SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Leaders of the Illinois General Assembly are scoping a budget plan from House Democrats that would raise income taxes and make deep spending cuts.
Democratic Senate President John Cullerton of Chicago emerged from a Tuesday afternoon meeting of Democratic and Republican leaders of the General Assembly. He says the plan presented at the meeting is very similar to one the Senate OK’d in May. It would raise about $5 billion from an income tax increase and spending cuts would exceed $3 billion.
Republican leaders did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The state has been without a budget since 2015. Agreement on spending and revenue does not guarantee a deal because both sides continue to negotiate non-budget issues demanded by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Lawmakers are scurrying because the fiscal year begins Saturday.