*** The governor’s veto message can be read by clicking here *** [Fixed link.]
* 2:08 pm - Gov. Pat Quinn’s 2:30 budget press conference will be broadcast live by the Illinois Information Service. You can click here to listen. We’ll do a bit of live-blogging as well.
* Likely live-Tweeters include…
* Sen. Dan Rutherford
* Ben Yount
* IL Senate GOP
* Carlos Hernandez Gomez
I’ll add more when I see them.
* 2:34 pm - And here we go…
The governor just said he would “veto a bill that the General Assembly sent to me last week.” It’s another budget bill. Dealing with “a lot of parts of state government.”
Quinn said he would veto the bill and send it back with instructions for “how they can save money.”
Bill didn’t follow principles of sacrifice. Some agencies got the same amount of money as last fiscal year, for instance, Quinn said.
$185 million cut from state operations. 2,600 layoffs. Notices “have begun to go out already.”
Furlough days.
Remember, none of these announced cuts are new, except for this new veto.
Previously announced budget cuts are outlined at this link.
The guv has not yet said which bill he is vetoing.
Ben Yount…
Most telling line so far, Quinn says lawmakers wanted cuts so he’s giving them what they want.
* The appropriations bill Quinn is vetoing is reportedly HB 2145.
This is a full veto.
* Question: How will you get the unions to go along with furloughs? Answer: I support unions, etc., etc., etc. but no real answer except to say furloughs will limit layoffs and he hopes to convince the unions of that.
Quinn also wants to talk to the union about killing off the scheduled raises.
* Quinn: No furloughs will mean another 2,500 layoffs.
* Quinn won’t confirm a report earlier today that he might implement early release for some inmates. He would only say the Dept. of Corrections would have to change the way it operates.
* Quinn: “They are cuts in [Fiscal Year] ‘09 spending.”
* Full document outlining Quinn cuts is here.
* “They want me to do it,” Quinn said about the GA’s desire for him to make cuts.
* The governor is blaming the GA again, but he won’t admit that he could use the item reduction and line item vetoes on his own. Instead, he wants to get together with the GA to work out the cuts.
* It sounds like he just took a question at his press conference from a non-reporter. That would be very Blagojevichian.
* QUINN: “We’re going to keep vetoing it and vetoing it until we get spending in line.”
* Quinn: At least $25 million in savings from constitutional officers. Hello, Lisa?
* The governor’s press release is now out…
July 7, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn today vetoed House Bill 2145 saying the General Assembly’s bill fails to make any significant cuts in state operations. Instead, the Governor proposed passing a responsible “Tough Choices” budget, which calls for cutting an additional $1 billion in state costs.
“I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because it favors preserving the government status quo and fails to make the necessary cuts and reductions in state government operations,” said Governor Quinn. “It does not reflect the spirit of shared sacrifice that must prevail throughout our state government, particularly during these harsh economic times.”
HB 2145 appropriates $3.8 billion to fund state operations. However, HB 2145 fails to adequately cut the cost of state operations, including the budget of the General Assembly and other Constitutional Officers, including the Attorney General, Treasurer, Comptroller and Secretary of State.
Governor Quinn said the General Assembly and all statewide officers should cut their budgets by at least 10 percent, a cost-cutting move that includes an option of ordering up to 12 furlough days for all employees.
“I presented my budget to the General Assembly on March 18 with a clear message: When it comes to making cuts, we have to make tough choices, not bad choices. It was true then and it’s true today,” said Governor Quinn. “My goal has always been to pass a fair and comprehensive state budget that serves the fundamental needs of the people of Illinois.”
The Governor’s “Tough Choices” budget proposes cutting $1 billion from the state budget including:
· $185 million from state operations, including approximately 2,600 layoffs and 12 furlough days for state employees
· $140 million from Medicaid and health insurance
· $250 million in targeted reductions in grant programs
· $125 million from the Department of Corrections
· $175 million cut from proposed increases for K-12 education
· $25 million from other state offices, departments and agencies not under the Governor
· $100 million in additional reserves
* Quinn said the budget bill is “so flawed” from “beginning to end” that he couldn’t just do reduction or line item vetoes. Instead, he believes they must “start from scratch” and begin again.
* Ben Yount…
Quinn: legislative leaders to meet Monday, lawmakers could have “busy Tuesday”
* Quinn is again complaining (valid complaint, by the way) about how this approp bill unconstitutionally bars him from letting professional and artistic contracts.
* “We vetoed your first effort, now let’s get serious,” Quinn said, talking to the GA.
* Quinn said he would sign another approp bill dealing with Medicaid reimbursement.
* The governor also said he “just got” the capital bill and that’s why he hasn’t moved on it yet. That’s such a bogus claim. He could’ve looked at the capital bill online for weeks.
* Ben Yount…
Quinn: If lawmakers think they can “muzzle the Governor” I have to veto them.
On July 7th Gov says “now it’s time to get serious.” Not May, not June, but July 7th.
* “I’m giving them specific recommendations on how to cut the budget… They’ve sent me a document here that overspends by a wide margin.”
He’s now vetoing the bill.
Finis.
* 3:36 pm - The Tribune hed and lede play up the flip-flop angle: Quinn changes mind, vetoes whole budget bill…
A day after he said he’d take responsibility for $1 billion in budget cuts, Gov. Pat Quinn today instead threw the issue back into the laps of lawmakers.
* GateHouse…
Refusing to wear the collar alone for painful choices, Gov. Pat Quinn today said he’s rejecting a budget bill approved by lawmakers and directing them to cut $1 billion from state operations.
*** The governor’s veto message can be read by clicking here *** [Fixed link]
* If you look at the veto message linked above, you’ll see the governor never outright claims that the budget is out of balance. Instead, he relies on other constitutional issues within this one bill - issues that, while mentioned at today’s presser, were not the governor’s prime focus at all.