Rank-and-file legislative negotiators have come up with a proposal to balance the state’s budget with a combination of tax hikes and spending cuts.

 

The plan, which has been submitted to Gov. Bruce Rauner and the four legislative leaders, calls for $5.4 billion in new revenue, much of it coming from an income tax increase as well as beginning to apply the state sales tax to a narrow range of services.

 

It also includes $2.4 billion in cuts to state spending to areas like Medicaid, changing state purchasing laws and adopting pension reforms Rauner outlined in his budget proposal.

 

The proposal does not include any components of the Republican governor’s "turnaround agenda" that he’s said must be part of an agreement before he will entertain discussion of tax hikes.

 

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