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Group Discusses Alternate Illinois Budget Plan

CHICAGO (WBBM) -- A conservative watchdog group says there's a better way than Gov. Pat Quinn's proposed state budget.

As WBBM Newsradio 780 Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports, Illinois Policy Institute chief executive officer John Tillman says officials would need to cut $6 billion in spending to balance the state budget without raising taxes or borrowing.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780 Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports

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But the Illinois Policy Institute doesn't agree with all the proposed cuts.

The group opposes cutting $1 billion for elementary and secondary education, and more than $1 billion from human services – which means some programs would have to go.

"They total about $338 (million) or $348 million in total for all those line items," Tillman said. "What we recommend is reducing that to $150 million in total, and having those 300-plus entities competitively compete for a grant with a board that would make the decision to allocate scarce resources."

Some of the group's past proposals have been embraced by lawmakers, but Tillman knows this version of the state budget will not be implemented.

He said he just wants to spark a discussion.

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