Pieces of Illinois Democrats' proposed state budget are coming into focus as lawmakers begin advancing them in the Legislature ahead of a scheduled Sunday adjournment.
The $36.3 billion spending plan includes far less drastic cuts to higher education, Medicaid and state funding to local governments than was proposed by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner earlier this year.
The alternative budget was unveiled Monday by House Speaker Michael Madigan. He says Democrats are open to negotiating with Rauner about ways to raise more revenue to fill a $3 billion shortfall.
Rauner spent part of the morning speaking to Republican caucuses encouraging them to tell their constituents he won't support new revenue without pro-business reforms.
