“Yesterday, the Illinois House passed legislation designed to plug a massive $1.6 billion hole in the current year budget,” said State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford). “No one likes the cuts contained in the legislation, and no one wants to make cuts like this, but the simple fact is that former Governor Pat Quinn and Democrat leaders passed an unbalanced budget last year that was based on extending the tax hike, but they never followed through to even take a vote on taxes. Now we have to take the difficult steps necessary so that daycares across the state can stay open, our court system doesn’t shut down, and our prison guards are paid.”