Is the House Holding Up the Budget?
The House Chamber in Springfield.
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Multiple sources tell The Illinoize House Democrats are “deeply divided” on necessary spending, tax increases, and even spending cuts and could “derail” a budget bill with just days remaining in the scheduled spring legislative session.
Democrats met again in an hours-long private caucus meeting Monday and we’re told little progress has been made in the divide between moderates who either want to hold the line on spending or cut spending and progressives who want to increase taxes to pay for more programs.
Governor JB Pritzker’s proposed budget included around $800 million in tax increases, including raising the tax paid by sports betting companies like Rivers Casino or FanDuel, and to eliminate a discount retailers receive on sales tax collections.
One Democrat claimed Monday afternoon “everything is on the table,” ranging from cuts to tax increases to increased spending on certain programs.
In fact, we’re told, an increase in the personal income tax rate has been floated, but multiple Democrats say that doesn’t appear to be a solution with significant support.
Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago), a member of the House Democratic Leadership team downplayed potential issues on our podcast last week.
“I think these are constructive conversations,” Buckner said. “You don’t just push the button on tax increases or revenue enhancements, whatever you want to call them, without having substantive conversations about what they’re going to do and how we do it. And I think this is part of the process. I don’t see a lot of daylight between the House Democratic caucus and the Governor on this.”
Jaclyn Driscoll, spokesperson for House Speaker Chris Welch, disputed the term “derailing” of the budget, instead echoing previous statements about Democrats having a variety of issues to work though.
“We're certainly having healthy discussions surrounding the budget, and with a diverse caucus there are diverse opinions based on the constituencies they represent,” she said. “I'm not surprised by the conversations members are having at this point in the final week of session, though.”
Senate Democrats, meanwhile, remain “optimistic” about their chances to pass a balanced budget before Friday’s scheduled adjournment, but it isn’t clear if both chambers will be on board.
“That’s entirely up to the House,” said one Senator Monday.