Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) –

State lawmakers would like to get their work done this week and get started on summer.
And campaigning.
Gov. JB Pritzker says finances for the fiscal year that begins July 1 will be tight.
“We’ve got to balance the budget,” Pritzker said, “however that comes out, whether there are cuts that are made, revenue enhancement, whatever it is. Are there demands that are outside of what is in the budget? Of course, there always are.
“The answer is always, because there is only so much to go around, and we’re doing the best that we can.”

State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) says it’s almost always too soon to worry about passing a budget in five days.

“There is plenty of time left in ‘budget years’ as we call it,” she said. “The Senate Republicans and the House Republicans, I’m hoping, are starting to be part of the conversation. I do believe that over the last several months the ‘budgeteers’ in the House and in the Senate for the Democrats have been meeting and negotiating and listening to advocates who are coming in about the importance of their programs.”

Lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn Friday but have also been told to be ready to stick around another week if necessary.

After May 31, it takes a three-fifths majority, rather than a simple majority, to pass a bill with an immediate effective date.

The 2024-25 fiscal year begins July 1.