Lawmakers debate state budget in final hours of session

Yahoo

3 days ago

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WGN) – State lawmakers are still ironing out the details of a $1 billion tax package with just a few hours left in the legislative session.
In order to make their proposed $55.2 billion state budget work, Democrats are finalizing cuts and tax increases.
Their ideas include an amnesty program to collect more money from delinquent tax filers and increasing taxes on gambling, tobacco and vape products. The measure would also tax large transnational corporations that store assets overseas.
On the savings side, the spending plan cuts funding for health insurance for undocumented residents between the ages of 42 and 64. While it's a controversial decision for the Democratic majority, the move is expected to save the state over $300 million.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Spring session entering final day as budget deadline looms
Lawmakers said they will also boost funding for K-12 education by $307 million, but that comes with cutting a grant program for high property tax, low real estate value districts.
In added revenue, lawmakers will provide more special grants for safety net hospitals that are known to treat uninsured patients.
A wage increase of 80 cents per hour for professionals with developmental disabilities is also on the table, along with a 5% pay raise for lawmakers tied to inflation.
On the other side of the aisle, Republicans said they found the state spending appalling.
'In Governor Pritzker's six years in office, he has increased spending by 40%. There are very few families that have had their income increase by 40% over six years,' Sen. John Curran (R-Lemont) said.
Democrats, though, argue the spending is necessary given uncertainty at the federal level.
'The reality is we are still climbing out of the hollowing out of the state government, which occurred during the previous administration,' Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) said. 'The challenges which exist, or have existed, are only being exacerbated by actions at the federal level.'
Illinois budget battle: What Chicago needs from Springfield
The House also passed a bill that would allow terminally ill people to get medical aid in dying. Debate on this topic on the House floor Thursday night was passionate.
On Saturday afternoon, a Senate committee skipped address of the above bill. Whether it will be raised again before deadline is unclear at this time.
Lawmakers also signed off on a bill that, according to Democrats, would control the rising cost of prescription drugs while helping small pharmacies in the state. The Prescription Drug Affordability Act imposes new fees on pharmacy benefit managers.
There is concern that pharmacy benefit managers raise the costs of prescription drugs.
A measure that would allow eligible high school students to receive direct admission to public universities based on academic performance is also headed to Gov. JB Pritzker's desk.
Lawmakers also moved to further develop Illinois into a state with abundant reproductive rights, passing bills to expand protection for health care professionals and expand access for students on college campuses.
Illinois has a $770M hole in the transit budget that could leave commuters stranded
As far as the transit budget, lawmakers are still trying to patch a $770 million hole.
After months of warning from Chicagoland transit that bus and train service might be cut without a state bailout, lawmakers are working to hike the cost of tolls and rideshares to help the system.
On Saturday, rideshare service Uber warned customers about the proposed increase.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.