Party-Line Vote Passes Illinois Budget

Springfield, IL – In a party-line vote, the Illinois legislature has adopted a $54.5 billion dollar budget for the coming fiscal year. The document skimps pension funding, but has more money for schools and a bailout of the CTA. It also includes more funding for developmentally disabled facilities and dump site clean-up. Republicans were shut out of the development process, and dislike the underfunding of the state's pension plans. The budget also includes $160 million skimmed from specific funds and used to bolster the general fund.