CHICAGO (AP) — Gov. Pat Quinn has signed a new Illinois budget that will cut spending in many areas and allow the state's pile of unpaid bills to climb even higher.
The Chicago Democrat says he's doing his best to protect government services that help the economy, schools, health and public safety.
Rather than balance the budget, lawmakers voted to give Quinn special authority over spending. That means he'll decide which programs are slashed, which bills will go unpaid and which special funds will be raided.
Quinn said Thursday that he's using this authority to cut $1.4 billion in spending.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
The Chicago Democrat says he's doing his best to protect government services that help the economy, schools, health and public safety.
Rather than balance the budget, lawmakers voted to give Quinn special authority over spending. That means he'll decide which programs are slashed, which bills will go unpaid and which special funds will be raided.
Quinn said Thursday that he's using this authority to cut $1.4 billion in spending.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
