GOVERNOR J-B PRITZKER IS SET TO DELIVER HIS ANNUAL BUDGET ADDRESS WEDNESDAY AND ILLINOIS HOUSE REPUBLICANS SAY IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER THAT THE PROPOSAL IS BALANCED.

THE ILLINOIS CONSTITUTION REQUIRES THE STATE BUDGET BE BALANCED EACH YEAR, WITH SPENDING MATCHING REVENUES. BUT SOMETIMES EXPECTED REVENUES DON'T PAN OUT. THAT CAN'T HAPPEN THIS YEAR SAYS HOUSE G-O-P LEADER JIM DURKIN.

G-O-P REPRESENTATIVE TOM DEMMER OF DIXON SAYS THE NEW BUDGET CAN'T BE PASSED BASED ON WISHFUL THINKING.

THE STATE IS FACING A THREE BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET DEFICIT. GOVERNOR PRITZKER HAS SAID HIS PROPOSAL WILL KEEP SPENDING AT THE SAME LEVELS AS LAST YEAR AND WILL NOT INCLUDE A TAX INCREASE. HE SAYS REPUBLICANS SHOULD OFFER SUGGESTIONS ABOUT WHERE CUTS CAN BE MADE TO HELP KEEP COSTS DOWN.