Marathon Budget Talks Ongoing
House Speaker Chris Welch, Gov. JB Pritzker, and Senate President Don Harmon, announce a budget deal in 2022. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
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After a weekend of late night budget talks, sources say there are still significant differences among Democrats in trying to balance Governor JB Pritzker’s proposed $55 billion budget.
After House Democrats were polled last week on a bevy of tax hikes, sources say progress is being made on the revenue side of the budget and that there are still some Democrats behind the scenes pushing for more spending cuts, though that appears to be falling on deaf ears.
While Saturday is the day to pass the final version of the state budget, it is expected that a budget bill will have to pass one chamber, likely the Senate, by Thursday to get through the House with 60 votes by Saturday.
“They’re running out of time in a hurry,” one lobbyist quipped this weekend. “And it really feels like they’re a long way apart.”
The Governor’s office didn’t comment Monday on the status of the negotiations. Other top budgeteers have mostly been quiet in recent days. We’re told there have been some conversations between Senate Democrats and Senate Republicans, but it is “highly unlikely” the GOP puts any votes on a final budget bill.
We’re told an individual income tax increase is likely not on the table, but a corporate income tax increase could be considered as part of the budget deal depending, again, on if House Democrats can put together 60 votes.
“Three days in Springfield in May is like three weeks anywhere else,” said one Democratic insider. “They have plenty of time to figure this out. And they will. Balanced and responsible like every year.”
