http://www.sj-r.com/Sections/News/Stories/48125.asp"Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Wednesday outlined a $53 billion budget plan that is balanced by making changes to state pension systems, raising tobacco taxes and holding the line on government employment.
Blagojevich called for a small increase in education funding in the 2006 fiscal year that starts July 1 and asked lawmakers to approve $500 million for school construction.
And he wants to expand the program that provides health care to the poor while also imposing cost-cutting measures on the hospitals that provide the care.
His plan came under immediate attack from unions for state employees and teachers, which said the pension changes are unfair. Republican lawmakers complained that Blagojevich, a Democrat, used gimmicks and fiscal sleight-of-hand to present a balanced budget.
"This is Enron accounting," said Sen. Steve Rauschenberger, R-Elgin, a potential candidate for governor in 2006. "Any chief executive of an American corporation would go to jail for the manipulation of the budget this governor has engaged in."
Oh yeah Rausch because you and your party have such a great track record at dealing with corporate crime. :eyes:
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