SPRINGFIELD, ILL. -- UPDATED: July, 1 at 2:51 p.m.
After a thorough review of the state’s operating budget for the coming fiscal year, Governor Pat Quinn today announced major reductions to state spending while prioritizing the tools needed to keep the Illinois economy moving forward. Governor Quinn also issued an Executive Order to place additional restrictions on government spending.
Now that Gov. Pat Quinn has spoken to the State of Illinois about the state's fiscal year, you can click here to read his entire message. There are additional links for audio and video transcripts as well.
Click here to read a PDF file of the actual budget.
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Gov. Pat Quinn plans to spell out how he'll use his emergency budget powers to keep state government afloat despite the biggest deficit in Illinois history.
Quinn is scheduled to announce his plans Thursday, the first day of the state's fiscal year.
Illinois faces a deficit of roughly $13 billion.
Rather than balance the budget, lawmakers voted to give Quinn special authority over spending.
That means he'll decide which programs are slashed, which bills will go unpaid and which special funds will be raided.
The Chicago Democrat also may pressure lawmakers to return to Springfield and approve borrowing about $4 billion for government pensions.
Without permission to borrow the money, Quinn will have to find it by cutting other parts of the budget more deeply.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)