Illinois Valley Times

Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) believes reforms must be part of any budget passed during the special session of the General Assembly, according to a posting on his website recently.

“We should be in Session every day until we pass a balanced, comprehensive budget with reforms,” Spain said on his website. “It’s well past time to come together and end this impasse and get Illinois back on the road to solvency.”

If the General Assembly fails to get a budget in place before the new fiscal year begins on July 1, the state is expected to see its credit rating -- already the lowest in the country, downgraded even further, possibly to junk bond status. Powerball and Mega Millions have also threatened to drop Illinois without a budget in place, according to Illinois Lottery officials cited by the Washington Post.

Illinois has not a had a full-year budget in place in two years, and May marked the third year in a row that the General Assembly adjourned its spring session without one. Any budget will now require three-fifths' approval by legislators rather than a simple majority.