A temporary budget fix is in the hands of Illinois Senators, who are expected to vote on the plan tomorrow. County courts, daycare providers who care for low-income kids, and the department of corrections' payroll for guards -- are nearing the end of their budget ropes.
After weeks of deliberations, the House on Tuesday hurriedly passed a stopgap for the $1.6 billion hole in the current year's budget, which ends June 30.
The Senate appears poised to do the same; though leaders, like Senate Pres. John Cullerton, say they're still working to get the votes.
"Well, these are cuts to state government. There's no revenue here ... so that's a cause of concern for some Democrats," he said.
Still, Cullerton says it's compromise. One which he says gives Gov. Bruce Rauner less of the flexibility than he'd wanted, but which still lets the Republican finesse planned spending.
Cullerton says he should be able to guarantee the support of ten of the Senate's 39 members; enough, he says, as long as all 20 Senate Republicans vote "yes," as did every Republican member of the House (House Democrats were more divided; many suburbanites, particularly those in swing districts, opposed the measures).
The package "sweeps" so-called excess cash from special funds, such as one meant to pay for road construction, and generally cuts 2.25% percent across the board -- including to education. However, $97 million is set aside for Rauner to draw on should a school district prove the cut caused it extreme hardship.
