“It is time to put personal grudges behind us and put a real budget in place.” - State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign)

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate voted to pass parts of its “Grand Bargain” package of legislation meant to end the budget impasse that has plagued the state for nearly two years. The package was negotiated between Senate President John Cullerton and Minority Leader Christine Radogno as a way to end the political stalemate.

State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) voted with his colleagues to end the impasse.

“It is time to put personal grudges behind us and put a real budget in place,” Bennett said. “The reforms in this package along with much-needed funding for social services and higher education are a good starting point to digging our state out of this hole.”

Measures in the package included gaming expansion, procurement reforms, MAP grant funding and a budget for the remainder of the fiscal year.

"We have a real opportunity to end this historic impasse and move Illinois forward by investing in higher education and growing our economy.” - State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign)

SPRINGFIELD- Members of the General Assembly heard the governor’s third budget address today. According to the Illinois Constitution, the governor is required to submit a balanced budget to the General Assembly each year.

State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is hopeful that the governor will help put an end to the current budget impasse.

“In the past, the governor has neglected to send the General Assembly a true balanced budget,” Bennett said. “Now with the grand bargain package forming in the Senate, we have a real opportunity to end this historic impasse and move Illinois forward by investing in higher education and growing our economy.”

Illinois has been consumed by two years of bitter political stalemate that has caused several credit downgrades, staffing cuts at social service providers and chaos at state universities.

“Allowing voters to consolidate local governments and freeing the University of Illinois from bloated bureaucracy will help revitalize our state and put us on the right path forward.” - State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign)

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Senate passed parts of its negotiated grand bargain plan today. The measures that were put up to a vote included local government consolidation and procurement reform. State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) voted for the measures.

“These reforms will streamline government and save money,” Bennett said. “Allowing voters to consolidate local governments and freeing the University of Illinois from bloated bureaucracy will help revitalize our state and put us on the right path forward.”

The negotiations of the bipartisan grand bargain package have been ongoing for months between Senate President John Cullerton and Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno. The remaining pieces of legislation are still under negotiation.

“This could be a much-needed infusion of jobs for both the construction and operation of the Danville casino.” - State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign)

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Senate heard testimony today regarding a plan that would expand gaming in Illinois with one casino headed for Danville. The measure, Senate Bill 7, is a part of the Senate’s grand bargain package. State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) represents Danville and sits on the Senate Gaming Committee.

“A casino and the development that comes with it could really give a boost to the Danville community,” Bennett said. “This could be a much-needed infusion of jobs for both the construction and operation of the Danville casino.”

Mayor Scott Eisenhauer of Danville was also at the hearing, giving testimony about how the plan would affect the Danville community.

“This is really about job opportunities for communities like Danville,” Eisenhauer said. “The total amount of construction jobs would be 600 and the total number of permanent jobs would be 800.”

The package of bills being debated as a part of the grand bargain includes funding for MAP grants, funding for higher education and a property tax freeze.