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[Illinois] Governor picks and chooses
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| Contributor | Imperator |
| Last Edited | Imperator Aug 26, 2007 07:02am |
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| Category | News |
| Media | Newspaper - Chicago Tribune |
| News Date | Sunday, August 26, 2007 01:00:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | SPRINGFIELD - Gov. Rod Blagojevich slashed $463 million from the state budget Thursday and pressed forward his health-care plan, selectively cutting what he views as legislative pork-barrel initiatives backed by his political foes and preserving most projects pushed by friends and lawmakers he needs in his corner.
The Democratic governor's moves guaranteed a new level of bitterness in the record legislative overtime that is expected to go past Labor Day as lawmakers address mass-transit funding and other issues. But the governor's actions also prompted questions about whether he has exceeded the boundaries of the state Constitution under his far-reaching plan to expand health care.
"A budget should reflect the priorities of the people who elected us to make their lives better," Blagojevich said in a statement. "That's why I'm removing almost $500 million in special pet projects and other spending that we simply can't afford. And at the same time, we're preparing new rules and administrative changes that will give half a million Illinoisans access to health care."
Blagojevich put in motion the expansion of state-supported health care in Illinois as opposition forces questioned whether his sweeping proposals would pass a legislative review.
But to help his chances of overcoming legislative hurdles, Blagojevich made sure that key lawmakers who would review the health program received most or all of the pork projects they wanted. The budget also provided what the governor's office said was about $554 million in new spending for schools, which the governor calls a record investment, while cutting millions that would have gone to parochial schools. |
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