New Budget Procedures Draw Bipartisan Criticism
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WBBM) -- The new way of building a budget in Illinois is drawing some criticism – even from people on the same side of the people putting it together.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Dave Dahl reports
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State Sen. Willie Delgado (D-Chicago) could not contain his frustration during an appropriations hearing Tuesday evening. He said he felt way out of the loop: "I thought this would be a more open process for me, and I'm finding that I've been blowing smoke to the wind." Delgado says among other gaps in communication, what's in the written proposals differs from what members of the governor's staff have told him.
Republicans predictably found things to complain about as well. State Sen. Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) said the controlling Democrats dropped 25 bills on the GOP only five hours before the meeting started.
Members of the General Assembly are discussing the budget plans out in the open, rather than crafting the spending plan in secret and then have the House and Senate vote on it right before adjournment.
