Rauner says state budget 'worse than discussed'

SPRINGFIELD - As lawmakers reconvened for the final week of their annual veto session, Republican Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner said Tuesday at the state Capitol that Illinois' budget condition is even worse than was previously discussed.

The venture capitalist from Winnetka is meeting with state budget experts and "getting into the hard facts on the budget right now," he said.

"Every time we look under the hood, look at different departments, look at different issues, the problems, the deficits, the overspending is more significant than has been discussed in the past. We want to make sure we understand it," Rauner said.

Democrats who had pushed to extend the state's income tax increase in May viewed Rauner's comments as a bit of a "welcome to Springfield" moment for the newcomer who showed he's catching up with details of the $35.7 billion budget approved by lawmakers in the spring that doesn't have enough money to cover agency expenses.

"Governor Quinn proposed a budget in March that all three bond rating agencies praised as a good way for the state to move forward, pay its bills and meet its obligations. The General Assembly instead passed a budget that the governor said at the time was 'incomplete,"' said Quinn's budget director, Abdon Pallasch.

Rauner, who will be taking elected office for the first time, had campaigned on a pledge of lowering taxes.

Come January, if lawmakers don't approve new revenue - such as extending the tax increase that Rauner opposed - the state will face a roughly $5 billion budget hole next year. That could force layoffs, facility closures and massive program cuts. The state has warned that several agencies, including the Department of Corrections and Human Services, are set to run out of money if supplemental funding isn't approved.

Rauner says he plans to "discuss solutions in the coming months."

Lawmakers could also move this week to make permanent changes to statewide election law approved for the Nov. 4 election, and vote on a measure to establish a statewide health insurance marketplace.