Illinois House Follows Senate's Lead in Approving Budget

The Illinois House of Representatives Thursday approved a budget for the coming fiscal year. The $38.5 billion measure is headed to the governor's desk. 

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner praised the bipartisan effort to get the measure passed on time and said he will be taking action soon to enact the spending plan that was approved 56-2 by the Illinois Senate on Wednesday.

The vote in the House was 97-18.

Rauner stated, 'It's a step in the right direction, though it does not include much-needed debt paydown and reforms that would reduce taxes, grow our economy, create jobs and raise family incomes."

House Republican Leader Jim Durkin said, "Both sides did not get everything they hoped for, but our priorities--Republican and Democrat--have been met."

The state's new fiscal year begins on July 1.