Tag: budget
In Springfield … Last week, Gov. Pat Quinn released his plan for cutting the FY2013 Illinois Medicaid program by approximately $2.7 billion, the level of reductions he believes are needed to stabilize the Medicaid system in Illinois and prevent its collapse. There are three components to the governor’s plan: $2 billion (75 percent) reductions, a $1...
In Springfield … Gov. Pat Quinn held a press conference Thursday, Sept. 8, to discuss his Fiscal Year 2012 budget management strategy. Quinn contends that the FY2012 budget approved by the General Assembly has a shortfall of approximately $313.5 million in operations and personnel across all state agencies, with the most severe deficiencies at the...
In Springfield… Governor Pat Quinn, in the last hours of the state fiscal year, used his amendatory veto powers to cut $336 million from the FY 2012 appropriations sent to him by the General Assembly. The majority of the cuts ($276 million) will be to Medicaid, with $90 million cut from the school bus program...
In Springfield … The Illinois General Assembly convened for one day Wednesday, June 22, to handle some matters left over from the spring session, most notably the passage of the FY2012 capital bill (SB 2414). The Senate amendment added in the last days of session was removed, and the bill was sent Thursday, June 23, to Gov. Quinn....
In Springfield … The Illinois General Assembly comes back in session today. The purpose of this session is to deal with some outstanding issues, most importantly, the capital bill. The Senate had added an amendment that included more than $400 million in additional funding, including $17 million for the Monetary Assistance Program. The House had refused to...
We closed the books on another semester two weeks ago, which in theory means that it was a time to catch our breath … but not so this year.
The General Assembly closed out its spring session Tuesday night by passing a budget for Fiscal Year 2012, but set aside issues related to pension reform and annuitant health insurance premium changes. Both of those items are expected to be the topic of continued discussion and debate over the summer and are scheduled to be...
Congress came back in session last week after several weeks of spring recess. The two main agenda items they have been dealing with are the issue of raising the debt ceiling and the FY2012 budget. I previously reported that the U.S. government will reach the limits of its authority to borrow any additional funds this month. However,...
We are hearing details about the compromise Continuing Resolution (CR) that was approved last week that will fund the federal government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011 (through Sept. 30, 2011). The final CR includes nearly $40 billion in reductions from FY 2010 levels. For higher education programs, there is good and bad news. The...
The current Continuing Resolution (CR) that has been keeping the federal government running is set to expire Friday, April 8. President Obama announced this week that he will not sign another stopgap bill without first reaching an agreement with Congress over the 2011 budget, even if it means a government shutdown when the current CR expires....
NIU President John G. Peters today addressed the NIU Board of Trustees regarding the state of budget negotiations in Springfield, and talk of altering pension and insurance programs for current employees and annuitants. His remarks were summarized in an e-mail to the campus community, which is included below. Dear Colleague, NIU recently concluded testimony before...
Every budget season in Springfield is filled with uncertainty. This one promises to be more confusing than most, however, as lawmakers explore sweeping changes in state pensions while they struggle to balance the books. No doubt, rumors will circulate. People will have questions they want answered. In an effort to provide continuous and updated information, and...
