By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – Closer – but still miles apart – that’s how State Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, sums up where Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Illinois Democratic leaders stand – with just one week before the budget deadline.
“I think you’ve (seen) a little more serious discussion in the last week between the governor and the president of the Senate on some areas within the budget,” Brady said. “That’s a small step but it’s still not anywhere close between the governor and the House Speaker for a variety of reasons.”
PODCAST: Listen to Scott and Colleen’s interview with Brady on WJBC.
Brady told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin, the series of property tax freezes that Illinois Democrats have pushed are ‘sham bills’ which don’t reflect the governor’s wishes. The latest proposal on Tuesday failed without a single ‘yes’ vote.
“It’s their interpretation, their Cliff Notes version of something, throw it out there and say ‘That’s what you wanted, that’s the exact wording of the legislation.’ That’s just not the case,” Brady retorted.
Brady said he suspects Rauner will need to get at least one part of his ‘Turnaround Agenda’ before he would be willing to consider any revenue increase. That, he said, will clear the way for Rauner to cut the remainder of an estimated $4 billion gap in the budget lawmakers approved.
“In that case, they aren’t going to get a haircut, they are going to get scalped and it’s going to be very painful,” Brady said.
The new budget year is scheduled to begin on July 1.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
