SPRINGFIELD, ILL. (AP) -- The new president of the Illinois Senate is refusing to rule out a tax hike to give a boost to state finances.
Senate President John Cullerton said Wednesday everything has to be on the table when it comes to fixing Illinois' finances.
Cullerton's comments came on the first day of the new General Assembly, during which he took over the Senate leadership from retiring Senate President Emil Jones.
The state faces a major decrease in revenue and a massive backlog of unpaid bills. In his acceptance speech to the Senate, Cullerton said the state can't cut its way out of its fiscal situation.
Some lawmakers are suggesting ways to raise revenues other than a general tax increase, including a cigarette tax hike and an increase in the state's gasoline tax.
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