The Illinois Municipal League is reaching out to a leading House Democrat in hopes of lifting a procedural hold on legislation to free up money for local governments, saying cities have had the wind knocked out of them.

IML Executive Director Brad Cole says he’s talked with leaders in both chambers to ensure the bill gets moved forward, but there’s a procedural hold from leading Democratic Representative Barbara Flynn Currie. Cole speculates the hold on House Bill 4305 is an effort to use the motor fuel tax and 9-1-1 call center funds as a bargaining chip in the ongoing budget impasse, something he says doesn’t make sense.

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Cole says there could be devastating consequences to cities across Illinois if the money is not released within the next two weeks. Democratic Representative Jack Franks speculates the motion to reconsider HB 4305 could be an effort to ensure the measure doesn't get amended before the Senate holds its next session, but the motivation behind the hold is still unclear.

Multiple calls to House Majority Leader Currie’s office have not yet been returned.