Lawmakers still far apart after special Sunday budget meeting

By Associated Press
Posted Monday, July 09, 2007

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois lawmakers remained divided Sunday on a new state budget after huddling at the governor's mansion over numbers that suggest a gap of around $900 million between state spending and revenue.

Dozens of legislators emerged from a meeting with Gov. Rod Blagojevich and the four legislative leaders in a better mood than the day before, when cross words and gamesmanship dominated the discussion.

While tempers improved, the budget outlook did not.

The estimate produced by budget negotiators suggests state government will have to come up with $874 million in new revenue just to keep up with the growing costs of current programs.

New programs, such as universal health insurance or a major increase in school spending, would require even more new money _ and how to come up with new money has been the key point of contention in writing a new budget.

This is the kind of estimate that would normally be produced in April or May. But budget negotiations have been so limited that, until now, the governor's office and four legislative caucuses haven't joined together for a detailed look at the numbers.

Senate Minority Frank Watson, R-Greenville, said the meeting, which lasted more than two hours, showed legislators just how big a hole the state is in.

"It's going to be a big problem to decide on what to do to get out of it," Watson said.

House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, called the report "inconclusive" because of arguments among the caucuses about the budget numbers. He would not describe the arguments but said Blagojevich should work to resolve those differences.

Blagojevich did not answer questions after the meeting.

But a close Blagojevich ally, Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Collinsville, said he is confident in the $874 million estimate.

The new state budget was supposed to be approved by May 31, but the Democrats who control the Legislature and the governor's office failed to meet that deadline. To keep state government operating when the new fiscal year began July 1, they approved a one-month budget extension.

While budget negotiations continue, lawmakers are meeting in special session called by the governor. Each session costs thousands of dollars a day.

The Senate met only briefly Sunday, with fewer than 20 of its 59 members in attendance. The House, with 79 of 118 members present, met for a little over an hour.