SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Gov. JB Pritzker and Democratic leaders announced Wednesday they've agreed to a framework for next year's roughly $50 billion state spending plan, even as negotiations continued in the final stretch of lawmakers' already-extended spring legislative session.
Their announced agreement included only a two-page summary of topline spending numbers in five stated areas - fiscal responsibility, education, fighting poverty, health and human services and economic development. The rest would be included in a series of budget bills that had not been filed as of early Wednesday evening.
Even with details lacking, Pritzker, House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch and Senate President Don Harmon proclaimed unity as they faced reporter questions on the budget for the first time during the final stretch of negotiations on Wednesday afternoon.
"Democrats have done the work to earn our state eight credit upgrades," Welch said Wednesday. "And all three of us standing here today made the same commitment heading into these budget negotiations...we will continue putting Illinois down a path toward fiscal stability when this budget is signed into law."
Harmon said he hoped the Senate would pass budget legislation to the House on Wednesday night so the House could take a final vote on Friday due to a constitutional requirement that bills be read in the chamber three times on three separate days. But the Senate adjourned without doing so, meaning session would be extended through...
In a recent hearing before the House Oversight Committee, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg aptly refuted incorrect claims made by Republicans regarding electric vehicles. According to an Ad...