WEBSITE WHICH IS WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>>> AND NOW TO PARIS FOR THE LATEST.

PARIS?

>> WITH SO MUCH GOING ON IN THE CHICAGO MAYORAL RACE THERE IS A LOT HAPPENING AT THE STATE LEVEL, TOO.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER OUTLINES HIS VISION FOR THE STATE TOMORROW IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE AND BUDGET ADDRESS.

WE HAVE AN EARLY PREVIEW.

SO AMANDA, WHAT IS THE SITUATION RIGHT NOW?

>> Reporter: YEAH, PARIS.

ILLINOIS DID NOT HAVE THE BEST FISCAL REPUTATION.

WHO CAN FORGET THE NEVER-ENDING BUDGET IMPASSE?

ILLINOIS RACKED UP $440 BILLION IN LONG-TERM PENSION DEBT.

BUT COMPTROLLER SUSANNA MENDOZA SAYS THAT THINGS ARE GOING OKAY RIGHT NOW.

SHE SAYS THAT ILLINOIS HAS THE CREDIT UPGRADES TO PROVE THAT.

ILLINOIS IS ALSO UP-TO-DATE ON PAYING ITS BILLS.

>> WE ARE RIGHT ON TRACK.

WE HAVE CLOSE TO -- AS OF RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ONE $.06 MILLION IN OUR RAINY DAY FUND, UP FROM LESS THAN $16,000 WHEN I FIRST TOOK OFFICE.

>> Reporter: SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD, RIGHT?

MENDOZA WARNS THAT WHILE $1 MILLION MIGHT SOUND LIKE A LOT, THAT IS ONLY ENOUGH IN RESERVES TO COVER FIVE DAYS OF CURRENT STATE SPENDING.

FORECASTERS DO CALL FOR ILLINOIS TO HAVE SOME EXTRA MONEY TO PLAY WITH, AROUND $2 BILLION OVER THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

BUT MENDOZA SAYS THAT PRITZKER SHOULD PUT HALF OF THAT TOWARDS PENSIONS AND TOWARDS PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO THAT RAINY DAY FUND.

>> AS FOR THESE RAINY DAY APPROACHES, WHATEVER EXTRA MONEY IS THERE, WE NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT HOW WE SPEND IT.

I SUGGEST THAT THE BEST THING TO DO IS NOT TO CREATE NEW PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO REQUIRE YEAR-TO-YEAR ADDITIONAL SPENDING.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THAT IF THERE IS ANY , FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, LEFTOVER MONEY, THAT SHOULD BE PUT TOWARDS CURRENT STATE PROGRAMS THAT ARE PROVEN TO WORK, LIKE THE PROGRAM THAT HELPS LOW-INCOME COLLEGE STUDENTS.

>> SO WE HAVE A GOVERNOR HERE SAYING NO NEW PROGRAMS.

HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL FOLLOW SUIT?

>> Reporter: HONESTLY, PARIS , NOT VERY REALISTIC.

EVERY POLITICIAN WANTS TO LEAVE THEIR MARK, AND GOVERNOR PRITZKER IS NO EXCEPTION TO THAT.

IT IS ALL BUT CERTAIN THAT HE WILL INTRODUCE NEW PROGRAMS, BECAUSE HE TALKED ABOUT IT WHEN HE WAS INAUGURATED TO A SECOND TERM.

HE GOT BIG APPLAUSE WHEN HE SAID THAT HE WANTED TO START FREE TUITION FOR ALL LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME COLLEGE STUDENTS, AND HE WANTS TO OFFER PRESCHOOL TO ALL THREE AND FOUR-YEAR-OLDS.

REPUBLICANS ARE, IN THEORY, ON BOARD WITH EXPANDING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION , PARTICULARLY IN RURAL AREAS.

PARENTS AREN'T ABLE TO WORK BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT DAY CARES OR PRESCHOOLS THAT CAN TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN.

BUT SHE SAYS THAT WRITING A CHECK ALONE WILL NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE, BECAUSE IT IS A MATTER OF WORKFORCE AND REGULATIONS.

BUT YES.

MONEY IS AN ISSUE.

>> NOTHING IS FREE, SO THE INTENT SEEMS GOOD.

BUT HOW DO WE GET THERE?

THAT IS ALWAYS THE QUESTION.

>> Reporter: NOW PARIS, THERE ARE SURE TO BE MANY OTHER DEMANDS, INCLUDING FROM REPUBLICANS.

IN FACT, SOME SAY THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR A NEW FISCAL YEAR, AND THAT PRITZKER SHOULD IMMEDIATELY MOVE TO HELP OUT RESIDENTS WHO ARE DEALING WITH WHAT THEY CALL ELECTRIC BILL CRISIS.

WE HAVE COVERED THE ESCALATING UTILITY COSTS IN THE CHICAGO REGION , BUT IT IS EVEN BIGGER FOR CUSTOMERS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ILLINOIS, WHO ARE PAYING DOUBLE THEIR CURRENT PREMIUM ELECTRIC RATES.

>> LAST WEEK IN KINCAID, ILLINOIS, AND ENTIRE GROCERY STORE WENT OUT OF BUSINESS, OKAY?

THAT COMMUNITY IS WITHOUT A GROCERY STORE.

>> Reporter: REPUBLICANS BLAMING A NEW STATE LAW THAT AIMS TO MOVE ILLINOIS TOWARDS ALL-RENEWABLE ENERGY.

THEY SAY THAT THEY SUPPORT GREEN ENERGY, BUT ILLINOIS IS DOING TOO MUCH TOO FAST.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND BACKERS OF THE LAW SAY THAT THE LAW IS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE RISING UTILITY RATES, BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT, YES.

ELECTRIC COSTS ARE CERTAINLY GOING UP.

THE GOP SAYS THAT THEY WANT THE GOVERNOR TO PROMISE $200 MILLION IN RELIEF FOR DOWNSTATE RESIDENTS THAT COULD COME IN THE FORM OF FREE BAITS.

WE WILL FIND OUT