By Illinois Public Radio
Springfield, IL – Governor Rod Blagojevich has sliced nearly one and a half billion dollars from the state's budget....
The cuts range from health care programs to public transit systems to higher education. The governor says he was forced to wield the budget axe because the spending plan the general assembly approved was unbalanced.
The Governor says he warned lawmakers that cuts would be coming unless the House approved plans to cover the budget hole. Blagojevich says he was forced to follow through on his threats because House democrats failed to act.
Marion Democrat, State Representative John Bradley says he's frustrated with the Governor and the political games he keeps playing with the budget.
Among the budget cuts... the governor has ordered state agencies to hold back money.... That could leave state services and state employees in limbo. The governor would not say if his plan includes laying off state workers.
One area of the budget the governor left intact is the annual cost ofl living increase for himself, lawmakers and other state officers. The governor says the nearly 4-percent pay raise is required by law.
The general assembly has two weeks to decide on whether to restore any of the cuts.
