House Passes Budget Resolutions

 The House passed two resolutions (HJR 69 and HR706) on Thursday that includes the next step in the budget process; the spending portion.  Appropriations committees will be given a certain dollar amount to spend and allocate amongst their departments.  Included in the resolutions will be $1.3 billion to pay off old bills as well as cuts to state programs.  Part of the $8 billion in debt will be paid with $800 million in the upcoming year’s tax receipts. 

Once the dedicated revenue to meet the $5.1 billion in pension obligations, $1.1 billion for bond payments, $1.1 billion for employee health insurance and $6.6 billion for  Medicaid; the pot will be significantly smaller for each appropriations committee.  If the estimated $2.7 billion in Medicaid savings from Governor Quinn’s budget request is not reached, that number will get even smaller.  Each committee will then meet to divide up the allocated money and decide where cuts will be made.

The House’s budget framework was negotiated by both Democrats and Republicans.  How the resolution will fare in the Senate is yet to be determined.  The Senate uses a different approach to develop their spending plan but Senate President Cullerton has previously stated they are determined to work the House on this year’s budget.