By Sam Hudzik/IPR
Springfield, IL –
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn vetoed a budget bill that funds a lot of the state's operations on Tuesday. This comes as a budget deal remains elusive, almost a week into the new fiscal year.
Quinn insisted the budget bill the legislature sent him was so flawed that he said using his amendatory veto power to make changes to the bill was the wrong way to go. So, he vetoed the entire thing.
"There are too many instances of entities getting the same budget they did the year before, or a very modest reduction, where others are taking very painful cuts."
Quinn is sending the bill back to lawmakers with a list of previously suggested cuts that he says total $1 billion. It includes layoffs for 2,600 state employees. Quinn said some are already receiving notices.
The legislature reconvenes in Springfield next Tuesday on the eve of a state payroll deadline. The governor said he is optimistic lawmakers won't just vote to override his veto.