Stand with STLPR

Federal funding for public media is at risk. Protect the reporting that informs and connects our community. Your sustaining donation will help keep STLPR strong, independent, and accountable to you—not to political winds.

Donate Now
© 2025 St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis Public Radio is a listener-supported service of the University of Missouri–St. Louis.
St. Louis Public Radio
Morning Edition
St. Louis Public Radio
Morning Edition
Next Up: 9:00 AM 1A
0:00
0:00
Morning Edition
St. Louis Public Radio
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Amid orders to cut funding for public media, here’s what you can do to help.

Widespread spending cut plan approved by Ill. House

The Illinois State Capitol.
(via Flickr/jglazer75)
The Illinois State Capitol.

Updated 1:56 p.m. with correction from The Associated Press on Medicaid percentage. 

Virtually all parts of state government would be forced to cut spending under a budget outline approved by the Illinois House.

The measure requires cutting Medicaid by $2.7 billion, or about 14 percent (percentage earlier read 25 percent, has been corrected). Spending on services from schools to prisons would fall by about $900 million.

The House approved it 91-16 on Thursday. Now it goes to the state Senate.

The measure calls for paying about $1.3 billion in overdue bills, or about 16 percent of the backlog.

It also increases the state's annual contribution to government retirement systems.

Democratic Rep. Greg Harris supports the plan but calls it "truly, truly unpleasant."

Send questions and comments about this story to feedback@stlpublicradio.org.

Support Local Journalism

St. Louis Public Radio is a non-profit, member-supported, public media organization. Help ensure this news service remains strong and accessible to all with your contribution today.