Ill. House votes to delay Quinn’s budget address

The Illinois House has approved Gov. Pat Quinn’s request for more time before he delivers his annual budget address despite objections from Republicans.

Lawmakers voted 62-48 Tuesday to pass the measure moving the annual budget speech from Feb. 19 to March 26. That puts the speech after the March 18 primary election.

Rep. Ron Sandack of Downers Grove was among those Republicans raising objections. He called Quinn’s request “an overtly political bad decision.”

But Democrats, including House Speaker Michael Madigan, say Quinn needs more time. Madigan says lawmakers will begin their own budgeting in the meantime.

Quinn plans to outline a five-year spending blueprint. He must also wrestle with the expiration of a temporary income tax hike halfway through the fiscal year.

The measure now heads to the state Senate.