The Illinois House passed a maintenance-level $40 billion state budget Saturday night that would rely heavily on federal funding to close a gaping pandemic-driven deficit.

The spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1 requires Senate approval before it can be sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk. House Republican lawmakers were completely cut out of the final budget product.  Speaker Madigan and his majority decided to go it alone and ram through a partisan, unbalanced budget.  

State Representative Dan Caulkins, who voted against the budget bill and spoke during final floor debate, says the tough choices have to be made and this budget doesn’t do that.  

State Representative Dan Brady has concerns about higher education.

The House voted largely along party lines to advance the budget, 68-44. One publication that covers the statehouse said of the budget “Let’s stipulate that this new budget is both a disaster and a complete fantasy.”

The budget plan would allow for borrowing of up to $5 billion from the Federal Reserve that would be repaid with expected but uncertain federal aid from Washington. State officials also hope there will be a loosening of restrictions on how the state can spend $3.5 billion in federal aid the state has already received.