Senate Republicans are calling on Democrats who control the chamber to join them in supporting Gov. Bruce Rauner's call for full funding of elementary and secondary education.
Christine Radogno of Lemont is the Senate GOP leader. She says the Republican governor's proposed increase in general state aid of $55 million will meet the recommended per-student spending of about $6,000 a year.
Democrats say the formula used to pay for public education is long past due revision. Underfunding has created wide disparities in available resources for schools in areas with robust property-tax revenues compared with those in poorer areas.
Republicans agree but want more money upfront. But Rauner and legislative Democrats have bickered for nine months over a budget plan and the state has no spending authority.
