Springfield… State Representative Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) voted to move forward with a bi-partisan budget blueprint that reduces state spending and puts Illinois on the path to economic recovery.

“The days of spending beyond our means have come to an end.  I am pleased my colleagues on the other side of the aisle agree we need to work together to get our fiscal house in order.  The framework we passed today is very aggressive and many will be unhappy.  However, if we succeed, years of damage from program expansions and overspending will be repaired and fiscal stability will finally return to our state.”

Amendment #2 to House Resolution 706 establishes a limit on how much the Illinois General Assembly can spend on programs and services in FY13.   House lawmakers agreed to limit spending to $32.9 billion – that is less than last year and less than Governor Pat Quinn proposed back in February.  Secondly, the resolution set aside $1.5 billion to pay down old bills and will require a 25 percent cut in Medicaid spending.  It also fully funds the state’s obligated pension payment for FY13 which is $5.1 billion.

“With Republicans at the table, we will have a say in where the cuts occur and hopefully prevent some of the facility closures downstate.  The cuts must be fair and Chicago must share in the pain,” said Bost.  “Cutting programs and services that people rely on is never easy – but the reality is if we don’t cut now, our problems will only continue to get worse,” said Bost.