The Comptroller returns to duty without having to worry about G-Rod backing an opponent.
Comptroller Dan Hynes said this past year’s sources of one-time revenue — like the lease of the Thompson Center — won’t be available and the state will be short $3.8 billion. Blagojevich’s budget predicts a deficit of only $1.7 billion.
“We are basically saying this challenge the governor and legislature will have to deal with as they begin budget negotiations,” said Hynes spokesman Allen Henry. “One way or another, they have to come up with something.”
Now, if G-Rod is paying attention, he needs to take this seriously because it gives one of his likely opponents the best line of attack for 2006 (we here at ArchPundit rarely contain ourselves to election at hand)
State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger (R-Elgin) picked up on Hynes’ warning and wondered if the governor’s plan to close the deficit will be enough.
“Why would a Democrat exaggerate Rod’s problems?” Rauschenberger said, referring to Hynes. “Unless, of course [the higher numbers] were right.”
Rauschenberger, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, noted that the state is negotiating new union contracts, which could throw off the governor’s estimates.
“The bills are not going away. And this administration is proposing $7 million in additional spending,” Rauschenberger said.