State Budget Moves Forward

Democrats have come to agreement on a budget for the upcoming year. The House, Senate and Governor all say that the plan coming out of the legislature is best way forward.

The budget includes $1.8 billion in tax cuts – including suspending the tax on groceries for a year, freezing motor fuel taxes for six months and doubling the property tax rebates for households. Speaker of the House Chris Welch says the budget process gave Republicans every opportunity to be a part of the discussion.

Republicans say they have indeed been cut out of the budget making process. Senate Republican Leader Don McConchie says the Democrats budget is filled with election year gimmicks. Senate GOP members say that they have made proposals that make some tax cuts permanent.

The budget includes paying an extra $200 million to the pension debt and paying down all the debt in College Illinois and the group insurance bill backlog.