Cullerton questions GOP candidate Brady on budget plan

[February 23, 2010]  CHICAGO -- Illinois Senate President John Cullerton is challenging Bill Brady, Republican candidate for governor, to present his own budget plan as the state struggles with a whopping deficit.

Cullerton on Monday said he doubted Brady's suggestion that he could fix the state's finances without an income tax increase.

Cullerton says the state senator from Bloomington should detail his plans to cut the budget and fix the deficit ahead of the November election.

Brady has said the state doesn't need an income tax increase.

Cullerton's Senate has already passed an income tax increase, but the idea went nowhere in the Illinois House. Gov. Pat Quinn has also proposed raising the income tax.

Brady leads state Sen. Kirk Dillard in the Republican race for governor, although the results haven't yet been finalized.

[Associated Press]

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