Illinois House Approves New Stopgap Budget Plan

Illinois Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, walks down the center aisle of the House chambers during veto session at the Illinois State Capitol Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, in Springfield, Ill.
Illinois Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, walks down the center aisle of the House chambers during veto session at the Illinois State Capitol in December. Seth Perlman / AP Photo
Illinois Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, walks down the center aisle of the House chambers during veto session at the Illinois State Capitol Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, in Springfield, Ill.
Illinois Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, walks down the center aisle of the House chambers during veto session at the Illinois State Capitol in December. Seth Perlman / AP Photo

Illinois House Approves New Stopgap Budget Plan

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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.