Legislators Back To Work On State Budget

By Marcus Gilmer in News on May 25, 2010 7:00PM

State legislators are back at work in Springfield, trying to hammer out a budget that they failed to approve before they adjourned earlier this month. But state Dems are facing a May 31 deadline after which a budget will require a super-majority to pass. Which is probably why Gov. Quinn is pressing for a Friday deadline to cobble together and approve the new budget.

The current budget expires June 30th so there's still time even if this self-imposed deadline gets blown. The main point of contention now is the governor's proposal to borrow an additional $4 billion to help cover the state's five public employee pension plans. Quinn has refused to comment on whether or not he'd consider a budget without such a proposal, telling the Tribune, "We want to do the right thing, so my focus is on that," Quinn said. "I'm not going to anticipate anything other than that."

As for the other main bill, the the McCormick Place overhaul bill, Quinn seems to be stalling on a decision, specifically targeting proposed head Jim Reilly, chairman of the RTA. Quinn insists he's simply concerned about accountability: "I just think anytime you have one person running anything, you've got to make sure you've got accountability." Though if the rumors are to be believed, we could be heading for a veto. This despite a threat from one of the city's largest trade shows that they'll depart McCormick Place if Quinn doesn't sign the bill into law.