Paychecks for Politicos, Forget Everything Else
Illinois state lawmakers failed to pass a budget for fiscal year 2016 by May 31, and will now be called in for a continuous session in an attempt to pass a budget before the fiscal year starts July 1. If the General Assembly cannot pass a budget in special session by a supermajority, the consequences for Illinoisans are severe. However, due to a law passed in the waning hours of last year’s spring legislative session, state lawmakers will be no worse for wear.
If the General Assembly fails to pass a budget for fiscal year 2016, funds would not be appropriated—and could not be spent—for a wide variety of items for which it makes appropriations on an annual basis, starting July 1, including money going to education, the Department of Corrections, state police, court systems, the Department of Children and Family Services, and the Department of Human Rights.
But not all state spending would stop—funding for some programs and operations is allocated through what’s called a “continuing appropriation,” which continues each year automatically. Last year, House Speaker Mike Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton worked together to introduce and pass a law ensuring legislator salaries and operating expenses were funded on a continuing basis.