A majority of Illinoisans may think the budget process in Springfield is going to be the same song and dance in 2012, but one local lawmaker is optimistic this year is going to be different.

Illinois State Representative Chapin Rose feels things are being done correctly to this point this year. He says the budget this year is a bi-partisan effort that is being taken seriously on both sides of the isle.

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Rep. Rose says the bi-partisan effort in the Illinois House starts with paying back their overdue bills. Rose explains they have set aside $1.3-billion to pay back those bills, which is going to lead to cuts in some areas.

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According to Rose, some areas of the budget are going to be cut more than others. However, pensions and Medicaid make up over half the Illinois budget and Rose says committees are looking into cutting down those areas, but cuts are going to be inevitable to other areas.

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The Medicaid committee is hoping to cut $2.7-billion. Rep. Rose is encouraged the framework has been laid to make headway and on the backlog of bills.

Rose also believes this framework could lead to the tax increase expiration date being the end of the tax increase implemented over a year ago.