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Gov. Rauner Defends Freezing Social Service Grants, Says Some Could Be Reissued

BEDFORD PARK, Ill. (CBS) -- Governor Rauner says some of the millions of dollars in state grants to social service agencies that he froze on Friday may begin flowing again.

But agencies that counsel drug addicts, the homeless, autistic people and others may need a little patience as the Rauner administration reviews the state's budget that's over a billion dollars short - for the period just until the end of June.

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"So what I'll do is just stop things, freeze it where we are today and then bring some thoughtful discipline to it and then free up the money and go back and reauthorize some grants, start spending a little bit more again but do it on a more thoughtful basis," Rauner said.

The Republican says his management team is reviewing the grants and some could be reissued in days, others in a couple of months.

As far as borrowing money to fix the problem, the governor says that's only appropriate for long-term projects.

Without changes to the state's pension plan, he says more cuts will be needed.

Governor Rauner spoke to reporters and outlined some of his reform proposals after touring North American Warehousing Company in Bedford Park.

He has four bills that he's put together to change laws on workers compensation, property taxes, state pensions and government ethics.

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