Public budget cut talks set

SPRINGFIELD – House Speaker Michael Madigan on Thursday announced 19 bipartisan hearings – including one in Urbana – to try to build support for an override of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's recent budget cuts.

"Illinoisans in every region of this state want to put a human face on Blagojevich's budget tactics," said a statement from Madigan, a Chicago Democrat. "The governor's savage cuts will have seriously adverse consequences for millions of Illinois residents. Legislators are furious at the idea of taxpayers in their districts being shortchanged, and they are offended at the prospects that the will of the General Assembly might be disregarded."

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