Illinois Lawmakers Push Ahead with Budget Necessities and Capital Funding

Illinois lawmakers adopted about $16.3 billion in spending Wednesday to cover essential state expenses, such as covering state employee paychecks.

The vote in the Illinois House sends the Illinois Senate five pieces of legislation that cover payroll, basic education funding and money to pay hospitals for serving low-income patients.

But as the May 31 deadline for adjournment creeps up, the General Assembly and Gov. Pat Quinn still have to address billions of dollars in requests for state assistance and contributions to public pension systems.

Quinn has proposed budget cuts and an increased state income tax to cover those, neither of which today's action addressed.

Meanwhile, the Illinois Senate voted 47 to 12 on a funding bill for statewide construction that that would raise liquor taxes, driver fees and enact a major gambling expansion. In eastern Illinois, Democrat Mike Frerichs voted for the bill, while Republicans Dale Righter and Dan Rutherford voted against it. The measure now moves to the House.

The aim of the bill is to pay for a $26 billion public works programs and create hundreds of thousands of jobs.

The legislation would legalize gambling on video poker machines already in many bars. Supporters hope that would bring in $375 million a year.

It also would raise liquor taxes, generating about $113 million.The cost of a six-pack would increase by less than three cents.

Driver's license and license plates would go up, too.

The public works program is a combination of federal and state money. To come up with its $12 billion share, Illinois would sell bonds. To repay that debt, it has to come up with new sources of money --- the gambling, taxes and fees.