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Will County Gazette

Sunday, November 24, 2024

Senate passes budget bills; Connelly opposes

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In a rushed vote, the Illinois Senate approved a set of three budget bills that raise taxes and outline $36 billion in spending.

Senate Bill 6, a spending bill that had passed the House, passed the Senate 39-14.

Senate Bill 9, a revenue bill that would generate $5.4 billion by raising the income tax rate to 4.95 percent from 3.75 percent and the corporate tax rate to 7 percent from 5.25 percent, passed 36-18. It also passed the House.


Sen. Michael Connelly (R-Lisle)

Sens. Donne Trotter (D-Chicago), Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields), Napoleon Harris (D-Flossmoor), Michael Hastings (D-Tinley Park), Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) and Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) voted in favor of both measures. Sen. Michael Connelly (R-Lisle) voted against both bills. Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) did not vote.

A third measure that passed, Senate Bill 42, is known as a “paperwork” bill that details how to implement the budget.

There was little debate on the bills.

Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) said the bills needed more work and called for senators to oppose them.

“It’s regrettable that I stand today not capable of supporting this package,” Brady said. “Not necessarily because what’s in the package is bad but because it is incomplete. We need a comprehensive solution for this state. We’ve negotiated in good faith on a comprehensive solution and I regret to say that we have not come to a conclusion for that comprehensive solution.”

The bills were vetoed by Gov. Bruce Rauner, but the vetoes were overridden in both houses.

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