's a triumph of rock-bottom expectations. For lack of real fixes, some crises — such as the ruinous growth of Illinois' unfunded pension liabilities — will continue to worsen.
Yup, yup, yup!!
Out for now........
Matt