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Past Due: Billions In Cuts And Deficit Spending Failed To Go Through Standard Democratic Process

100 dollar bill about to be cut with scissors
IGPA

Illinois spent last fiscal year without a budget. During that time, billions of dollars were cut from core services. The state also ran up billions of dollars in debt. A new report looks at how most of this was done without going through the normal Democratic process. 

Illinois Issues editor Jamey Dunn talked with Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, about that report. 

Martire says about two thirds of general spending on services for last fiscal year didn't go through the budgeting process. This spending wasn't approved by lawmakers or signed by the governor. Instead, it was triggered by court order. Most cuts were not made through the legislative process, either. They were made by default if they weren't covered by a court ruling.

“It’s not an open process. It’s not subject to public input. It’s really as unaccountable, as nontransparent and as irresponsible approach to budgeting as you could possibly have,” Martire says.

You can read the report here

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