The $38.5 billion budget does not raise taxes, but does keep in place the 32-percent income tax hike lawmakers approved last year. It also fully funds the $350 million school funding reform package. The governor pointed to that and other education funding as some of the highlights of this budget.
The governor also defended thanking Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, his political nemesis, saying, "Sometimes, in things like this, you just have to congratulate people."The budget year starts July 1.