Illinois Senate President Has Votes For Tax Increase, Not Others

Illinois' Senate President says he's confident his chamber can pass a vote to extend the state's income tax increase. But the Chicago Democrat says other proposals may face more obstacles this spring.

John Cullerton spoke to The Associated Press in an interview Monday. He said it's a "tougher task'' for House Speaker Michael Madigan's chamber to extend the increase.

But Cullerton says a plan to raise the state's minimum wage to $10.65 an hour may not have enough Senate votes due to concerns from Democratic members. He says a gambling proposal could pass the chamber but says there "hasn't been much focus'' on the bill this session.

Cullerton says efforts to fix municipal police and fire pensions is "more complicated'' than recent legislation dealing with two of Chicago's pension funds.