Uncertainty dominates Illinois budget talks as deadline nears
Next Saturday's the deadline for Illinois state lawmakers to pass a new budget. They've got more issues than Iowa lawmakers did for their budget and they worked overtime in Des Moines.
Democrats in Illinois are trying to pass the largest budget in state history at the request of Gov. JB Pritzker – this while trying to close a shortfall of at least half a billion dollars, as well as uncertainty about how much support the state will get from the federal government.
There are a lot of unanswered budget questions going into the last scheduled week of Illinois' legislative session. We'll try to get some answers this morning from State Sen. Mike Halpin and Rep. Tony McCcombie, also the House minority leader.
What are the chances the state adopts a basic budget by the deadline with the intent on coming back in session during the session to hammer out more details?
'We're going to go the best we can, given what we know for a fact, here in Illinois,' Halpin said.
'This budget should be fine. I don't think we need to worry about the Trump administration affecting our going into a $1 billion deficit,' McCombie said.
Question of the Week
Now we want to hear from you, too, and that brings us to our question of the week. What do you think about the possibility of new taxes on services and/or deliveries in Illinois to help balance the budget? Share your thoughts at 4therecord@whbf.com
Local 4 News, your local election headquarters, is proud to present , a weekly news and public affairs program focused on the issues important to you. It's a program unlike any other here in the Quad Cities. Tune in each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. as brings you up to speed on what's happening in the political arena, from Springfield, Des Moines, Washington, D.C. and right here at home.
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