Quinn To Make Good on 'Lean' Budget

By Lisa Balde

| Wednesday, Feb 16, 2011 | Updated 8:15 AM CDT

View Comments (

)

Following comments last week saying next year's Illinois budget will be "lean," Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to keep his word with a $52.7 billion plan that incldes $1 billion in spending cuts.

"We have to be very, very frugal," the Chicago Democrat said Friday during a visit to the Chicago Auto Show. "But I believe in investing in education and health care, public safety. We have to do those things to have a good state."

Part of the proposal Quinn will release at noon Wednesday includes ending Illinois Cares Rx, a Medicare prescription-drug assistance program launched by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2006, and cutting from health care services for state Medicaid residents.

The budget relies on borrowing a whopping $8.75 billion to pay state bills.

"It's a balancing act," Quinn said last week. "It's going to be not a year where we will have extravagance in any way shape or form."

Related Topics Pat Quinn, Illinois Budget, It's Go Time

Leave Comments

Top Stories