Lake County Gazette

Rep. Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) and 39 colleagues are calling on Attorney General Lisa Madigan to require legislators to obey the law and adopt a revenue estimate.

“Article VIII of the Illinois Constitution is quite clear about the responsibility of the General Assembly to adopt a revenue estimate and appropriate a budget that does not exceed that estimate,” the group's letter to Madigan said. “The Attorney General has expressed opinion agreeing with this fact and there is clear legal precedent for her to step in. I hope she will act on our request and use her legal authority to force the budget process forward because so many are counting on swift action.”

Illinois has been operating on stop-gap budgets for two years, and the General Assembly has failed to adopt a revenue estimate for the past two fiscal years. It is a critical step in the process of passing a full-year budget and preventing further financial crises.

Rep. Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake)

“Every day this budget impasse continues, the social service providers who care for our most vulnerable are placed in a more and more dire situation,” the letter said. “Illinois’ families, taxpayers and job creators are not immune to the situation and time is running out to resolve the problem.”