Quinn: 2014 Budget "Difficult, But Honest"

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is promising his latest budget won't be easy.

Quinn used Wednesday's budget address to again press the state legislature to pass comprehensive pension reform, saying the state will be spending more on pensions than education by 2016.

The governor said pension reform is "hard", but praised legislators for tackling hard issues before.  He also defended closing down state facilities, saying it was good policy for helping reform juveniles.

Quinn said his budget holds the line on discretionary spending around $16 billion, but addresses funds that have been "under appropriated" for some time.

Local legislators took issue with the Governor's message.

St. Rep. David Reis of Ste. Marie said the budget "once again failed to lay out a plan" to cut what he terms the largest budget pressure, welfare and Medicaid.

St. Rep. John Cavaletto said the budget message was "chaotic and unreasonable."  Cavaletto also took issue with the proposed Medicaid expansion.  He said the governor has yet to implement all of the Medicaid reforms passed by the General Assembly last year.