A slew of bills were considered as legislators ended the spring session in Springfield Saturday. Here are a few key developments:
Budget
Hoping to avoid the embarrassment of another extended summer session, the General Assembly approved a $60 billion state budget on deadline Saturday. The document would increase spending by about $2 billion over the current year, increasing funding to education and some health care and social service programs. Republicans derided the bill as "irresponsible" and "out of whack" because it relies on what the Tribune calls "optimistic forecasts of how much revenue the state will take in."
Many of Gov. Blagojevich's spending priorities were omitted, including a $16 billion pension bond that would allow the state to borrow against pension receipts and invest the money for a higher return, leading some business and anti-tax groups to call for union concessions. While Blagojevich says he will keep an "open mind" about passing the bill, he could issue a total veto that would leave the state without a spending plan for the budget year that begins in July.
Capital plan
The $34 billion capital improvements program, a plan Blagojevich strongly supported, was quashed in the House late Saturday night by House Speaker Michael Madigan after it had passed the Senate. The General Assembly could revisit the capital bill -- which was to be funded by expanding gambling and leasing the Illinois lottery -- during the veto session in November.
Pay-to-play ban
After three years of deliberations, both chambers passed an ethics plan banning contributions from state contractors to elected officials who award the contracts. A spokesperson for Blagojevich hinted that he may want to tighten the bills' restrictions through an amedatory veto, a move Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) warned against. "The governor's office has the audacity to say that they wish we would improve on this," Fritchey said about the bill, which he sponsored. "We are not under investigation. We do not award contracts. We have not been accused of doling out contracts to state contributors ... Any changes to this bill would be a slap to the face of the work of these two chambers."
But it ain't over yet ...
Blagojevich has called a press conference at 11 a.m. this morning in Chicago "to comment on the new budget passed by the General Assembly." Stay tuned for more details.
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