In the wee hours of Saturday morning, the Illinois House approved a $50.4 billion state budget that Democrats called a financially responsible and “compassionate” spending plan — and Republicans blasted as “another partisan one-sided budget.”
Just after 2:30 a.m., the Illinois House voted 73-38 to pass the budget, which Gov. J.B. Pritzker touted as his “fifth balanced budget,” vowing to sign it.
“This budget reaffirms our shared commitment to fiscal responsibility while making transformative investments in the children and families of Illinois that will be felt for years to come,” Pritzker said in a statement. “I look forward to signing this budget making childcare and education more accessible, healthcare more affordable, and our state’s business and economic position even stronger.”
There were some hiccups this week after Pritzker and Democratic leaders on Wednesday declared a budget deal. The Illinois Senate cleared the budget late Thursday after more than a day of behind-the-scenes negotiations on various issues, including funding health care for undocumented people, which ultimately received $550 million in funding as part of a larger Medicaid appropriation through the Illinois Department of Human Services.
Procedurally, the Illinois House could not take up the legislation until 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
