SPRINGFIELD – State Sen. Linda Holmes, D- Aurora, made the following statement following the passage of a full-year, balanced state budget:

“After more than two years, the state of Illinois finally has a balanced budget. The budget that we approved and sent to the governor’s desk today includes over $2.5 billion in responsible cuts. It also provides funding that will restore stability, which has been absent for more than two chaotic years, to state government. A full-year budget will allow social service providers, institutions of higher learning and government agencies to operate with more certainty. I call on Governor Rauner to stop the political games and sign the budget that we have approved.”