(Springfield, IL) — State lawmakers in Springfield worked into the early Monday morning hours to pass a $56 billion budget, but members of the House adjourned before taking up new legislation to entice the Bears to stay in Illinois.
After scrapping the so called “Mega Projects” bill, Democrats in the Senate cobbled together a plan that would allow local municipalities to create their own “stadium authority.” Democrats working on the package said the stadium would be publicly owned, but privately financed and anything outside of the stadium, would be subject to taxes.
While the Senate passed the plan, the House adjourned before taking up the measure. There is much speculation on what happens now, but there is no clear plan as of Monday morning.
Meanwhile, the massive budget includes a pay increase for lawmakers, putting salaries for the part-time job over $100,000 per year. The hike applies to House and Senate members as well as state level office holders.
Lawmakers also voted to ban cell phones in classrooms, give a state handout to those impacted by a change in SNAP benefits, and temporarily suspend a 1-cent per gallon gas tax hike set to begin July 1.
