Illinois’ two-year budget impasse is over. The House of Representatives on Thursday overrode the governor's budget veto, giving final approval to a spending plan and tax increase.
After two years of stalemate, more than a dozen Republicans broke with Gov. Bruce Rauner.
They joined Democrats to pass a $5-billion dollar tax increase.
The governor had been holding out for his business-friendly agenda, but some Republicans, like Rep. David Harris, from Arlington Heights, say time’s up.
“We are looking into an abyss — a financial abyss," Harris told his colleagues. "The state is imploding financially."
Illinois isn’t out of danger yet — the state’s racked up $15 billion in unpaid bills.
Lawmakers say their budget is just the beginning of what will be a long recovery.
