The Illinois primary election is over — so will lawmakers and Gov. Bruce Rauner finally pass a budget?
Some who watch state government closely say chances aren't so great.
Emily Miller is with the advocacy group Voices for Illinois Children. She says the state’s political leaders will now likely shift focus to the general election in November.
“At first folks thought that perhaps after the primary election, people would be removed enough from the political side to make sound policy decisions, ” she says. “I think it’s pretty clear at this point that it won’t be until after the general election that people are able to leave politics behind.”
Miller isn't optimistic that a comprehensive budget plan will be approved before that time. “That’s really sad. Because a lot of these nonprofit providers and institutions of higher learning — if you strip funding and you eliminate the availability of those services, you can’t just turn around and start having money flow again and have that service jump back on its feet,” Miller says.
The Illinois House is not scheduled to be back in session until April. If nothing changes, that will also be the state’s 10th month without a budget.
