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School, transit funding awaiting return of lawmakers

Posted January 08, 2008 10:00 pm

Doug Finke

State lawmakers return to Springfield today in another attempt to tackle unfinished business, including an increase in school funding and a bailout for Chicago-area mass transit systems.

Senate President Emil Jones and House Speaker Michael Madigan weeks ago told their members they would be in session Jan. 9-10. Turnout is expected to be much better than a week ago, when fewer than half the 177 lawmakers showed up for a special session called by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

KEY ISSUES

Lawmakers must act on a companion budget bill that will enable school districts to collect an extra $600 million set aside for them in August. Blagojevich amended the bill last week, saying he simply corrected errors. For example, he said incorrect dates in the original legislation would prevent schools from getting extra money for special education.

Lawmakers must either approve the governor's changes or keep the bill in its original form. If they do neither, the bill will die and schools will not get the extra money.

Lawmakers also will consider a proposal to provide more money for Chicago-area mass transit systems. Two options are available - one raising the sales tax in the Chicago area, and the other using sales tax revenue from gasoline purchases to support mass transit. The second option would leave a $385 million hole in the overall state budget that no one has figured out how to fill.

Lawmakers also continue to negotiate a capital spending bill and the gambling expansion to pay for it, but Madigan said neither will be called for a vote this week.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

For schools, the budget bill will mean hundreds of millions of dollars in additional state aid.

Action on mass transit would avert the possibility of significant fare increases and service cutbacks after Jan. 20, when state cash from a temporary bailout plan runs out.

KEY PEOPLE

*Madigan: The Chicago Democrat says he will ask the House to approve both mass transit bailout plans, and he predicted both will pass. Madigan also will determine whether the House votes to accept Blagojevich's budget-bill changes. If he does, schools could start getting their extra funding by the end of the month.

Asked about the budget bill Tuesday, Madigan said, "I've read the governor's press statement. From what I read in his statement, I see no problem."

*Jones: He will decide which of the mass transit bills the Senate will consider, and he will be under pressure to convince his fellow Democrats to support some sort of plan. The Senate also will be the first chamber to consider the budget bill. A spokeswoman said Jones will ask the Senate to approve the changes.

*Nine downstate Senate Democrats: They have said they will not vote for any mass transit bill until a capital/gaming bill is also ready for a vote because they fear capital spending will fall by the wayside if mass transit is fixed. Without their votes, it may not be possible to pass a transit bill.

Blagojevich: He's said he will not accept a transit bill that raises sales taxes in the Chicago area. If that's the only transit proposal lawmakers approve, Blagojevich will reject it and the transit issue will remain unresolved.

WHAT'S NEXT

The House will vote today on mass transit funding. The Senate will vote on the companion budget bill.

Doug Finke can be reached at 788-1527.

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