The state legislature is back in session after taking last week off. The action will be in the senate where Senate president Cullerton and the minority leader have been piecing together a budget.
Mark Gebhards, Farm Bureau’s Exec. Dir. Of Governmental Affairs and Commodities says the hope is a budget bill can be wrapped up and sent to the house in short order.
While the House has some concerns over changes to some state union rules and workmen’s compensation, a suit filed by the State Attorney General’s office saying the state lacks authority to pay state workers in the continued absence of budget is putting additional pressure on the statehouse. A hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled for February 16th.
Meanwhile, Gebhards says the governor has yet to weigh in the pending senate budget plan.
Farm Bureau members can get an update on the situation in Springfield, as well as Washington at the Governmental Affairs Leadership Conference March first and second at the Abraham Lincoln hotel, and Prairie Capitol Convention Center in Springfield. For details on the GALC conference, check out ILFB.ORG or your county Farm Bureau.
