* Another legislative battle is brewing…
Embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich signaled Tuesday that he will block an attempt by the Legislature to restore budget cuts he made last fall.
On the final day of the current General Assembly, the Illinois Senate approved legislation aimed at restoring millions of dollars to the state budget.
Included in the financial fix was money that could help the state avoid paying a nearly $10 million penalty to the federal government for taking money out of special wildlife funds to help pay for other state services.
But, the governor, who has been impeached and now awaits a trial in the Senate, said the cash-strapped state can’t afford the proposal.
Since the General Assembly which passed this bill is now adjourned sine die, if there’s a veto the new GA will have to pass another bill, which will get vetoed, and then overridden. That’ll take weeks, if not months, to work out.
Wonderful.
* And a new tax hike is on the table…
The cost to light up may go up exponentially this year.
State Sen. Jeff Schoenberg, an Evanston Democrat, said Tuesday he’ll push to add $1 in taxes to a pack of cigarettes in the new legislative session that begins today.
The state tax is currently 98 cents per pack. Counties and some cities can and do tack on their own substantial taxes.
Smoking opponents said the increase is a public health issue.
* Meanwhile, a federally mandated change to our state’s new ethics law was sent to the governor yesterday…
Many lucrative road and bridge contracts would be excluded from the state’s new “pay-to-play” ban under legislation the Senate sent Tuesday to impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Senators begrudgingly voted 56-1 for the measure following a threat from the Bush administration that the new ethics law needed to be watered down or federal funding for Illinois would be in jeopardy.
The state’s new ethics law prohibits businesses that have or seek state contracts worth more than $50,000 from donating to the campaign funds of statewide officeholders who assign the contracts.
Federal transportation officials told Illinois the law restricts who is eligible to bid for the business, potentially making projects cost more. State officials said the restriction could impact projects going to bid this month if an exception isn’t carved out.
* Related…
* Smoking opponents to push higher state tax
* Cigarette tax hike mulled by state lawmakers
* Smokers: They’re picking on us
* Smoking ban and budget restorations
* Senate approves revision to smoking ban
* Awkwardness to prevail when Rod Blagojevich swears in members of Senate
* Governor won’t make grand Senate entrance
* Britt: What happens when Blagojevich arrives at the Illinois Senate
* Ill. General Assembly OKs “pay to play” exception
* Emil Jones says goodbye to Legislature
* Ill. Senate president says farewell after 36 years
* Illinois state treasurer warns of dismal financial outlook: His office estimates the state will earn $130 million in interest for the budget year ending June 30. But that amount could drop to anywhere from $15 million to $86 million during the next budget year, based on the treasurer’s projections. That’s a far cry from the $431 million Illinois earned in interest at its high-water mark in 2001.
* New legislative term begins today