Illinois’ first budget after two years is filled with partial outlines to address its debt-ridden pension system and unpaid bill backlog — signs that political fighting and the fiscal mess in the nation’s fifth-largest state are far from over.
In addition to all of the things that aren’t covered in the budget, there are the massive tax increases.
So why would any of the 15 Republicans cross party lines to support the budget?
Illinois State Representative Reggie Phillips joined Dan Proft and Chicago Tribune Editorial Board Member Kristen McQueary to explain his decision to vote for the budget: