Illinois lawmakers and Gov. Bruce Rauner seem no closer to an agreed-upon state budget, but they’re certainly keeping busy in Springfield this week.
Advertisement
Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly says the administration notified public-employee unions this week that the layoffs will be effective September 30.
Rauner says he’d prefer not to shutter the facilities, “but we’ve got to manage within our means”.
Rauner has repeatedly said the state needs change in five areas: workers compensation standards, lawsuit reform, a property tax freeze, term limits for elected officials, and independent legislative redistricting.
Rauner says the bill is “a declaration of war” on taxpayers.
He said there is no need for a change in law because, “I have no interest in doing a lockout” of the 38,000 members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union. “That shouldn’t be mandated by Springfield”, Gov. Rauner said.
AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall said Rauner’s actions “have not matched his words”. He also said “our union is committed to reaching an agreement at the table”.
The Senate voted 49-2 to reject the automatic 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment.
In a 51-6 vote, the Senate passed a bill allowing tax revenue earmarked to pay off bonds issued by Chicago’s Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority for an expansion of the McCormick Place convention center to be transferred to the authority without a state appropriation in fiscal 2016 until a state budget is enacted. The departments and number of positions listed were: Natural Resources, 54; Commerce Commission, 24: Commerce and Economic Opportunity, 9; and Emergency Management Agency, 7. Also, the governor – while expressing his opposition to the Senate bill – lashed out at calls to treat CPS differently than other school districts in the state.
Advertisement
A hearing on the museum closures, as well as the closure of the Hardin County Work Camp, is scheduled for Wednesday morning before the Commission on Government Accountability and Forecasting.
