Top Issues "Unresolved" as Legislature Begins Final Stretch
The Illinois State Capitol
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As lawmakers returned to the Capitol Tuesday for the final two-week run of the spring legislative session, sources say negotiations on most major issues continue, but few agreements have been reached.
Here is a summary of top issues:
Budget
The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) report last week that lowered revenue expectation further complicated negotiations on how to pay for Governor JB Pritzker’s $55 billion dollar spending plan.
While the Governor has pledged, and legislative leaders agree, not to raise taxes on individuals in the new budget, there is growing concerns among progressives that budget negotiators will make major cuts to programs to balance the budget.
“It’s gonna go down to the wire,” one source said Monday.
Transit
We continue to hear we’re “close” to a deal on structural reform for Chicago-area mass transit, but no final language has emerged yet. Funding appears to be a completely different story and may wait until the fall veto session. Most people believe a service tax is the most likely funding source for transit.
Pensions
All sides continue to talk about reforming “Tier 2” pensions to meet federal “safe harbor” regulations. We’re told both sides are finalizing a deal to moderately change retirement age, final average salary, cost of living adjustments, and the social security wage gap in a way that doesn’t “balloon” the state’s unfunded pension liability.
We’re told the sides are waiting on some cost analysis reports before moving forward on language.
Community College Degrees
One of the priorities laid out in Governor Pritzker’s budget proposal was a plan to allow some community colleges to award four year degrees. It was met with opposition by public universities in the state, but we’re told the Govenror’s office has gotten them to neutral. That bill could move this week.
