Illinois

Gov. Blagojevich asked for lawmakers’ support in making brick-and-mortar improvements to schools, proposing a $25 billion capital-spending bill for fiscal 2009, which includes $3.8 billion for school construction in a state that has a total budget of about $58 billion. The capitalspending money would be generated by leasing 20 percent of the Illinois state lottery, while retaining 80 percent ownership, a spokeswoman for the governor said. The governor, who has had rocky relations with legislative leaders recently, also said he would support a $300- per-child tax credit for families and tax cuts for businesses. He will ask for a 3 percent cut across the board in state spending—but excluded education, health care, and public...

By Sean Cavanagh