By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The state’s $53.1 billion dollar budget is now law. Gov. JB Pritzker signed it in Chicago Wednesday morning.

In the week since lawmakers passed the budget, there’s been talk about how – especially as described by State Rep Fred Crespo (D-Hoffman Estates) – there should have been cuts. Comptroller Susana Mendoza voiced that sentiment in at least one interview since.

Gov Pritzker has a response: “Across-the-board budget cuts – this idea is not an idea that Democrats believe in. Cut five percent of the budget and not have a very deleterious effect on people all across the state,” he told reporters in a question-and-answer after the bill signing. “I’m willing to talk with anybody about good ideas for how to tighten up our budget to make sure we’re being efficient, spending money well and making cuts. Happy to talk about all of that. But you have got to have specific ideas.”

And Pritzker says Crespo never shared his view with him in the almost four months since the governor’s budget speech.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].