>>> ILLINOIS IS SET TO INVEST MORE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION IF GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER GETS HIS WAY.

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR OUTLINED HIS NEW BUDGET IN HIS MAJOR ANNUAL STATE OF THE STATE TODAY.

FOR SOME, THE PLAN DOESN'T DO ENOUGH.

OTHERS SAY IT'S BEEN TOO MUCH.

AMANDA VINDICATE JOINS US NOW FROM THE STATE CAPITAL.

AMANDA, GIVE US THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS BUDGET.

>> Reporter: PEREZ, GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER IS ACTUALLY IN A SOMEWHAT ENVIABLE POSITION.

SURE, ILLINOIS STILL HAS MONSTER PENSION DEBT AND THE COVERED GRANTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE TAPERING OFF, AND THEN, OF COURSE, YOU DO HAVE HIS OWN FORECASTERS PREDICTING AT LEAST A MILD RECESSION.

STILL, ILLINOIS IS ANTICIPATED TO GET ADDITIONAL REVENUE , WHICH MEANS PRITZKER'S GOT MONEY TO SPEND.

>> I'M CONFIDENT IN SAYING THE STATE OF OUR STATE IS STRONGER THAN IT HAS BEEN IN DECADES, AND WE'RE GETTING STRONGER EVERY DAY.

>> Reporter: NO LONGER IS THE SPENDING PLAN INCLUDE ELECTION-YEAR ONE-TIME TAX BREAKS LIKE A HOLIDAY ON THE GAS TAX AND INCOME TAX REBATES .

INSTEAD, FOR THIS NEXT YEAR, NEARLY $50 BILLION GENERAL FUND BUDGET PRITZKER IS PITCHING MORE INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION.

NOW, ESPECIALLY HIS NEW SIGNATURE PROGRAM THAT'S CALLED SMARTSTART, AND THAT IS A MULTIYEAR, MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH THAT INVESTS MORE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD , AND IN ITS FIRST YEAR, WOULD SEND 5000 MORE CHILDREN TO PRESCHOOL.

>> ENHANCING QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION IS A WIN-WIN SOLUTION FOR RE-MOBILIZING PARENTS IN THE WORKFORCE, ENHANCING BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND KINDERGARTEN READINESS, SAVING TAXPAYERS MONEY, AND INCREASING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY NOW AND IN THE DECADES AHEAD.

>> Reporter: STILL, THERE IS DISAPPOINTMENT ABOUT WHERE MONEY IS NOT GOING.

EMIGRANT RIGHTS GROUPS WANT MORE MONEY, AND ALSO GIVE THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION SAYING THAT AT LEAST 400 MILLION MORE DOLLARS SHOULD BE GOING TO K-12 SCHOOLS , INCLUDING TO CPS.

NOW, ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS SAYING THAT PRITZKER IS PROPOSING TO SPEND TOO MUCH WITHOUT MAKING ANY STRUCTURAL CHANGES LIKE THOSE THAT WOULD EASE PROPERTY TAXES.

>> I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN THERE THAT WE WOULD BE COMMITTING LONG-TERM SPENDING TO THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE THE REVENUE IN THE FUTURE TO FUND.

>> I THINK THE GOVERNOR REALLY PUT ON AN OVERLY ROSY DEMONSTRATION OF ILLINOIS.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING RESIDENTS LEAVE THE STATE.

WE'RE SEEING BUSINESSES, BECAUSE OF HIGH TAXES, CHOOSE TO LOCATE ELSEWHERE.

>> I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO REALLY FIND OURSELVES WITH CONCERNS THAT WE'RE SPENDING MORE THAN WE'RE BRINGING IN, AND I'M CONCERNED WE'RE GOING TO FIND OURSELVES SPRINGING OURSELVES INTO ANOTHER TAX INJURY.

>> Reporter: PRITZKER IS NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT THOSE CRITIQUES.

DEMOCRATS HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH VOTES IN THE LEGISLATURE TO PASS A BUDGET WITHOUT ANY GOP SUPPORT, AND TO WHIT, GOVERNOR PRITZKER WRAPPED UP HIS SPEECH, CALLING OUT WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS A AVIRULENT TRAIN OF NATIONALISM PLAGUING OUR NATION.

>> IS AN IDEOLOGICAL BATTLE BY THE RIGHT-WING HIDING BEHIND A CLAIM THAT THEY WOULD PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.

BUT WHO IS REAL INTENTION IS TO MARGINALIZE PEOPLE AND IDEAS THEY DON'T LIKE.

>> Reporter: AS FOR THE BUDGET, PRITZKER'S PITCH IS JUST THAT, A PITCH, AND THERE'S A WHOLE LOT MORE TO IT, SO BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR THOSE DETAILS.

PARIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> YOU HAVE NEARLY EVERY