It went almost totally unnoticed at the Statehouse, but Senate President John Cullerton pulled a neat little trick at the end of the spring legislative session, and he may end up getting what he wants this fall.
We're going to get into some "insider" terminology and a few numbers, but it's really not all that difficult.
Cullerton refused to advance a measure known as a "budget implementation bill." The "BIMP" transferred millions of dollars into special state funds. Those transfers are known as "trouts."
For instance, the legislation transfers $4 million from the state's General Revenue Fund (which is like the state's checking account) into the Underground Resources Conservation Fund.
All told, Cullerton wants to fish out about $200 million from the "trouts" and use the cash to satisfy his members' demand that schools be given more money.