Budget Negotiations Could Be Set On "Repeat"

By Kevin Lee
For House Republican Leader Tom Cross, this year’s budget session is causing déjà vu. Like last year, Illinois is facing a record budget shortfall. And like last year, Cross said state government’s first step should be to stop overspending.

“This is going to take two or three years to get out of this hole, but you’ve got to quit digging,” Cross said.

“We’ve talked about holding the line on spending, we’ve talked about cuts, we’ve talked about reform in a variety of areas – Medicaid and pensions. It’s fascinating that we’re having almost the same discussion today as we had a year ago.”

Back then, Democratic state senators passed their form of a tax increase, with no support from Republicans colleagues. But the Illinois House did not vote on the Senate Democrats’ proposal. Instead, they voted on and rejected a tax hike backed by Gov. Pat Quinn.

State Sen. James Meeks, D-Chicago, said for this budget, any new tax proposals would have to go through the other legislative chamber first. “I believe that any tax increase that’s passed under this dome is going to have to be passed in the House first. I don’t believe that senators are going to pass a tax increase, not knowing its fate in the House,” he said.

State Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, does not think Quinn is trying to scare lawmakers or the public into supporting a tax increase. "Quinn has been very upfront about the need for a tax increase for Illinois. So if he’s playing a game, he’s not doing it very well,” he said.

You can read Kevin's full report at: http://illinoisstatehousenews.com/2010/03/08/budget-negotiations-could-be-set-on-repeat/