It appears a state budget is stuck in stalemate. And, lawmakers will go into overtime again.
With two hours to go in the Spring session, lawmakers have been working all weekend on various ways to balance the budget. The cash strapped state is looking at tax increases and gambling expansion to fill a nearly 12–billion dollar budget deficit.
The Senate narrowly approved permanently raising the income tax rate to 5–percent...a 66–percent increase. The house tonight overwhelmingly rejected a different and lower tax increase. The house's version would be a 50–percent hike and would only be for two years.
Supporters including Governor Pat Quinn say a tax increase is needed to avoid cutting up to 50 percent of government services. The governor reacted tonight saying, "And that’s why I’ll look each legislature leader in the eye and each member of legislature in the eye and tell them that our veterans are senior citizens. Our children are hard working people that work in childcare, senior citizen care. They’re counting on us. We can’t let them down."
Governor Quinn plans to meet with the legislative leaders tomorrow in Springfield. The tax increases would generate between 4 and 5–billion dollars.
The Senate also approved a massive expansion of gambling to generate revenue. Additional casinos in Chicago, Rockford, Danville and Lake County could add a billion dollars to the state's coffers. Existing casinos could also add up to 800 gambling slots. Since lawmakers will be in overtime, it will take a super majority or 3–5ths vote to approve any measures in the General Assembly.
Lawmakers did pass a piece of historic legislation this weekend putting caps on campaign contributions.They would range from $5,000 a year from individuals to $90,000 from political parties. Now all it needs is the governor's signature.