Budget and Bears, Oh My
Senate President Don Harmon.
There are still a pile of moving parts in the negotiations to pass a state budget, but Democratic leaders are confident, publicly and privately, they can “land the plane” before Sunday night.
Gov. JB Pritzker told reporters Friday all focus is on getting a balanced budget passed and that leaders were “making progress.”
“We’re focused on the budget,” he said. “That is the number one thing we’re going to get done.”
We’re told there are currently about $900 million in tax increases included in the budget plan, ranging from the Governor’s proposed social media tax, a sales tax on candy and soda, new taxes on cryptocurrency and fantasy sports services, and an increase in the tobacco sales tax.
The number still appears fluid, as leaders still haven’t agreed on a final revenue number, sources say.
Senate President Don Harmon told reporters his caucus had a full discussion on the budget Friday. Sources say there was some frustration, but not overwhelming opposition to the potential spending plan.
As for the Bears/megaprojects plan, talks appear stalled. Sources say the bill didn’t even come up in the Senate Democratic caucus Friday leading to questions about if the Senate makes any move at all on the bill this weekend.
“We’ll talk when there’s something to talk about,” Harmon said about the Bears bill.
“So is it just dead?” one House member texted Friday night.
Nobody seems to know for sure.
