Illinois’s House speaker is staking an early claim in what may be a contentious budget battle.
Billions of dollars in cuts proposed by Republican Governor Bruce Rauner already spurred rallies at the capitol. Groups foretell of grave consequences.
House Speaker Michael Madigan says he acknowledges Illinois is in a difficult budget situation.
But there's one area he wants to spend more on: state crime labs.
Madigan, a Democrat, proposes pumping an additional $6 million into labs, so evidence could be processed faster. He says the statute of limitations could expire before evidence from a rape could be tested.
Madigan says he doesn't believe Illinois can balance its next budget with cuts alone. But Rauner says he won't consider a tax hike until Illinois government is more efficient.
