Illinois GOP: Free Up Unspent Money For Social Programs

Republicans in the Illinois General Assembly are proposing $1.3 billion in spending to cover human services. Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno and House GOP Leader Jim Durkin say most of the money would come from state funds set up for special purposes.

The proposal would fund things like affordable housing, substance abuse treatment and criminal court diversionary programs.

Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno and House GOP Leader Jim Durkin say most of the money would come from state funds set up for special purposes. The proposal would fund things like affordable housing, substance abuse treatment and criminal court diversionary programs.

Durkin says the legislation is tied to pro-growth changes Republican Governor Bruce Rauner supports, like reducing public pension costs.

Durkin says this legislation is unlike measures from Democrats that he says don't have a source of funding.

"We're not going to make promises that the state can't keep," he said.  "We're not going to pull a hoax and vulnerable populations by adding billions to the state bill backlog and stress the social safety net even more."

The money in the special funds can't be spent because there's no budget to provide spending authority. 

Legislative Democrats and Republican Governor Bruce Rauner have been at odds over a spending plan for ten months.  ​​