Illinois' current budget negotiations are still in flux, but social service providers (and those who rely on their programs) temporarily dodged a bullet in Springfield when House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) delayed consideration of a constitutional amendment (HJRCA 61) that would impose strict limits on Illinois' ability to spend.

Labor unions, state vendors, and budget experts urgently warned the state legislature last week that the amendment, known colloquially as TABOR, would drain Illinois' budget of vital resources. (One study by the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability found that the limits would have forced the General Assembly to make massive additional cuts -- between $4.5 billion to $ 7.8 billion -- in FY 2009, the most recent year with complete data.) Like we did in our original on the topic, the State Journal-Register outlined the adverse effects a similar measure had in Colorado:

Colorado’s roads declined to the worst shape since the state started monitoring them, its contribution to higher education funding fell from 60 percent to 40 percent, and its contribution to elementary and secondary education funding fell to $2,000 below the national average. Revenues returned to pre-recession levels only after voters elected to suspend the limit for five years, Jones said.

The fight isn't over entirely; a spokesperson for the speaker said he would introduce the same measure again after the new General Assembly starts work Wednesday. But for now, it's a victory for those who want to see Illinois fund core services adequately.