THERE
WERE MANY who were figuring that meant this was the point in time by which our
officials would have to put aside their petty partisan political differences
and do something to ensure that state government meets its obligations for the
future.
Of
course, the General Assembly quit by mid-day on Friday – with little public
attempt to even pretend it was trying to pass something, anything, that could
be construed as a budget.
Our
legislators will return to work on Saturday – and not just because Gov. Bruce
Rauner issued an order telling them to do so.
It
was Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, who said early Friday
that legislators would continue to work until something was approved that could
be sent to Rauner for his final approval.
IN
FACT, HE then made a point of sending letters to the heads of the bond rating
agencies such as Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s; asking them not to rush
into any action to reclassify the financial status of Illinois government.
There
have been hints that if the state didn’t act by Friday and actually allowed a
third fiscal year to begin without a budget, they’d go ahead and knock Illinois
down to the lowest status possible.
That
of “junk bond status.”
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| BRADY: New part of budget equation |
Which would put it as a part of the legacy of Rauner’s gubernatorial term that Illinois plunged as low as it could go – although I’m sure Rauner fully intends to place blame on Madigan for this situation. Reports indicate television advertising spots making such an accusation are already prepared, but that Rauner is holding off on paying money to air them in coming days to see what happens.
WHAT
CAME DOWN on Friday was the faintest glimmer of hope. The two sides of state
government don’t have an agreement on a state government budget. But they have
some sense of agreement on procedural measures that would lead to a budget
agreement.
The
Illinois House on Friday morning went so far as to take an overwhelming vote of
support, with a final vote of approval to come at a later date. Which is what
Madigan alluded to in telling the bond rating agencies that something will
happen soon.
Of
course, nothing really happens until that final vote is taken. Then the matter
would have to go over to the Illinois Senate for consideration. Even then, a
single “no” could strike the whole thing down. That “no” being the veto power
of Rauner himself.
Which
is why Tuesday may be the significant date. If nothing happens by then, it’s
likely that nothing will happen at all and we probably should prepare for the
worst.
THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF Tuesday being that it is Independence Day. Never underestimate
the significance to a legislator of wanting to march in whatever local parade
is being scheduled for their home community.
I
have no doubt these people want to go home for the summer on Sunday or Monday.
They want to make their local public appearance on Tuesday and use their events
to celebrate both U.S. independence AND a state budget.
Legislators
want to feed their egos from their local voters by telling them how they
personally influenced the whole process. Some may want to believe that it was somehow brand-new Illinois Senate Minority Leader William Brady, R-Bloomington, (remember his failed 2010 bid for governor against Pat Quinn?) who impacted the action. That may be total exaggeration on
their parts, but it is something they want to do.
They
want to be a part of the fireworks back home, not lingering on at the
Statehouse in Springfield while fireworks of a different sort go off from the
electorate peeved that we’re now in Year Three without a state budget in place.
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