SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois House wants to tap incoming but unallocated revenue to relieve struggling universities and human services.
The House voted 64-45 Thursday to authorize spending $817 million that is sitting in special funds during a two-yearlong budget holdup.
Chicago Democratic Rep. Greg Harris is the sponsor. He says the measure would release $559 million to higher education and $258 million to human services whose funding is not ordered by court rulings.
The money is a small portion of income tax revenue set aside in funds that can’t be spent until the Legislature authorizes it.
Gov. Bruce Rauner says it doesn’t fix long-term problems and doesn’t support it.
The Republican governor has been at odds with legislative Democrats since 2015 over a budget.
