Earlier this month, Governor Bruce Rauner froze state funding to programs he says must be cut to balance the current budget.
Democrats on a special panel created by House Speaker Michael Madigan say the process the administration used to decide what to cut lacked transparency. They want more details and argued that some of the choices, like eliminating services to people with autism, were wrong.
Gregory Bassi, acting secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services, said that he worked with his staff to make those tough decisions.
“I understand from your point of view why you’re saying that this is wrong. From my point of view, I have to make decisions based on the resources that are available and some of them are just difficult decisions where no one is going to be happy.”
Lawmakers have roughly six weeks to approve a budget for next fiscal year before the scheduled end of the spring legislative session.