Democrats and Republicans in the Illinois Senate dug their trenches a little deeper Thursday as the stalemate over the state’s budget continues.

 

Democrats approved a bill that would authorize spending $3.8 billion on higher education, social services and other programs that have been deprived of funding since the fiscal year began July 1. Republicans reiterated Gov. Bruce Rauner’s call for increased spending on elementary and secondary education in next year’s budget.

 

The vast majority of this year’s spending has continued due to court orders, consent decrees, state statutes, and a small number of approved budget bills — most notably one covering elementary and secondary education.

 

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