The House will pass its own budget tonight.
$290M more for schools
$801M in net approp growth
$300M from loophole closings from SB1544
UPDATE: Add $84M to schools for categoricals.
Also, word is that Sen. Pres. Jones may run the 3 year rate freeze to the guv’s desk so that Downstaters will vote for the budget.
It’s looking like the Senate might (or not) run this low growth budget to keep the gvt running. The governor is then likely to call us into special session to deal with things like health care and education funding.
Also, HDems voted in caucus on Lang’s gaming bill but it came up way short of what they’ll need to pass it.
More later.
UPDATE 2: 4:25pm It looks like HB1500 (to get AT&T into cable) has Madigan’s OK and may be moving soon.
Also, one reason for MJM moving a budget tonight is that the guv has been prodding him publicly to come up with a plan.
And those of you who think this is the final budgetary word ought to think again.
By the way that “growth” listed above is net appropriations growth.
UPDATE 3: The House budget will be SB 1132 House amenment 1
UPDATE 4: 10:16PM… The debate has begun. Republicans are complaining that the bill didn’t pass thru the proper hoops. .
UPDATE 5: By the way, the HDems tacked the budget onto the supplemental bill, which is worth $1.2 Billion in federal funds to hospitals over the next two years.