State Democrats To Propose Stop Gap Budget Covering Essential Services
CBS — State lawmakers and Governor Bruce Rauner face a midnight deadline to approve a budget for the new fiscal year which starts Wednesday.
CBS 2's Jim Williams reports both the governor and house speaker are trying to be reassuring, but they remain far apart.
"This is going to be a stressful time for your families," Governor Bruce Rauner told state workers Tuesday.
A stressful time, on the eve of a possible state government shutdown.
Governor Rauner offered a pep talk to state workers who respond to natural disasters like tornadoes and floods.
"I want to make darn sure you guys are paid, you guys are paid on time, you don't miss any payroll," he said.
Unpaid state workers, loss of services are real possibilities says House Speaker Mike Madigan.
"It's going to be a while before there's a final resolution," Madigan said.
So today, Madigan introduced a measure to keep state government operating, but only for a short time.
"Tomorrow we will offer what we call an essential services budget," Madigan said. "It would be a one month budget. It would appropriate a little over two billion dollars for essential services."
Wednesday is the start of a new fiscal year, and Rauner has vetoed the vast majority of Democratic lawmakers' budget plan, which was nearly $4 billion short on revenue. The only part of the budget the governor approved was an increase in spending on education.
Rauner's own budget proposal in February was $2.2 billion out of balance.
The governor is threatening to veto a temporary measure. It is a stalemate that concerns Bob Gallo, head of AARP in Illinois, representing older people who could lose programs such as in-home care. He says it would start right away.
But not all state services would stop, on this Fourth of July weekend, every state park will be open.
All Secretary of State offices will remain open as well, so that includes your area DMV if you need a new license or to renew your plates.
Prisons will operate normally with a full staff of guards.
