UPDATED: After Putting Hold on Budget, Harmon Allows it to Move Forward
Senate President Don Harmon put a parliamentary hold on the new state budget in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
On a partisan roll call in both chambers, the House and Senate advanced a $42.3 billion state budget early Tuesday morning, but celebrations were muted later in the morning as Senate President Don Harmon used a parliamentary tool to block the budget from moving to the Governor’s desk.
The reason for Harmon’s move wasn’t immediately known, but it could be tied to contentious negotiations over an energy bill that fell apart late Monday night.
Harmon’s spokesman, John Patterson, said the maneuver had nothing to do with other bills and was meant to “protect” the bill.
“It’s a procedural move to protect our accomplishment from any political shenanigans,” Patterson said. “We are tremendously proud of what this budget accomplishes and look forward to delivering it to the governor to sign.”
In the waning hours of Monday’s marathon last day of session, there had been speculation Harmon was holding up the passage of a large energy package over coal plants in the Springfield area. Instead, it appears the move may have been made to prevent any Democratic lawmakers from stopping a legislative pay raise.
Harmon lifted the parliamentary hold Tuesday afternoon.
“I’m informed that an agreement has been reached between the governor and Exelon on a proposal that would save jobs, which has been our goal all along. That’s why we support the governor in these talks,” Harmon said in a statement released Tuesday. “We also stand with the governor on de-carbonization targets that need to be in a final deal. The Senate remained in session with the hope of voting on an agreement today. We stand ready to return to the Capitol when the governor’s plan is ready for action.”
The budget itself was passed only with Democratic votes. Three Senate Democrats opposed the final spending plan and all Republicans in the House and Senate voted no.
“We’re beginning to turn the corner. We’re beginning to stabilize the state,” said House Majority Leader Greg Harris (D-Chicago). “We’ve made significant down payments for the future and also took care of our business this year that’s gonna set the stage for the future.”
Republicans, though, say the bill is rife with tax increases and “pork barrel” spending.
The bill includes some $660 million of Governor JB Pritzker’s proposed “tax loophole closures,” including allowing businesses to carry over pandemic-related losses on their taxes as well as stopping the repeal of a tax on franchise owners.
Top Senate GOP budget negotiator Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) says the budget is full of too much spending.
“All you had to do was stop at what made sense,” Rose said. “This budget is an unparalleled spending spree of epic proportions. When is enough enough?”
Governor JB Pritzker indicated Tuesday he will sign the new budget.