Blame Game Continues in Springfield

Illinois Senate President John Cullerton is blaming Governor Bruce Rauner for the cancellation of Senate votes on key aspects of a state budget compromise earlier this month. “He’s got to grow up,” Cullerton said of Rauner. Cullerton had promised to call Senate votes on income tax increase and property tax freeze legislation forming the core of a touted state budget compromise, but abruptly called off the votes at the last minute.

Senate Republicans responded that Rauner had nothing to do with Cullerton’s legislative failures. Senate Deputy Republican Leader Bill Brady said his members refused to approve a permanent income tax increase when the bill included a property tax freeze lasting only two years.

Republican Senators Pam Althoff of McHenry and Dan McConchie of Hawthorn Woods blame Cullerton’s bill for its own failure. “We want to insure that whatever grand bargain is agreed to is in the best interest of the taxpayer,” Althoff said. McConchie agreed. “I think the package as it had been outlined was not a good deal for taxpayers,” he said. “Taxpayers give up a lot in regards to billions of dollars more for the state, and got very little in return.”