* The most important sentence in this story is the last line below…
The Illinois House could begin voting as early as Wednesday on the outlines of a bare-bones state budget. […]
Hannig offered few details about the proposal Monday, but said lawmakers will be given the opportunity to vote on a no-growth budget plan that essentially keeps state government operating when the new fiscal year kicks in July 1.
In a new twist, Hannig said lawmakers also will be then given the option of boosting spending on various programs. For example, lawmakers could vote to add up to $600 million in new funding for schools. […]
Action in the House, however, may be nothing more than a political maneuver.
The aspect of the House budget plan that allows members to tack on almost whatever they want to the spending proposal is pure politics. The rest, not so much. There are some useful things being done this week outside of the grandstanding.
* A long summer session is not favored by the Senate Dems this year…
I don’t think there’s a will from any member to be down here this summer,” said Sen. Donne Trotter of Chicago, the budget point man for the Senate’s Democratic majority.
That’s good news, but they’ll still have to deal with the governor…
Blagojevich sees a state budget and a major construction program as connected, because the construction bill would “relieve pressure on an operations budget. That remains our focus,” said spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch.
That’s pretty ominous if the guv sticks to his guns.
* I couldn’t have said this better myself…
Talks about a state capital building plan are still occurring in Springfield, although it’s hard to see much progress. […]
Rich Miller, who writes the political insider newsletter The Capital Fax, hit on the real issue recently.
It’s trust.
Few legislators trust Blagojevich to spend the money fairly and equitably. It’s hard to blame the legislators.
* Back to the Tribune’s story…
Blagojevich is not charged with a crime and has denied wrongdoing. But the confluence of the scandal and the growing disenchantment with him takes a toll on budget negotiations. […]
[Senate President Emil Jones] downplays a lack of trust.
“We’re talking about money,” he said. “In God we trust. It’s on our money.”
I’m not quite sure what that means, but whatever.
* Meanwhile…
The horse racing industry leaders are back at the state Capitol to plead for state assistance. This time they’re trying to convince lawmakers that if the state helps them, they can turn more profits and help fund a $20 billion infrastructure program for the entire state.
The argument is that horse racing in Illinois is losing horses, trainers, agribusiness, and lots of money tied to the industry to other states. Many of those states subsidize the industry and offer larger prizes for winning a race. Blagojevich signed a measure into law nearly two years ago that would have shaved 3 percent of the profits from the state’s casinos to support the ailing horse racing industry, but the measure immediately landed in court.
* Related…
* Proponents say slot machines at tracks would help racing industry, state
* Hastert, Poshard campaign for state roads