Law Commons^™

Persuading A State To Budge It: Benefits, Consequences, And Obstacles To State Budget Default Rules, Margaret Nunne

Northern Illinois University Law Review

The Illinois legislature's budget impasse has led to a series of measures cobbled together to keep the state operational and state employees paid. Late budgets, impasses, and failed budgets lead to government shutdowns. Government shutdowns mean government services can be put at risk, which, in turn, can harm the public. In considering the future, as politicians continue to or refuse to negotiate, default budget rules have been used to some success in other states by preventing a complete shutdown of the state in the face of an impasse. However, the use of the rule can cause different problems and may …