State government is without a budget for the new fiscal year, which started July 1.

Senator Tim Bivins says lawmakers and the Governor were in Springfield June 30, hoping to come to a budget agreement. No progress was made, so the Governor vetoed a portion of the budget that funds human service programs, leaving thousands of providers and recipients in limbo.

Despite being mostly cut out of the budget process this spring, Republicans again offered an alternative budget plan on June 30 that would temporarily finance the state at the Fiscal Year 2008 level. The Republican proposal would have prevented the deep cuts to human services that many of Illinois’ most vulnerable citizens rely on, and forestall the thousands of lay-offs that many say will result due to Governor Quinn’s veto action.

Senate Republicans have argued that rolling state spending back to a previous fiscal year is more equitable than the budget passed by Democrats at the end of May. That budget targeted human service programs by cutting spending by 50 percent in those areas, while increasing spending in other areas.

With no progress toward adopting a Fiscal Year 2010 budget proposal and the end of the current fiscal year rapidly approaching., the state’s Democrat leaders adjourned a special legislative session June 24 and made plans to return next week.

Frustrated by the lack of progress, Senate Republicans offered an alternative “bridge” budget, which would keep state government functioning and social service programs operational. Senator Tim Bivins said they decided to offer the temporary proposal because negotiations that should have been going on back in March are only now beginning to take place. 

The Republican proposal would roll spending back to the previous year’s levels, which is seen as more equitable and manageable than the budget approved in May. The May proposal, adopted on partisan votes with no Republican support, slashed human service spending by 50%, while increasing funding in other areas.

As the end of the current fiscal year rapidly approaches, Governor Pat Quinn is calling lawmakers back to Springfield on June 23, although there has not been substantial progress on resolving the state budget, according to  Senator Tim Bivins.

The 45th District Senator did applaud Governor Quinn for making the “call” for a special session broad enough to encompass critical structural and ethical reforms needed to move Illinois forward.

Because a special session can only address the issues laid out in the Governor’s proclamation calling the Legislature into session,  Senator Bivins explained that it was important that the proclamation be broad enough to include key reforms needed to address the underlying causes of the gridlock that has become routine in Illinois over the last six years.

However, while the Governor’s action was an encouraging sign, Democrat legislative leaders have yet to agree to effective ethics reform measures, ending the partisan gerrymandering of the state and making needed spending cuts and structural reforms.

Legislative leaders met June 9 as they continue to work toward a resolution on the state budget. Senator Tim Bivins said that the meetings continue to focus heavily on the need for spending reductions and reform, with Republicans pushing for additional ethics reforms, redistricting reform and recall proposals.

Governor Pat Quinn has been participating in the budget meetings; however, he has also been traveling the state, warning of drastic budget cuts to much-needed services and programs if lawmakers do not approve an income tax increase. Senator Bivins explained that constituents’ concerns about the budget are well-founded, but urged the public not to be scared by what many people view as fear tactics by the Governor.