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Democrats push for budget measures to restore human service programs

Illinois House Democrats continued to advance budget measures that would restore funding to human services programs that the governor proposes cutting. 

Republicans continue to question Democrats' motive. They say it's more of a partisan play than a real budget vote.  

GOP Representative Ron Sandack from Downers Grove complained that the measures did not go through typical budget procedures. 

"We gotta get past this and actually engage in a budget process that's inclusive, bipartisan and actually moves the needle. This does nothing but waste time."

Rather than vote yes or no, Republicans all voted present on the measures. They say it's in protest of the lack of transparency. 

But it's also a way to say no without voting against funding popular human services like breast and cervical cancer screenings.

 

Lisa Ryan is a graduate student in the public affairs reporting program at the University of Illinois at Springfield. She previously worked at Indiana Public Radio and the college radio station founded by David Letterman. She is a 2014 broadcast journalism and political science graduate of Ball State University.