Illinois Senate debates new state budget during late-night session
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) — The Illinois State Senate has passed a new state budget during a late-night debate on the Senate floor on Thursday.
This comes after Governor JB Pritzker, Senate President Don Harmon, and Speaker Chris Welch announced they had reached a budget agreement Wednesday afternoon.
Debate on the budget implementation bill (HB 3817) began around 10 p.m. before being passed with a vote of 36-20 ten minutes later.
Senators took up the budget bill (SB250) after the vote on the implementation bill, with several Republicans speaking out against the proposal.
SB250 was passed with a vote of 34-22 at 11:15 p.m. after more than an hour of debate.
Members of the Republican caucus saying on the floor that while the budget process was improved, they felt that many of their priorities were overlooked.
Some of their priorities included a $4 raise for disability service providers and extending the Invest in Kids scholarship program.
The proposed budget does not include the scholarship extension and had a $2.50 raise for disability service providers.
Democrats say this is a balanced budget that will help the people of Illinois.
Some Republicans also called out the speed at which the bills were introduced and passed.
The budget bill (SB250) was introduced Wednesday night with multiple amendments introduced during the day on Thursday.
The budget implementation bill was introduced Thursday evening, with it being taken up by the Senate Executive Committee shortly after.
The budget implementation bill also had amendments introduced, including one that was filed less than an hour before the vote was taken on the Senate floor.
No Republicans voted in favor of either bill. One Democrat voted against the budget implementation bill and three Democrats voted against the budget bill.
Governor JB Pritzker releasing a statement shortly after the budget bills were passed, applauding the Senate's actions.
My thanks to President Harmon, Leader Elgie Sims, and all the members of the Senate who voted today to advance our fifth balanced budget. This budget makes transformative investments in the children and families of Illinois while building on our record of fiscal responsibility. I look forward to the House taking up this budget that will make childcare and education more accessible, healthcare more affordable, and our state’s business and economic position even stronger.
The budget bill and implementation bill now go to the House for consideration.
