Post by Logan on May 14, 2016 4:04:12 GMT -6
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois lawmakers approved $700 million Thursday to partially finance cash-strapped human services programs during the state's historic budget stalemate, even as the governor considered tax increases and cuts that could finally move the state toward a full spending plan.
Lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the short-term aid, undermining Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's idea of a "grand bargain" to pass a whole budget by month's end instead of another temporary fix during his nearly yearlong standoff with Democrats.
The funding bill passed as a bipartisan group of budget-writing lawmakers gave legislative leaders and the governor's staff recommendations for a full budget like Rauner wants. The group is suggesting raising the income tax from 3.75 percent to 4.85 percent and a sales-tax expansion to raise $5.4 billion, according to three people familiar with the negotiations who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the plan hasn't been publicly released.
Among the recommendations are $2.4 billion in cuts, including $400 million from Medicaid and $440 million the state won't pay back to funds it borrowed from, such as the School Infrastructure Fund and the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund.
Read more: qctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/illinois-lawmakers-pass-m-for-human-services-programs/article_ea2b1527-c392-5aae-bcf9-ad070aa4b387.html
Lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the short-term aid, undermining Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's idea of a "grand bargain" to pass a whole budget by month's end instead of another temporary fix during his nearly yearlong standoff with Democrats.
The funding bill passed as a bipartisan group of budget-writing lawmakers gave legislative leaders and the governor's staff recommendations for a full budget like Rauner wants. The group is suggesting raising the income tax from 3.75 percent to 4.85 percent and a sales-tax expansion to raise $5.4 billion, according to three people familiar with the negotiations who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the plan hasn't been publicly released.
Among the recommendations are $2.4 billion in cuts, including $400 million from Medicaid and $440 million the state won't pay back to funds it borrowed from, such as the School Infrastructure Fund and the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund.
Read more: qctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/illinois-lawmakers-pass-m-for-human-services-programs/article_ea2b1527-c392-5aae-bcf9-ad070aa4b387.html