Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Sun-Times: Senate Dems to try to go it alone on budget, tax votes
Illinois Senate Democrats appear ready to go it alone on voting Tuesday for a spending and revenue package that passed with bipartisan support in the House — with House Speaker Michael Madigan on Monday accusing Gov. Bruce Rauner of “intimidation” of legislators and declaring he’ll move to override his vowed vetoes.
If the measures pass, Rauner’s administration contends he’ll veto them as soon as they hit his desk. The Illinois General Assembly will then move to override the vetoes, and Democratic leaders hope they won’t lose votes.
Associated Press: Madigan plans to override Governor's planned veto
The speaker of the Illinois House expects the Senate to endorse a plan to end the nation’s longest state budget standoff and said he will work to override a promised veto from Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Michael Madigan is a Chicago Democrat. He expects the Republican governor to attempt to change the minds of 15 House Republicans who joined a 72-vote supermajority Sunday night to approve the income tax hike. It would increase the personal tax rate 32 percent and bump state revenue up $5 billion a year.
Chicago Tribune: After tax hike and budget votes, Illinois avoids credit downgrade to junk for now
Illinois government’s credit rating avoided a cut to junk status Monday when two key agencies said votes to raise income taxes and advance a spending plan count as progress toward ending the state’s yearslong budget stalemate.
They warned, though, that much was riding on a final resolution being reached in the coming days.
Wirepoints: Most House Members Don't Know What's in the $36 Billion Spending Bill Passed Last Night
Here’s a test: Read the 638 pages linked here and decide if you’d vote for it. You have four hours, during which you also have listen to the debate on a $5 billion tax increase and cast your vote on that.
Aside from the $5 billion tax increased passed yesterday, the Illinois House also passed a $36 billion spending plan — the budget, basically.
But it was new, and was popped on the House in mid-afternoon, just hours before the vote. “We have no idea what’s in it,” said House Minority Leader Jim Durkin at the time.
Chicago Sun-Times: 20 years of political failure in Illinois
Twenty years ago a freshman Republican state senator cast a vote that killed a plan to cut property taxes. She went on to become the first woman to hold a caucus leadership position in the Illinois Legislature, even though property taxes skyrocketed during her years in office.
Chicago Tribune: Lip service in the Illinois House: Ten Dems vote to spend, but not to tax — contradicting years of party rhetoric
On his Facebook page June 28, state Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, praised the spending plan Democrats in Springfield had crafted, saying it “goes further than Governor Bruce Rauner’s proposed spending plan for next year” and saves programs like “elder care, domestic violence shelters, and meals on wheels.”
Four days later, Moylan voted against the higher taxes that would make that Democratic spending plan balance. That is, he voted against the taxes that would pay for all those programs he wants his constituents to know he likes.
Daily Herald: Why suburban lawmakers broke ranks on budget, tax hike votes
Their inboxes and social media feeds are jamming with hate mail, but three suburban Republicans say they wouldn’t change their votes on a state income tax increase, given what’s at stake.
Facing a government implosion and bond rating meltdown during a frantic session Sunday, 15 Republican House members broke ranks and supported Democratic legislation in a 72-45 showdown that could override a potential veto from Gov. Bruce Rauner. A Senate vote is expected Tuesday.
Northwest Herald: Local representative defends vote for 32-percent state income tax increase
State Rep. Steven Andersson got a 25-second ovation from his fellow Illinois House lawmakers when he said Friday that they would “do the right thing” and “do it together” to finally pass a state budget after three years without one.
On Sunday, he was one of 15 House Republicans – just short of a third of the party caucus – to break with the party and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and vote to permanently raise the state income tax on residents and businesses by 33 percent.
State Journal-Register: Local House members explain votes on budget bills
Here’s a look at how Springfield-area members of the Illinois House voted on two key budget bills on Sunday night, along with statements they released explaining those votes. Those bills were Senate Bill 9, which raised income taxes, and Senate Bill 6, which authorized spending for a state budget for the current fiscal year. Both bills still need to be considered by the Senate.
Belleville News-Democrat: State Rep. Meier issues statement on House passage of budget
State Rep. Charlie Meier, R-Okawville, issued the following statement about the House passage of the Illinois State Budget in a press release:
“The fact of the matter is our state is penniless, flat out broke. Yesterday, the Illinois House voted to send Governor Rauner a budget which spends $3 billion less than if we were to continue operating without a state budget. In addition to passing a budget, the House approved a 1.25% income tax increase, a proposal I supported. The truth is, this wasn’t easy, I realize a tax increase isn’t popular. However, this was the viable option to keep our state government from shutting down and putting lives at risk.
The Southern: Rep. Bryant feels the heat for breaking ranks on tax vote
Rep. Terri Bryant said the decision to break ranks with Gov. Bruce Rauner and Republican Party leadership and vote in favor of a tax hike was not an easy one, but that she stands firm in her belief that she did what was best for her district, regardless of the consequences to her political career.
Bryant, of Murphysboro, was one of 15 GOP House members, most of them downstate lawmakers with universities in or near their districts, to vote for the $5 billion tax increase intended to end the budget impasse that entered a third year on July 1.
WSIL TV: Lawmakers defend votes on raising taxes
Lawmakers who voted for or against the tax increase spoke out Monday, defending their votes.
Representative Bryant called it a difficult decision to vote yes for an income tax increase of 32 percent. But she said getting a budget is important, to make sure crisis centers and SIU get the money they need to survive.
Peoria Journal-Star: Layoffs begin as state road construction shuts down
Road construction workers across the state were sent home Monday — or not called in at all — with the budget-related shutdown of approximately 900 transportation projects totaling $3.3 billion, according to one of the state’s largest contractor associations.
The Illinois Department of Transportation estimates 20,000 workers are affected.
Peoria Journal-Star: Peoria County Schools sales tax begins
If you’ve noticed some purchases cost a little more this week, that’s the new Peoria County Schools Facilities Sales Tax, which went into effect July 1.
County voters approved the one-half percent sales tax increase by a narrow margin — 50.62 percent to 49.38 percent — in November.
Bloomington Pantagraph: Normal to join Bloomington, others in fire truck litigation
Several Illinois cities are banding together to pursue legal action after, they claim, a fire equipment maker stiffed them on warranty repairs.
Bloomington and Normal are among seven cities considering an alliance to “pursue any and all legal remedies” against Pierce Manufacturing of Appleton, Wis., according to a memo from Jessica Woods, an attorney with the town.