The Illinois budget is facing significant cuts if Governor Bruce Rauner's plan passes.
A report from a child advocacy group says many of the cuts would be unnecessary if Illinois increases its revenue. Voices for Illinois Children says the state has many options, such as restoring the income tax hike, taxing retirement income and expanding the sales tax to include services.
The director of the Illinois chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, Kim Maisch, says raising taxes can hurt Illinoisans just as much as budget cuts. She says cutting spending is long overdue.
"It's an important process that Gov. Rauner's going through right now to determine, you know, what in the budget is fat. We should be living within our means. We haven't been living within our means for the last twelve years."
But Voices and other social service groups say Illinois already cut spending in recent years, and more will be harmful.