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Bost, Forby both have doubts about state budget proposals

BY BLACKWELL THOMAS, The Southern

Wednesday, February 20, 2008 1:57 PM CST

Governor Rod Blagojevich unveiled his proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year Wednesday.

In a 22 minute address to the general assembly Blagojevich highlighted some of the details in the proposed $58 billion spending plan, including an increase of $300 million in school funding and a $300 per-child tax credit which he estimates would apply to about 1.3 million families.

Unlike in years past where lawmakers were given a copy of the document a day in advance, the budget was kept under wraps until this morning, just hours before the governor’s address.

State Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, said that, in 14 years as a state representative, this is the latest he’s ever received a budget and that he was concerned that the move would send the wrong message.

“I was hoping for true leadership and we didn’t’ get it,” he said of the governor’s address. “Leadership would also have been saying here is my proposal and I am giving it to you now, a day or two in advance, so when we go to the press tomorrow, we’ve all looked at it and have begun the process of negotiation.”

Blagojevich has proposed a three percent spending across-the-board spending cut “in areas outside health care, education and public safety.”

State Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, said the three percent cut did not seem feasible.

“He’s talking about taking it out of all of our system; we are down to bear bones now,” he said.