BALANCE:

Gov: 'We do in fact have a balanced budget' (CHRIS FUSCO, July 17, 2004, Chicago Sun-Times)

Legislative leaders emerged from a Friday afternoon meeting in Gov. Blagojevich's office talking optimistically of finally ending an overtime legislative session in Springfield that's cost taxpayers more than $200,000.

A tentative agreement on a $54 billion spending plan for the fiscal year that began July 1 has been reached, the governor and leaders said. It should be voted on by the General Assembly next week.

While details are to be hammered out this weekend, Blagojevich -- at odds with many of his fellow Democrats, including House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), of late -- said Friday's proposal would reflect many of the priorities he set in February. It cuts spending by more than $1.1 billion to help close a $2.3 billion deficit.

"The parameters are clearly set, and there's been consensus across the board . . . that we do in fact have a balanced budget," the governor said.

Remember all those hand-wringing stories from two years ago about the dire state of the states?

Posted by Orrin Judd at July 17, 2004 10:22 AM