© 2024 WNIJ and WNIU
Northern Public Radio
801 N 1st St.
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-753-9000
Northern Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Rauner Signs Temporary Plan To Fill Budget Hole

Office of the Governor

Illinois Senators followed the lead of the House by approving a budget plan that fills a $1.6 billion hole.

The plan is supposed to rescue a program that subsidizes low-income families' daycare expenses and ensure the state can continue to pay prison guards and court reporters.

The package gives new Republican Governor Bruce Rauner some spending flexibility. It also dips into special state funds that have leftover cash and reduces spending in most state agencies and programs.

Governor Bruce Rauner issued the following statement regarding today's passage in the Senate chamber:

“I want to thank President Cullerton, Speaker Madigan, Leader Radogno and Leader Durkin for their leadership in fixing this year’s fiscal crisis. With their help, a bipartisan group of legislators sent a strong message that the culture in Springfield is changing for the better.

As promised, we are eliminating a $1.6 billion deficit without borrowing or increasing taxes on hard-working Illinois families. By choosing to make difficult decisions on a bipartisan basis, the General Assembly is helping set a new tone for what can be achieved in Springfield.

While today’s action is an important start, many more tough votes and challenging decisions must be made in the weeks ahead to complete the first steps of an Illinois turnaround. I look forward to continuing to partner with the legislature to enact policies that will create more jobs, increase local control and deliver value for taxpayers.”

Amanda Vinicky contributed to this report.