http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wium/local-wium-960632.mp3
Springfield, IL – Illinois House leaders are pushing forward with a budget plan that would ignore many of the governor's spending proposals.
The top Democrat and top Republican in the House say they have settled on the amount of money available for major categories of state government.
Now, House committees will decide which services get a piece of that money and which don't.
House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) said it's a critical change, but it will be tough for legislators to decide what will be cut from the budget.
"The Speaker and I have been working from the outset on the concept of realizing and figuring out how much money we have to spend, and with an understanding that we will not spend more than that," Cross said.
He also indicated this would be a difficult process. For example, education would receive about $6.8 billion. That's a cut of $200 million in state funds.
Schools will also likely receive at least $400 million less from the federal government.
Democratic Governor Pat Quinn wants to spend more on schools, along with many other government services.
He also wants to borrow billions of dollars to pay overdue bills, but House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) said lawmakers don't support that idea.
Thanks to Illinois Public Radio and The Illinois Associated Press