By Dave Dahl/IRN
SPRINGFIELD – We’ve been here before.
The state greets the new fiscal year with no budget, but there are alternatives.
“There have been discussions regarding proposing a budget that will fund essential services and keep the lights on for the month of July,” said State Rep. Lou Lang, adding he’s read comments from Republicans hoping to do the same thing, although Gov. Bruce Rauner has indicated he is not in favor.
One Republican willing to walk away is State Rep. Bill Mitchell. “(House Speaker Mike) Madigan’s been in charge for thirty years. We have $8 billion in unpaid bills because of spending what we don’t have, and that imperils the programs we should all cherish.” Mitchell says the right thing to do is to pass a balanced budget.
The new fiscal year begins Wednesday. A stopgap budget proposal could come up.
