SPRINGFIELD — The $50.6 billion state spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1st, passed the Illinois House early Saturday, with only the support of Democrats who drafted it.
House Republicans chose not to vote for the budget bill for numerous reasons: including Democrats neglecting two House GOP priorities: giving families a break in the estate tax and failing to fund the Invest in Kids program, which gives donors a tax credit for contributing to a state fund that pays for low-income scholarships for low-income students.
What the Democrats did choose to include was millions of dollars on healthcare for undocumented immigrants. That program will cost the state over $1 billion in 2024.
The budget also includes pay raises and cost of living increases for legislators ($89,675 base-level salaries per year).