Illinois Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) | norinehammond.org
Illinois Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) | norinehammond.org
State Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) said the GOP is being left out of the budgeting process.
The budget was due on May 19 but the Democratic majority punted it into late May after missing that deadline.
“We have attempted numerous meetings with the House Democratic budgeteer, with the speaker and the governor,” Hammond said at a news conference, according to Northern Public Radio. “Only one group has met with us on more than one occasion; that is the governor and his team. No negotiations with others have occurred.”
Illinois legislators will return to session May 24-26 to hammer out the budget and vote on other bills.
One point of contention is spending for Medicaid for migrants which makes up nearly $1 billion of the projected budget of $50 billion. The program is for those aged 42 and older. Democratic lawmakers sought to lower that bar to those 19 years old and older but have been unable to move the legislation.
Others are taking the Democratic leadership to task for how the budget process is handled. “Only a few top leaders in the Democratic supermajority in the General Assembly will have much of an understanding of the budget when over a thousand pages of budget bills get shoved to members for a vote, probably this week. The rest of us will get a full story only in coming months, if ever,” Mark Glennon wrote in Wirepoints.
The draft budget has not been seen by many in the General Assembly. State Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) has been denied in his repeated requests for a draft copy of the budget which will top 1,000 pages. “Funny story,” Keicher said. “After I made my inquiry last night, I had eight members of the other side of the aisle suggest to me that they hadn't seen one either.” Keicher’s sentiment was backed up by State Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) who responded, “You’re asking me?” When Keicher asked him about a draft.
The budget was scheduled to be passed by Friday, May 19 at midnight. The General Assembly has until May 31 to pass a budget prior to the fiscal year ending June 30. Democrats sent notice to legislators on Friday that the session was being extended regarding the $50 billion budget negotiations. Legislators will next be in session May 24-26 when a final budget is expected.
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