State Lawmakers Pass Budget, But Not Without Contention
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) -- Illinois lawmakers have passed a budget to the Gov. Pat Quinn, but not without a lot of contention.
As WBBM Newsradio's Dave Dahl reports, the House got its way, and its proposals passed the state Senate with little trouble – except when it came to education.
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State Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) says the House wanted to cut $600 million from the education budget, "which means our kids will receive $560 million less."
Meanwhile, some Republicans took offense at the idea that they have spent years decimating education. Sen. Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) said repeated funding increases for education have not paid off.
"One billion dollars a year on top, every single year, it went up – a billion dollars a year, for a generation," Murphy said. "And you know what test scores did? Flatlined."
The Senate passed two small tax increases, on satellite TV providers and offshore oil drilling companies. The increases are expected to put more than $175 million back in education.
Total general revenue spending for the next fiscal year sits at roughly $33 billion.
Gov. Pat Quinn has until July 1 to sign or veto the budget bill.
