Politics

From Budget Shortfall to Transit Funding, State Lawmakers Launch Into Final Week of Spring Session

It’s crunch time for state lawmakers.

The Illinois General Assembly returned from the long weekend break for its final week of the spring session. Lawmakers have until May 31 to pass a revenue and spending plan with a simple majority of votes. In addition to tackling the state budget and its $3 billion-plus gap, several other issues are being closely watched in the race toward the finish line.

Here’s what is likely on the agenda: 

Chicagoland Transit

Legislators and other stakeholders have been negotiating legislation that would reform transit oversight, with lawmakers consistent that they won’t come up with money without reform. The goal is to better coordinate things like fare policy and capital projects at the regional system and leave the existing agencies to focus on operations.

Lawmakers are also discussing revenue options to tackle the $770 million deficit Chicago-area transit agencies expect to face next year. Those talks are still underway and have been getting more attention in recent days, with ideas like using road money or expanding the sales tax base to cover services.

Pension Funding

Gov. JB Pritzker has asked for an extra $78 million toward the Tier 2 pension system, which covers state employees who started in 2011 or later. That tier sees a later retirement date and more modest payouts.

The concern is that the benefits have to follow what’s known as the federal “safe harbor” law, ensuring pensioners see benefits at least equal to social security.

It’s an issue lawmakers have looked at before, and something public employee unions have been raising the alarm about – including in a letter to the governor Tuesday, in which they also called for lowering the retirement age, changing how an employee’s final salary is calculated and boosting the cost-of-living adjustment.

“We recognize the uncertainty coming from the federal government and share your concerns about potential cuts to critical services,” the We Are One Coalition wrote. “However, we cannot ignore the teachers, firefighters, nurses, or other public employees who provide these services every day across our state.”

Bears Bills

The Chicago Bears are again focusing more heavily on a potential move to Arlington Heights, but legislative leaders have been clear not to expect the massive public funding the team has hoped for.

There have been multiple proposals to let so-called megaprojects like the potential new stadium negotiate with local governments over the property taxes they would pay, so legislators would need to reach a compromise deal by the end of an already very busy week.

Education Issues

A Pritzker-backed proposal to ban cellphones in classrooms passed the Senate last month and went to the House. The bill has been amended to add additional exceptions based on students’ needs.

The pitch to allow community colleges to offer certain four-year degrees cleared a House committee last week, but the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus has reportedly voiced its opposition to that bill.

Contact Nick Blumberg: [email protected] | (773) 509-5434 | @ndblumberg

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