BLOG

The Illinois House voted 71-42 in favor of overriding Gov. Bruce Rauner’s vetoes of a budget package Thursday, giving the state its first spending blueprint in more than two years and ending the nation’s longest fiscal stalemate since at least the Great Depression.

The budget is retroactive to July 1, the start of the fiscal year. That’s the date a permanent 32 percent tax increase takes effect. Individuals will pay 4.95 percent instead of 3.75 percent. The corporate rate jumps to 7 percent from 5.25 percent.

House Speaker Mike Madigan had handshakes, hugs and kisses for colleagues after the vote was in.

“The people in this chamber did not do what was easy today, but we did what was right for the future of our state,” he said.

The vote required the support of 10 Republicans, including Rep. Steven Anderson (R-Geneva), who said he had received death threats and hate emails, but still voted his conscience.

“There is no joy here. We had two bad options: raise taxes, didn’t want to do that, or let the state finish the meltdown, the worst choice. So I chose and argued for the best of two bad choices,” Anderson said.

The vote itself showed the bitter partisan fight the budget battle has been.

“To those 10 Republicans, you should be ashamed of yourself. You have caused the highest taxes in Illinois history,” said Rep. David McSweeney (R-Cary).

“I’m certainly not ashamed when I look into a financial abyss, when I see the state imploding financially and I’m trying to do something to save it,” said Rep. David Harris (R-Arlington Heights).

Republicans are still working for a property tax freeze and other reforms.

Rauner said he vetoed the measures because he sees no indication that the Democratic-controlled Legislature will send him the “structural” changes he’s demanded. Those include a statewide property tax freeze, cost-cutting restrictions on compensation for injured workers, changes to pension benefits for state employees, and reforms making it easier for voters to merge or eliminate local governing bodies. He released a statement on Thursday, saying in part, “Today was another step in Illinois’ never-ending tragic trail of tax hikes.”