Local WSIU
(2009-07-02)
SPRINGFIELD, IL
(wsiu) -
A tax hike first, then a borrowing deal. That's the way Governor Pat Quinn wants it.A two-point-three-billion-dollar pension borrowing plan was close to passage this week, but between the two Senate votes on it, the plan lost a couple of votes.
Senate President John Cullerton threw his hands up in exasperation, saying the borrowing deal with Quinn's idea, and that Quinn supported it up until a couple of hours before voting.
Quinn says he called Senators and begged them not to approve the pension borrowing plan not because he's abandoned the idea, but because he wants an income tax hike first, then borrowing to free up the additional money.
Quinn says any lawmakers who thought that the borrowing plan, which would free up money for operations, could be considered instead of the tax hike needed to be sent a message.
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