SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois lawmakers early Saturday approved a $46.5 billion budget that includes $1.8 billion in largely temporary election-year tax relief and a $1 billion deposit into the state’s rainy day fund.
The House voted in favor of the budget, which had already passed in the Senate, shortly before 6 a.m., more than 36 hours after Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Democratic legislative leaders announced a budget agreement as lawmakers blew past the scheduled Friday adjournment of their truncated spring session.
As Friday came and went the Democratic-controlled General Assembly also finalized its legislative response to rising crime, which along with inflation is expected to be a key issue in this year’s elections.
