McHenry Times

Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois and Democratic leaders disclosed that they had come to a consensus on a $50 billion state budget on May 24.

But lawmakers promptly adjourned without presenting the proposal for a vote on the Senate floor.

"The Senate and the House have agreed to give us the tools to manage the program properly," Pritzker said, according to the Chicago Tribune. "[It] allows us to provide health care for the people who are on the program now and make sure that we’re continuing the program going forward, but in a budget-friendly way so that everybody gets the health care that they need."

Following the conclusion of the legislative session, which ensured that discussions would continue into the upcoming weekend, a spokesperson for Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) revealed that the budget legislation was under review by all parties involved to ensure that it accurately reflected the agreed-upon terms.

"Being reviewed by all parties to ensure it reflects the agreement we have," Harmon said in the Tribune report.

Under the current law, lawmakers have the option to extend the budget approval process until May 31, requiring a simple majority vote. But after that deadline, a three-fifths majority vote in favor would be necessary in both the House and Senate. Experts have noted that the Democratic supermajorities in both chambers are more than capable of meeting the increased standard.

Pritzker has also allocated an additional $1.1 billion to cover the mounting costs of his Medicaid-style program for immigrants. The program now includes immigrants aged 42 and older who lack legal permission to reside in the country or possess green cards but have not completed the required five-year waiting period for eligibility in traditional insurance programs aimed at assisting the financially disadvantaged.

As the influx of immigrants continues to strain the state budget, the rising costs of the program have placed greater pressure on Illinois' financial resources.