TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED.

>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT, AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF BETTER THAN EXPECTED FINANCIAL SITUATION.

ILLINOIS IS HAVING TO SCALE BACK WITH A NEW BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER'S AIDES DESCRIBE AS LAST YEAR, REPUBLICANS SAY IT'S ANYTHING BUT REPORTER AMANDA BENNETT JOINS US LIVE FROM SPRINGFIELD WITH MORE.

AMANDA, WHAT'S THE GOVERNOR PROPOSING?

>> BRING US THE TOP LINE FOR MANY FOLKS IS ARE MY TAXES GOING TO GO UP IN THE ANSWER?

THERE IS NO.

THAT IS UNLESS YOU ARE A BUSINESS OR SOMEBODY WHO LIKES TO PLACE BETS ON SPORTS IN WHICH CASE THE ANSWER IS YES.

GOING INTO THE DAY, GOVERNOR, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THAT IS HAD PREDICTED A SHORTFALL OF NEARLY 1 BILLION DOLLARS NOW PREFERS OFFICE SAYS THE PICTURE ISN'T ACTUALLY THAT LEAK BECAUSE >> REVENUES ARE DOING BETTER THAN HAD IT BEEN EXPECTED.

BUT STILL THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT HOLE AND HE IS LOOKING TO FILL IT TAXES ON CORPORATIONS AND ALSO BY INCREASING THE TAX PUT ON WAGERS PLACED AT SPORTSBOOKS GOING UP FROM 15% TO 35%.

IN THOUGH PRITZKER'S BUDGET IS BALANCED ON THE BACKS OF THOSE CHANGES.

HE DID NOT MENTION THEM AT ALL DURING HIS ADDRESS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AMANDA, WHAT DID HE MENTION >> PRITZKER SAYS THAT THIS IS A PLAN THAT HAS TO MAKE SOME HARD CHOICES.

HE SAYS IT LIVES UP TO ILLINOIS'S COMMITMENT TO BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, STILL MAKES NEEDED INVESTMENT SOME CERTAIN AREAS.

AND AMONG THOSE PRIORITIES FOR HIM THAT THEREFORE WILL BE RECEIVING SOME ADDITIONAL EDUCATION NOW, ESPECIALLY EARLY CHILDHOOD THAT SMART START PROGRAM LOOKING TO CREATE ANOTHER 5,000 SPOTS IN DAYCARES.

ALSO A NEW PILOT PROGRAM THAT WILL GIVE FAMILIES DIE FIRST AND THEN A SMALL CHILD TAX CREDIT.

THIS WOULD GO TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES BUT HAVE BABIES, 2 YEARS OLD AND YOUNGER.

THERE'S ALSO, OF COURSE, THAT 182 MILLION DOLLARS MUST FOR THE MIGRANT RESPONSE.

>> MAYBE SOME OF YOU THINK THAT WE SHOULD JUST SAY THIS IS NOT OUR PROBLEM AND THAT WE SHOULD LET THE MIGRANT FAMILY STARVE OR FREEZE TO DEATH.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT DECENT MIDWESTERNERS DO.

THAT'S NOT WHAT LEADERS DO.

WE DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS MANUFACTURED CRISIS, BUT WE MUST DEAL WITH IT OF THE SAME.

>> REPUBLICANS, HOWEVER, ARE REALLY FIRED UP ABOUT THIS.

THEY SAY THAT ILLINOIS IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, HE'S SPENT MORE THAN 2 BILLION DOLLARS ON NON-CITIZENS AND THEY SAY THAT THAT'S MONEY THAT RESIDENTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY IN STRUGGLING RURAL AREAS OF ILLINOIS, COULD USE FOR SCHOOLS FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE.

>> THIS IDEA OF HELPING PEOPLE WHO FORCED THEIR WAY INTO THIS COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO SHAME AS AS SAYING THAT WE'RE NOT CHRISTIAN OR NOT, WHICH VERY OFFENSIVE TO I >> I HAVE CONSTITUENTS THAT I HAVE A DUTY TO REPRESENT AND THEIR TAXPAYERS AND THIS MONEY IS GOING TO BE RAISED AT THEIR COST.

>> REPUBLICANS ARE, HOWEVER, ON BOARD WITH THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE THE ONE PERCENT TAX ON GROCERIES.

THAT SAID THAT'S MONEY THAT DOESN'T GO TO THE STATE.

SO ESSENTIALLY THAT'S A CUT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT OTHERWISE DEPEND ON PROPERTY TAXES.

US BACK TO YOU.