The Illinois legislature passed a short-term budget today. The 18-month plan partially closes out the fiscal year that ends today, and includes spending for government operations through December.
It fully covers preschool-through-12th grade education and gives roughly 1 billion dollars to universities. The measure also gives funding to human service providers that didn't get any state money in the past year. House Majority leader Barbara Flynn Currie says this is just to keep the lights on.
"Personally, I'd like to be a complete budget, a full budget, a full year budget, all of fiscal 17, fix our commitments from fiscal 16 as yet unmet, but that is not the option before us today."
There is still no so-called “grand bargain." Democratic lawmakers and Republician Governor Bruce Rauner have been unable to agree on a full budget deal, as they’re divided on controversial changes the governor wants. The stopgap budget didn't have any of those changes attached.