OLD.

WE WILL HAVE MUSIC FROM TINA TURNER TO CLOSE OUT THIS PROGRAM LATER TONIGHT.

>>> AFTER A SLIGHT DETOUR, ILLINOIS IS BACK ON THE ROAD TO HAVING AN ON-TIME STATE BUDGET.

AND NOW AMANDA JOINS US FROM THE CAPITAL WITH THE VERY LATEST.

AMANDA?

>> Reporter: YES, HARRIS, THERE IS NO BUDGET BILL THAT HAS TECHNICALLY BEEN INTRODUCED.

WHEN I SPOKE TO MEMBERS EARLIER, THEY SAID IT IS JUST A STAND-IN.

IN REALITY THE SPENDING PLAN WILL RESEMBLE MORE AROUND $50 MILLION.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER COULD NOT SAY PRECISELY HOW MUCH THIS SPENDING PLAN IS GOING TO SPEND, JUST THAT IT WILL BE AROUND THAT $50 MILLION MARK.

SO PRITZKER STANDS FULLY BEHIND IT.

>> I WOULD BE PROUD TO SIGN THIS BUDGET WHEN IT ARRIVES ON MY DESK.

THIS BUDGET MEANS THAT WE ARE ON A PATH TO ELIMINATING CHILDCARE DESERTS, RELIEVING SOME OF THE BURDEN ON PARENTS WHO NEED TO WORK WHILE ENSURING KIDS GET QUALITY CARE.

>> THE PLAN ALSO PUTS MORE MONEY INTO K-12 SCHOOLS AND WILL ALLOW THOSE WHO ARE IN LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES TO ATTEND COMMUNITY COLLEGE WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY TUITION OR FEES.

DEMOCRATS SAY THAT THIS IS A PLAN THAT MAKES GOOD ON TWO OF THEIR PROMISED GOALS.

FOR ONE, THEY SAY, IT IS ABOUT BALANCE.

>> THIS AGREEMENT WILL CREATE ANOTHER BALANCED BUDGET THAT REINFORCES OUR STATE ECONOMIC STABILITY WHILE IMPROVING ON KEY PROMISES FOR THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS.

>> THEY ALSO SAY THAT IT REFLECTS THEIR PROGRESSIVE VALUES.

>> IT MAKES SMART INVESTMENTS AND IT IS COMPASSIONATE.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CONTINUOUSLY SAY IS A TOP PRIORITY.

I TALKED TO THEM ALL THE TIME AND I ASK THEM TO REMEMBER OUR WHY.

WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT PEOPLE.

>> AMANDA, AS MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE WAS A ROADBLOCK BECAUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE SUPER MAJORITIES.

SO REFRESH US ON WHAT THAT WAS AND HOW IT WAS RESOLVED.

>> Reporter: IT IS A BIG ONE ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES HEALTH CARE FOR UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS , MORE, THE GOVERNOR SAID, THEN ILLINOIS COULD AFFORD IF IT WAS GOING TO COVER OTHER NEEDS.

WE DO NOT YET HAVE DETAILS ON HOW MUCH THIS SPENDING PLAN PROJECTS TO SPEND ON THAT PROGRAM, BUT THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT WHAT THE DEAL IS CONTINGENT ON IS GETTING THE TOOLS , LIKE FOR EXAMPLE GETTING THE CO-PAY THAT WILL ALLOW HIS ADMINISTRATION TO REIN IN THOSE COSTS.

>> IT ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE FOR PEOPLE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONTINUING THE PROGRAM GOING FORWARD, BUT IN A BUDGET-FRIENDLY WAYS SO THAT EVERYBODY GETS THE HELP THEY NEED.

>> AS A REMINDER, IT IS A PROJECTED COST.

WHAT IS THE FEEDBACK SO FAR?

>> Reporter: WELL, IT IS EARLY YET.

WE STILL DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE A BUDGET, AND I'M TOLD THE CONVERSATIONS ARE STILL ONGOING.

STILL, WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THE GOVERNOR AND DEMOCRATIC LEADERS CLEARLY EXPECT MEMBERS OF THEIR PARTY TO BE ON BOARD.

THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS NOT IMPRESSED, CLEARLY, WITH THE PROPOSAL, STATED THAT HIS BUDGET COMES TO A PARTISAN WISH LIST, NOT A NEGOTIATION.

WITH COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENT, DEMOCRATS WILL CONTINUE TO TAX AND SPEND.

ALSO, THE DISABLED HAVE BEEN SEEKING A $4.00 PER HOUR WAGE INCREASE.

THEY SAY THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEEDED.

THEY SAY THAT THIS PLAN GIVES ONLY HALF OF THAT.

IT IS SOMEWHAT EARLY FOR FEEDBACK TO A DEGREE, BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A LOT OF