Gov. Bruce Rauner made a request in late April for a meeting with the four legislative leaders to discuss the 2019 budget.
Reuters reported the Republican governor urged lawmakers to send him a bill aimed at saving Illinois as much as $1 billion in pension costs annually before the spring legislative session ends on May 31.
Even so, critics are not optimistic about this budget's process.
Blaine Wilhour, GOP candidate for the 107th Illinois State House District seat
"From what I can see, the budget outlook does not look good," Blaine Wilhour, the Beecher City Republican running for representative in the 107th District, told South Central Reporter. "... We have seen little movement from either side to actually accomplish this."
The state's credit rating is at near junk levels because of its $130 billion unfunded pension liability, and an impasse between Rauner and Democrats has left the state without complete budgets for an unprecedented two consecutive fiscal years, even though the state Constitution mandates a balanced budget be passed yearly.
The approval of a fiscal 2018 budget and $5 billion income tax rate hike in July saved the already lowest-rated U.S. state from sliding into junk status.
"(We need) a budget that reflects our actual economic situation," Wilhour said. "We can’t just continue to tax, borrow and spend money that we don’t have."
Wilhour also said he would not be surprised if the budget process results in another six-month stopgap spending plan.
But Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), said the Republicans “are the only ones talking about a six-month budget.”
"It's a typical kick the can down the road approach," Wilhour said. "This is the kind of tough medicine that we need if we are going to be able to move forward. If this would have been done years ago when they knew there was a problem, it could have saved a lot of pain."
The 107th House District includes parts or all of Bond, Clinton, Effingham, Fayette and Marion counties.
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