>> AMANDA, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND NOW TO EDDIE AND THE
ILLINOIS SENATE LEADERS JOHN
CULLERTON AND CHRISTINE RADOGNO.
>> PHIL, THERE IS AN EFFORT TO
GET A BUDGET DEAL.
STATE SENATE LEADERS ARE HAVE
CRAFTED A SPENDING PROPOSAL THAT
MIGHT END THE 18-MONTH-LONG
STANDOFF.
IT CONTAINS SOME REFORM ELEMENTS
DEMANDED BY GOVERNOR BRUCE
RAUNER AS WELL AS SOME OF THE
REVENUE GENERATION DEMOCRATS
WANT.
A LONG SOUGHT-AFTER COMPROMISE.
HOWEVER THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT
THE PLAN IS NOT YET, QUOTE,
BAKED.
AND THERE'S NO WORD IF THE
SPEAKER IS ON BOARD.
JOINING US TO GIVE US THE
INFORMATION ON THIS PLAN IS
ILLINOIS SENATE PRESIDENT JOHN
CULLERTON AND REPUBLICAN SENATE
LEADER CHRISTINE RADOGNO.
SO PRESIDENT CULLERTON, WE HEARD
YOU SAY IT'S TIME FOR
BIPARTISANSHIP.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE ACHIEVED
IT.
HOW DID YOU DO IT?
>> IT'S EMBARRASSING THAT WE
DON'T HAVE A BUDGET AFTER TWO
YEARS.
I AM SURE SENATOR RADOGNO IS
FEELING THE SAME.
WE HAVE BEEN BLAMED, THE ONLY
THING WE CAN DO IS TO SEE IF WE
CAN PASS A COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET
BILL WITH REFORMS THAT WE VOTE
ON THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ALL THE
TIME.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO
NOW.
WE HOPE TO PASS THIS NEXT WEEK.
IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL, WE WILL GO
TO THE HOUSE, WE WOULD HOPE THAT
THE HOUSE LEADERS WOULD
REPLICATE WHAT WE WOULD HAVE
DONE AND PERHAPS WE CAN GET PAST
THIS IMPASSE.
>> WELL SENATOR RADOGNO, AS I
MENTIONED IT SEEMS TO HAVE A
LITTLE BIT OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR
WANTED AND WHAT THE DEMOCRATS
HAVE WANTED.
THAT'S CALLED COMPROMISE.
WHY HAS IT TAKEN TO THAT POINT
TO GET THAT?
>> WELL THAT'S A VERY GOOD
QUESTION.
IT SHOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN TO THIS
POINT BUT ONCE AGAIN WE ARE
FACING A CRISIS.
AS MANY LISTENERS ARE AWARE, THE
STOP-GAP BUDGET THAT WAS PASSED
LAST SPRING EXPIRED ON DECEMBER
31 MEANING THERE IS NOW NO MONEY
FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, HUMAN
SERVICES, AND SOME CRITICAL
STATE FUNCTIONS.
SO, WE HAVE THE OPTION NOW OF
ONCE AND FOR ALL DIGGING IN AND
TRYING TO SET THIS PATH, SET THE
STATE BECOME ON A PATH OF
FINANCIAL STABILITY FOR THE LONG
TERM.
NOT JUST CAREEN FROM CRISIS TO
CRISIS.
I THINK THE FRUSTRATION AMONG
RANK AND FILE MEMBERS AND MYSELF
INCLUDED AND SENATE PRESIDENT
CULLERTON INCLUDED, WE ARE
FRUSTRATED.
WE BELIEVE THE STATE DESERVES
BETTER THAN THIS.
>> LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE KEY
COMPONENTS OF THIS PROPOSAL AND
YOU CAN TELL US WHETHER THEY ARE
STILL IN THERE OR HAVE THEY
CHANGEDED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.
SO, AMONG THE KEY PROVISIONS IN
THE BUDGET ITSELF ARE A PERSONAL
INCOME TAX INCREASE, A PROPERTY
TAX FREEZE, WHICH THE GOVERNOR
HAS WANTED, A SWEETENED BEVERAGE
TAX SIMILAR TO WHAT HAS RECENTLY
BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN COOK COUNTY,
PENSION REFORM, WHICH IS WHAT
PRESIDENT CULLERTON HAS PUT
FORTH, ALSO, THERE IS A PROPOSAL
TO ADD SIX CASINOS TO THE STATE,
INCLUDING ONE HERE IN CHICAGO,
WORKERS COMPENSATION REFORM,
PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING REFORM,
AND SENATE TERM LIMITS WHICH
HAVE BEEN ENACTED WHICH EFFECTS
REALLY THE LEADERSHIP.
SO THE TWO OF YOU NOW CAN ONLY
SERVE FOR 10 YEARS IN LEADERSHIP
POSITIONS.
LET'S TALK FIRST ABOUT THAT
PERSONAL INCOME TAX INCREASE.
THE PROPOSAL AS HAS BEEN STATED
SO FAR IS TO INCREASE IT BY A
THIRD.
FROM 3.75% TO 4.95%.
IS THAT STILL PART OF THE PLAN?
>> THAT'S IN THE BILL AS IT'S
BEEN INTRODUCED.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT
DEMOCRATS DON'T LIKE VOTING FOR
TAXES ANY MORE THAN REPUBLICANS
BUT WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEED
SOME REVENUE.
WE ALSO ARE OPEN TO OTHER
REFORMS THAT WE VOTE ON ALL THE
TIME AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IN THE
PACKAGE.
SO, NOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
LOBBYISTS HIRED SINCE WE
INTRODUCED THIS BILL TO TRY TO
WORK AGAINST SOME OF THESE
PROVISIONS SO WE ARE OPEN.
OUR GOAL HERE IS TO MAKE SURE WE
HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO HAVE
REASONABLE CUTS IN OUR BUDGET
BUT ALSO A BALANCED BUDGET AFTER
WE DO THAT.
WE HAVE A DEFICIT TO OVERCOME IN
THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, BUT WE
WANT TO BE ABLE, WHEN WE DO OUR
NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET IN MAY TO
HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO HAVE A
BALANCED BUDGET.
>> THAT PROPOSAL TO INCREASE IT
BY A THIRD WILL BRING IN ABOUT
$1.7 BILLION.
THAT'S PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH.
MIGHT IT HAVE TO GO HIGHER?
>> WE HAVE OTHER PROVISIONS.
PROCUREMENT REFORM SAVES MONEY.
THE BEVERAGE TAX THAT YOU TALKED
ABOUT AND LOOP HOLES THAT WE
CLOSED IN THE TAX CODE.
SO THAT BRINGS IN MONEY AS WELL.
>> PENSION REFORM AND AGAIN, I
WANT TO STRESS THAT WE ARE OPEN,
ASCEND PRESIDENT JUST POINTED
OUT.
ONCE YOU PUT SOMETHING THAT'S
REAL, AND THIS IS A REAL
PROPOSAL, THIS IS NOT A
THEORETICAL WHERE WE ARE
GENERALLY IN FAVOR OF SOME LEVEL
OF INCOME TAX INCREASE.
THIS IS A REAL PROPOSAL.
YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMING OUT OF
THE WOODWORK TO OPPOSE VARIOUS
PARTS OF IT.
SO, WE ARE AT A VERY TRICKY
POINT RIGHT NOW.
WE WANT TO GET THE VOTES TO PASS
TO KEEP THE FORWARD MOMENTUM.
AND WE ALSO WANT TO BE FLEXIBLE
AND OPEN SO IF SOMEONE SAYS THIS
PIECE OF IS IT A NONSTARTER,
GREAT.
WHAT IDEAS DO YOU HAVE THAT WE
MIGHT REPLACE THAT WITH?
>> AND YOU FEEL THAT YOUR
MEMBERSHIP IS COMING THROUGH?
ARE YOU COMMITTING OR
GUARANTEEING ANY VOTES ON THIS
PARTICULAR PLAN?
>> IT IS CERTAINLY OUR PLAN TO
HAVE VOTES ON THIS PLAN AND I
WILL TELL YOU, BOTH OF US MET
WITH OUR CAUCUSES WHEN WE
INTRODUCED THE BILLS IN THE LAST
GENERAL ASSEMBLY JUST TO BEGIN
TO GET THE IDEA OUT THERE.
THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT
OF ENTHUSIASM TO BE ABLE TO BE
PART OF BREAKING WHAT HAS BEEN A
MISERABLE STATUS QUESTION FOR
THIS STATE.
>> EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE VERY
TOUGH VOTES ON BOTH SIDES PEOPLE
HAVE TO TAKE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> IS THERE SOME IRONY OR
WHATEVER YOU WANT TO
CHARACTERIZE IT, THAT THE INCOME
TAX INCREASE THAT WAS
IMPLEMENTED UNDER PATRICK QUINN,
THAT WAS ALLOWED TO SUNSET THAT
WAS HEAVILY CRITICIZED BY THE
CURRENT GOVERNOR, IS SOMEHOW
COMING BACK INTO A PLAN?
>> YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WE
AREN'T NEGOTIATING WITH THE
GOVERNOR OR THE HOUSE.
WE ARE GOING TO SEE IF THE
SENATE LEADERS CAN GET TOGETHER
IN A STRUCTURED ROLE CALL TO GET
ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS A
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT HAS A
FULLY FUNDED BUDGET.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON.
WHATEVER STEPS NECESSARY TO SEE
IF PEOPLE CAN VOTE, NOT HAVE A
PRESS CONFERENCE BUT HAVE AN
ACTUAL VOTE ON REAL LEGISLATION.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO
ACCOMPLISH.
>> REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN PUSHING
BACK ON ANY KIND OF TAX INCREASE
UNLESS THEY GET REFORMS.
DO YOU THINK THAT THE REFORMS
THAT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS
PLAN ARE ENOUGH TO SATISFY
EVERYONE AND GET ANY KIND OF TAX
INCREASE THAT YOU MIGHT NEED?
>> ULTIMATELY PEOPLE WILL HAVE
TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION ON
THAT BUT I WILL SAY THIS.
THE GOVERNOR LAID OUT HIS AGENDA
EARLY ON.
WE HAVE HAD WORKING GROUPS OF
RANK AND FILE LEGISLATORS IN
BOTH PARTIES WORKING ON DETAILS
OF THOSE IDEAS, PROPOSALS, FOR
TWO YEARS.
MOST OF WHAT THE SENATE
PRESIDENT AND I HAVE DONE IS
WORK OFF OF THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO TRY TO FIGURE
OUT, AGAIN, WHAT CAN WE GET
ENOUGH VOTES ON TO PASS?
BECAUSE REMEMBER, WE HAVE A
DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE AND A
REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR.
SO, IT'S TRICKY.
>> INCLUDED IN THIS AS WE
MENTIONED IS THIS PENSION REFORM
PLAN THAT YOU HAVE SUBMITTED.
CAN YOU GIVE US MORE THAN THE
CLIFFSNOTES VERSION OF THIS?
>> ABOUT 25% OF OUR WORK FORCE
HAS BEEN HIRED IN THE LAST FIVE
YEARS.
THEY HAVE A MORE LIMITED PENSION
CALLED A TIER 2 PENSION.
WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS A BETTER
PENSION IF THEY GIVE UP THEIR
PENSION, TAKE A LESSER PIER 2
PENSION WE WILL REFUND MONEY
THAT THEY ACTUALLY PAID INTO THE
FUND IN THE STATE AND GIVE THEM
MORE IN THE FUTURE.
THEY WILL GET SOMETHING IF THEY
WANT IT TAKE A LESSER PENSION.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO.
AS A RESULT, EITHER WAY THE
STATE WILL SAVE MONEY.
IT'S CONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE WE
ARE GIVING THEM A CHOICE, THEY
ARE GETTING SOMETHING FOR IT.
THAT'S WHAT'S CALLED
CONSIDERATION.
>> WHAT IS THE AMOUNT THAT YOU
ARE SAYING?
>> THE AMOUNT WE EXPECT TO SAVE
AT THE STATE LEVEL IS ABOUT A
BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR ONCE
FULLY IMPLEMENTED.
THAT'S THE KIND OF MONEY THAT
CAN GO BACK INTO EDUCATION AND
SERVICES AND HIGHER EDUCATION.
THAT'S A REASON TO BE FOR IT.
>> OTHER PROVISIONS IN THE
PENSION PLAN THAT WERE THE
GOVERNOR'S IDEA THAT WILL
PRODUCE SOME CASH ALMOST
IMMEDIATELY THAT ARE NOT EVEN
SUBJECT TO A, TO ANY KIND OF A
COURT CHALLENGE.
THERE'S ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
PEOPLE TO OPT INTO A VOLUNTARY
401(K) TYPE PLAN.
AS WELL AS THE ELIMINATION OF
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PENSION
SYSTEM.
>> AS I MENTIONED, THE PRESIDENT
OR EXCUSE ME THE GOVERNOR HAS
ALREADY COMMENTED ON THIS AND I
KNOW THAT YOU SAID THAT YOU HAVE
ONLY BEEN WORKING ON THIS IN THE
SENATE, NOT WITH THE GOVERNOR
NOR THE HOUSE.
BUT, HE SAID, AS I QUOTED, THAT
THIS IS NOT YET FULLY BAKED.
THAT IT FALLS NEARLY $5 BILLION
SHORT OF WHAT'S NEEDED TO GET,
TO NOT HAVE A DEFICIT BY JUNE.
DOES THAT IMPLY THAT YOU ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE MUCH MORE,
MANY MORE CHANGES?
>> WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A
FISCAL YEAR, SPENDING MORE THAN
WE HAVE COMING IN.
THIS BILL THAT WE HAVE WILL
REDUCE THAT DEFICIT.
SO THAT'S FOR THIS CURRENT
FISCAL YEAR.
IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR STARTING
JULY 1, WE EXPECT FOR THIS
PACKAGE TO ALLOW US WITH SOME
REASONABLE CUTS TO STILL HAVE A
BALANCED BUDGET.
WE WILL GO BACK AND LOOK AT
THOSE ASSUMPTIONS THAT THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE PUT OUT THERE
TO SEE IF WE AGREE WITH THEM.
IF WE HAVE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS
TO OUR PROPOSAL, WE WILL DO SO
SO THAT WE HAVE THE PRINCIPLE OF
HAVING A BALANCED BUDGET FOR
NEXT YEAR.
WE AREN'T GOING TO GO THROUGH
ALL THIS AND NOT HAVE A BALANCED
BUDGET.
>> THE PROPOSAL TO ADD MORE
CASINOS IN ILLINOIS INCLUDING
HERE IN CHICAGO HAS BEEN FLOATED
BEFORE.
HOW IS THIS ONE ANY DIFFERENT?
>> CAN I JUST TALK ABOUT THAT?
I'M NOT A BIG FUND OF GAMBLING
BUT WE HAVE BEEN FUNDING SCHOOLS
IN INDIANA INSTEAD OF ILLINOIS.
THAT'S WHY WE RELUCTANTLY
ADVANCED THIS.
THE POINT IS, WE WILL GET
UP-FRONT FEES FOR NEW CASINOS
PROBABLY CLOSE TO A BILLION
DOLLARS WHICH WILL BE USED TO
PAY DOWN OUR OLD BILLS.
PART OF OUR PACKAGE HERE, BY THE
WAY, IS WE HAVE ALREADY BORROWED
MONEY FROM OUR VENDORS.
WE WOULD LIKE TO BORROW FROM
BANKS AND PAY OUR VENDORS OFF.
>> WILL THAT BE A ONE TIME $1
BILLION FEE?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
AFTER THAT, WE WILL SEE WHAT
HAPPENS WITH THE NEW REVENUES.
BUT WE HAVE VIDEO GAMING
MACHINES ALL OVER THE STATE
ALMOST AND THAT MAY HAVE CUT
DOWN ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY,
BECAUSE WE ARE ALREADY GETTING
SOME MONEY FROM THEM.
>> I GUESS THE QUESTION THERE
IS, IS IT WORTH IT TO EXPAND
GAMBLING AND HAVE SIX NEW
CASINOS JUST FOR A ONE-TIME, $1
BILLION INFUSION OF CASH?
>> WELL THERE'S A SMALL AMOUNT
OF MONEY THAT CONTINUES TO COME
IN.
QUITE FRANKLY VIDEO GYMING HAS
HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE
CASINO BUSINESS IN THE STATE.
BUT THOSE UP-FRONT LICENSE FEES
ARE IMPORTANT IN ORDER TO BE
ABLE TO BEGIN TO PAY DOWN THOSE
BACK BILLS.
>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT
SOMETHING ELSE THAT THE GOVERNOR
PROPOSED DURING HIS CAMPAIGN AND
THAT WAS AN EXPANSION OF THE
SALES TAX TO INCLUDE SERVICES ON
EVERYTHING FROM DOG GROOMING TO
AUTO REPAIRS TO ANY NUMBER OF
OTHER THINGS.
WHATEVER HAPPENED WITH THAT?
>> WE ACTUALLY, UM, CONSIDERED
THAT AND WE MAY GO BACK TO IT
YET.
I MEAN IT'S AN INTERESTING IDEA.
FRANKLY IT'S EASIER SAID THAN
DONE.
WHEN YOU DECIDE WHICH SERVICES
DO YOU PICK, WHICH DO YOU LEAVE
OFF?
AND THE PUBLIC REACTION TO IT.
POLICYWISE, IT MAKES SENSE.
BUT IT IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE.
AND THERE MAY BE, ACCORDING TO
OUR OWN DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE,
SOME ISSUES WITH RESPECT TO
IMPLEMENTING THAT IF YOU START
BEING VERY PICKY AND CHOOSEY
ABOUT WHICH SERVICES ARE
INCLUDED AND WHICH ARE NOT.
>> IS THERE ANYWAY TO MAKE SOME
SORT OF DETERMINATION OF THAT
SORT OF THING TO SAY SERVICES OR
COMPANIES THAT MAKE A CERTAIN
AMOUNT --
>> IT'S SOMETHING WE LOOKED
INTO.
WE DON'T TAX SERVICES AS MUCH AS
OTHER STATES DO.
>> HAVE YOU LOOKED AT OTHER
MODELS?
>> WE HAVE AND IT'S, AGAIN, AS
CHRIS SAID, IT'S DIFFICULT
SOMETIMES TO IMPLEMENT THIS.
THERE'S AN ARGUMENT, THOUGH, TO
ACTUALLY BROADEN THE BASE AND
EVEN PERHAPS EVEN BE ABLE TO
LOWER THE TAX RATE WHICH WOULD
BE SOMETHING THAT WE WILL
DEFINITELY LOOK AT.
IT'S NOT IN THIS PACKAGE.
NOT SOMETHING WE CAN PUT
TOGETHER IN A WEEK.
AS A RESULT IT'S SOMETHING WE
WILL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT.
>> THIS PENNY AN OUNCE TAX ON
SUGAR SWEETENED BEVERAGES,
RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED IN COOK
COUNTY.
I KNOW THAT THE LOBBYISTS FOR
THE INDUSTRY HAVE BEEN ALL OVER
IT HERE AND PROBABLY KNOCKING ON
DOORS IF NOT KNOCKING DOWN DOORS
IN SPRINGFIELD.
DO YOU THINK THAT IT'S GOING IT
MAKE IT --
>> WE GOT THIS IDEA FROM THE
WORKING GROUPS OF RANK AND FILE
MEMBERS THAT ARE WORKING ON THIS
BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR TWO YEARS.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT
PASSED IN COOK COUNTY, OTHER
JURISDICTIONS THAT PASSED IT.
IT'S NOT JUST THE REVENUE.
ADVOCATES SAY IT HAS TO DO WITH
HEALTH ISSUES AS WELL.
SINCE WE INTRODUCED THE BILL, I
KNOW ONE GOOD THING FOR THE
ECONOMY IS A BUNCH OF LOBBYISTS
HAVE BEEN HIRED.
SO WE WILL SEE IF IT WITHSTANDS.
>> WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THAT?
>> HERE'S WHAT I WOULD SAY TO
THOSE FOLKS.
COME UP WITH $560 MILLION TO
REPLACE IT ANNUALLY AND WE WILL
TALK TO YOU.
>> AND SO $560 MILLION ANNUALLY
--
>> THAT'S WHAT WE EXPECT.
>> THE OTHER THING THAT'S STILL
BEING AWAITED IS THIS OVERHAUL
OF PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING IN
ILLINOIS.
THERE'S BEEN A WORKING GROUP AT
IT FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW SO
FEBRUARY 1 I BELIEVE IS THE
DEADLINE FOR THEIR PROPOSAL.
ANY ANTICIPATION OF WHAT THEY
MIGHT OFFER AND AGAIN --
>> VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS
PACKAGE.
>> FINANCIAL PART OF IT.
>> VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS
PACKAGE, THE GOVERNOR HAS A
BIPARTISAN, BICAMERA COMMISSION.
WE HOPE TO HAVE THEIR
LEGISLATION THAT WE ASKED THEM
TO DEVELOP AND HAVE IT SCORED
AND READY FOR US TO GO ON
FEBRUARY 1.
WE HAVE A BILL, SENATE BILL 1,
WHICH WE WILL HOLD UNTIL THAT
LANGUAGE COMES.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN AGREE ON THEIR
RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE CAN
BECOME NOT THE WORST MOST UNFAIR
SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA IN THE
NATION AND HAVE A BIG
IMPROVEMENT, ESPECIALLY HELPING
OUT SOME OF THE POORER SCHOOL
DISTRICTS.
THIS IS SOMETHING WHICH IS VERY
IMPORTANT.
REPUBLICANS HAVE ALSO AGREED TO
THAT PENSION PARITY SO CHICAGO
SCHOOLS WILL ALSO HAVE THE STATE
PAY SOMETHING TOWARD THEIR
PENSIONS WHICH WE THINK IS FAIR.
WHEN WE PUT THOSE TOGETHER WE'LL
HAVE A BIG IMPROVEMENT IN THE
WAY WE FUND OUR SCHOOLS.
SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR HAS
MENTIONED AS WELL.
>> AND YOUR MEMBERS ARE ON BOARD
WITH PENSION PARITY?
>> OUR OBJECTION WAS THAT
CHICAGO HAD ACCESS TO MONEY THAT
OTHERS DIDN'T HAVE.
THIS SCHOOL FUNDING COMMISSION
WHICH HAS BEEN MEETING AT LEAST
TWICE A WEEK AND SPENDING LOTS
AND LOTS OF TIME ON IT IS TRYING
TO GET TO A FARM YOU LA THAT IS
FAIR ACROSS THE BOARD IN WHICH
CASE THEN PENSION PARITY MAKES
SENSE.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S SORT OF ONE
OF THOSE TRADEOFFS.
WE WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF IT
PENDING THE SCHOOL REFORM.
>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT A
PROPOSAL THAT'S CERTAINLY
CONTROVERSIAL BUT COULD BRING IN
QUITE A BIT OF MONEY.
YOU PROBABLY KNOW WHAT IT IS.
LEGALIZING MARIJUANA.
ANY THOUGHTS?
>> SHOULD HAVE THOSE PEOPLE TALK
TO THE SODA POP PEOPLE AND MAYBE
THEY CAN COME UP WITH A PACKAGE.
>> THEY MIGHT HAVE QUITE A PARTY
DOWN THERE IN SPRINGFIELD.
HAS THAT ALL BEEN THOUGHT ABOUT
IN SPRINGFIELD?
>> IT HASN'T COME UP RECENTLY.
I THINK IT'S A TYPE OF A THING
LONG TERM, WE HAVE JUST PASSED
MARIJUANA USE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
REALLY ILL.
AND THAT'S BEING IMPLEMENTED.
>> BUT NOT QUITE SUSTAINABLE
BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
THAT ARE REALLY TAKING PART IN
THAT IS VERY SMALL.
>> I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST
ISSUES THAT I PERSONALLY HAVE
WITH IT IS IT'S IN CONFLICT WITH
FEDERAL LAW.
SO IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAKES A
DECISION ON WHERE THEY WANT TO
GO.
AT THAT POINT, THINK IT WILL
PROBABLY END UP BEING A MATTER
OF WHEN, AS OPPOSED TO IF.
>> AND YOU WILL CONSIDER IT AT
THAT TIME?
>> CORRECT.
>> SO, THE SENATE SEEMS TO BE IN
AGREEMENT HERE.
YOU SEEM TO HAVE SUPPORT AND BE
WORKING TOGETHER.
ANY WORD FROM THE HOUSE AND
SPECIFICALLY SPEAKER MADIGAN?
>> WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED TO THE
HOUSE YET.
WE WANT TO MICK SURE WE CAN DO
IT OURSELVES.
THIS IS HARD ENOUGH TO SEE IF WE
CAN DO IT.
IF WE DO IT, THIS IS REALLY
IMPORTANT.
PIECES OF LEGISLATION.
PEOPLE WOULD BE VOTING, NOT JUST
HAVING A PRESS CONFERENCE.
I WOULD SUGGEST IF THIS PASSES
THIS WOULD BE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA
ABOUT WHAT THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION
WOULD BE TO OUR FUNDING CRISIS.
>> BUT YOU -- SPEAKER MADIGAN ON
BOARD --
>> JUST LIKE THE HOUSE IF THEY
PASSED THE BILL NEEDS THE SENATE
ON BOARD.
BOTH CHAMBERS HAVE TO PASS THE
BILL.
>> THESE WILL BE DIFFICULT VOTES
SO AS I SAID, ONCE WE LAY OUT
WHAT'S ACTUALLY IN THERE, OUR
MEMBERS ARE BEING INUNDATED BY
PEOPLE THAT DON'T LIKE THIS
PIECE OR ANOTHER.
SO, THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE
TONIGHT TO TALK WITH YOUR
LISTENERS WHO WANT TO SEE THE
STATE MOVE FORWARD, AND
ENCOURAGE THEM TO CALL THEIR
LEGISLATORS AND ENCOURAGE THEM
TO TAKE TOUGH VOTES SO THAT WE
CAN GET OUR STATE BACK ON TRACK.
>> BUT DO YOU EXPECT DECISIONS
ON THIS BY NEXT WEEK?
>> WE WILL VOTE ON THIS ON
TUESDAY AND ON WEDNESDAY AND
HOPE TO HAVE THIS PASSED WITH
THE EXCEPTION OF THE SCHOOL
FUNDING THING WHICH WILL
PROBABLY BE A WEEK LATER.
SO WE NEED TO PASS THIS.
THERE'S A PROBLEM.
ON JANUARY 1, PART OF OUR BUDGET
EXPIRED.
WE HAVE TO PASS SOMETHING IN
THIS BILL AS A FULLY FUNDED
BUDGET FOR THE REST OF THIS
FISCAL YEAR AND IT'S, THE
CLOCK'S RUNNING.
>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE
INCOMING PRESIDENTIAL
ADMINISTRATION AND HOW THAT
MIGHT IMPACT ILLINOIS' FINANCES?
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> WELL I THINK WE ARE ALL
WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS
THERE.
OBVIOUSLY DRAMATIC CHANGES COULD
HAVE AN IMPACT.
>> ESPECIALLY IN MEDICAID
FUNDING.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> IF THERE IS SOME SORT OF
FLASHING OF MEDICAID FUNDING HOW
IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT.
>> WELL IT CLEARLY WOULDN'T BE
HELPFUL TO US AND WE WOULD BE
BACK AT THE DRAWING BOARD BUT I
THINK IT'S DIFFICULT TO COMMENT
UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT IS PROPOSED.
>> ARE YOU BRACING FOR ANYTHING
POSITIVE?
>> I JUST WANT IT MAKE ILLINOIS
GREAT AGAIN.
>> DO YOU HAVE CAPS FOR THAT?
>> IF WE CAN PASS THIS BILL THAT
WOULD BE A NICE FIRST START.
>> WE HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU
AGAIN SOON AFTER NEXT WEEKEND.