THE ILLINOIS SENATE HAS PASSED A MORE THAN 50 BILLION DOLLAR NEW STATE BUDGET. 

THE SPENDING PLAN IS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR THAT BEGINS JULY FIRST. THERE WAS INPUT FROM BOTH SIDES BUT IT STILL PASSED ALONG PARTY LINES. SENATE PRESIDENT DON HARMON:

BUT REPUBLICANS, LIKE SENATOR JASON PLUMMER OF EDWARDSVILLE, ARGUED THAT IT DOESN’T INCLUDE G-O-P PRIORITIES. THINGS SUCH AS A LARGER RAISE FOR THOSE WHO WORK WITH THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED, THE INVEST IN KIDS PROGRAM AND CREATING A BETTER BUSINESS CLIMATE.

THE BUDGET BILL NOW MOVES TO THE HOUSE. THE EARLIEST IT CAN BE PASSED IS SATURDAY.