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Blagojevich Skeptical of Republican Cut Plan

Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich
(file photo)
Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich

By AP/KWMU

Springfield, Ill. – Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich says he has doubts about a proposal to let him start making across-the-board cuts to the state budget.

Senate Republicans say the governor should start making budget cuts as soon as possible, and are proposing legislation to give him the power to cut up to 5%. But the Democratic governor isn't so sure. "A five percent cut alone will not do it," says Blagojevich. "That is insufficient to get to where we have to go, then you have all of other issues if you do across the board, five percent cuts that create maybe more problems than they're worth."

Blagojevich says the deficit for this year and next is nearly $5 billion. Senate Republicans say it's about half that.

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