The Illinois House on Thursday approved a slew of tax increases and the legalization of video poker to pay for a $29 billion statewide construction plan, sending it to a governor who has sent signs it could become leverage next week during budget negotiations that include a major income tax hike.
Rookie Gov. Pat Quinn had made a program to rebuild roads, bridges, mass transit and schools a big priority, but now says he's not ready to sign it into law until he reviews the legislation. A day earlier, Quinn called on lawmakers to fix a state budget that's $11.6 billion out of whack before voting on a construction plan laden with goodies for lawmakers to bring home.
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--Chicago Tribune
