The Illinois General Assembly passed a new budget while most residents were asleep or just waking up Saturday morning.
The $46.5 billion spending plan includes
· $1.8 billion in tax relief,
· $12 billion into education,
· $8.8 billion into human services,
· $1 billion into a “rainy day” fund
· and fully funds the state’s $9.6 billion annual pension payment.
In addition, the assembly passed a series of bills targeting crime including addressing carjacking, with a bill that allows law enforcement agencies to cooperate across jurisdictions or waiving traffic fines after a victim’s car is stolen; and making “ghost guns” or guns and gun kits without serial numbers illegal.