Legislators Discuss 2016 Budget at Luncheon

LahoodFour area legislators met this afternoon to discuss a number of topics surrounding state and local politics.

State Senators Darin LaHood and John Sullivan joined State Representatives Norine Hammond and Don Moffitt for a luncheon in downtown Galesburg.

Among the topics of discussion, included the 2016 Fiscal Year budget–a topic addressed by all four individuals.

As it stands, the FY 2016 currently faces a $ 6 Billion dollar budget hole, something Representative Moffitt says could potentially keep legislators in Springfield part way through the summer.

Democratic Senator John Sullivan says one thing he believes could better balance the deficit is to level out cuts for higher education. Sullivan tells WGIL that he essentially thinks its unfair to propose high cuts to four year institutions and not treat community colleges the same.

“I have told everybody that I have met with, that there will be some cuts,” says Sullivan. ” I think if it’s done, it needs to be done in a fair and equitable way. I don’t think it’s fair and equitable to cut the four-year public universities at 31 percent, and community colleges held at level funding. We’re kind of picking winners and losers there. If we have to make some cuts, lets try to do it in such a way that’s across the board with shared sacrifices as we do that.”

Amtrak privatization, local government cuts, and pension reform were all discussed. Under FY 2016, the state currently has around $32 Billion dollars for expenditures.

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