How long could the Illinois budget stalemate go on for?
Though he hopes it isn’t the case, State Rep. Don Moffitt says it’s not out of the realm of possibility that it goes on until Democrats have a chance to defeat Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner in his 2018 re-election race.
Moffit has been advocating in recent weeks for an up or down vote on Rauner’s turn around agenda–a measure he primarily supports.
The Gilson Republican tells Galesburg’s Morning News on WGIL that if a budget isn’t passed in a few months or even years it’s hard to predict what will happen.
“We’re in unchartered waters,” Moffitt says. “I’m in my 24th year. I’ve never seen a time like this, starting our eighth month with out a budget and spending that much more than what we’re taking in. On an annual basis we’re creating on the biggest deficits that’s been created.”
Moffitt says it’s inappropriate for a separate government entity to jump start the budget stalemate.
He says previous court involvement has only involved approving spending without a way to pay for it.
“You don’t want the courts levying taxes. You want the legislature to levy taxes, they’re the ones that have the authority because they’re representing the people. They’re going to have to stand before the people, whether or not they made the right decision.”
This afternoon Comptroller Leslie Munger says amid the budget impasse Illinois is scheduled to fall $6.2 billion further in debt.
