Legislature sends budget to Illinois governor

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Illinois lawmakers approved at least $53 billion in spending Friday night but were still divided over how to come up with the money needed to make the budget a reality.

The Senate voted 55-2 to send the spending plan to the governor's desk. It had passed the House 92-22 earlier in the day.

The legislation makes significant cuts in state spending, although not quite as deep as Gov. George Ryan had proposed.

It adds back about $275 million to keep open several state facilities: a Peoria mental health center, a Lincoln home for the developmentally disabled, a St. Charles juvenile prison and the Sheridan prison.

It also would reverse some of the service cuts Ryan suggested, such as trimming college scholarships.

But the spending bill does nothing unless officials come up with the money it promises.

"I can't comprehend how you can do a budget without understanding what the revenue is first," Sen. Louis Viverito, D-Burbank, said during the Senate debate.

Key lawmakers have agreed to raise taxes on cigarettes and riverboat casinos, as well as block a tax break for businesses.

Senate Democrats also want to dip into future revenues from a tobacco lawsuit, and both Democrats and Republicans in the House were willing to go along with the $400 million financial maneuver.

But Senate Republicans insisted that was a bad idea.

The division threatened to delay the legislature beyond midnight Friday, a key deadline. After that, passing a budget would require a three-fifths vote rather than a simple majority. Finding that much support could take a long time and require additional spending to placate lawmakers.

Weeks of negotiations

Ryan and legislative leaders have spent weeks negotiating over how to close the state's $1.35 billion deficit and produce a balanced budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.

Ryan has proposed deep spending reductions, including cutting 6,500 state jobs and scrimping on social services, along with several tax increases. Finding a balance acceptable to a majority of lawmakers in an election year has proven nearly impossible.

Ryan's idea of tripling the tax on real estate transfers, which would yield $120 million, has failed to win any support. But lawmakers were willing to raise other taxes.

Senate President James "Pate" Philip, R-Wood Dale, said cigarette taxes probably would climb around 40 cents a pack, to a total of 98 cents. That would generate about $230 million a year for the state.

He said casinos could see higher taxes both on their revenues and their admissions. Officials were discussing a total increase of $130 million.