Politics & Government
Sen. Nybo:'Tough but necessary' vote as Senate approved FY 2015 budget fix plan
State Sen. Chris Nybo joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers March 26 to address funding shortfalls many state agencies were facing.
SPRINGFIELD – State Sen. Chris Nybo (R-Elmhurst) joined a bipartisan group of Senate lawmakers March 26 to pass a bipartisan plan that addresses funding shortfalls many state agencies were facing under the currently unbalanced state budget.
Nybo said the budget fix plan, which does not rely on any tax increase or borrowing, is a tough but necessary vote to address the state’s current fiscal mess.
“Like so many of my fellow lawmakers in DuPage County, I did not like everything in this budget fix plan, but most of us took the tough vote because it is a first step toward turning our state around. It is important that all DuPage lawmakers recognize the importance of stepping up to take the tough vote,” Nybo said. “Accountability and responsibility must play important roles in our approach to governing, as we work together to get our state back on track.”
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DuPage lawmakers Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), State Sen. Michael Connelly (R-Wheaton) and State Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove) voted for the budget fix plan, and State Sen. Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) voted against it. Nybo said he is disappointed that Cullerton voted for the current unbalanced budget with its funding shortfalls for important programs, but did not support the budget fix plan approved March 26 by a 32-26 vote.
Passed by the House of Representatives March 24, the budget fix plan now moves to the Governor and will become law with his signature.
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The 24th District Senator says funding for areas like child-care, court reporters, and corrections would have had severe funding shortfalls without this legislation. Funding for local governments remains intact, as does funding for developmentally disabled, mental health, and autism programs.
The budget fix plan is included in House Bill 317 and House Bill 318, and details about those bills, including how lawmakers voted on the issue, can be found on the General Assembly’s Web site at http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/votehistory.asp.
Nybo said it is important to build on the momentum of this bipartisan success to ensure that important structural reforms continue.
