Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – On the eve of the Illinois General Assembly’s scheduled adjournment, Senate Democrats released their proposed $55 billion budget.

A vote is expected Saturday, said State Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago), a chief budget negotiator.

After parroting Gov. JB Pritzker’s promise of Wednesday to reject broad-based tax increases, Sims said, “We are trying to make sure that individuals pay their fair share and that corporations who are most profitable also pay their fair share.”

Sims added the budget generates a new $1 billion “in the areas of tax collections, for those who have not paid their taxes, and also those who make choices on their behaviors in terms of gaming and tobacco use and vape use, and things like that.”

Anticipating Republican blowback over the record $55 billion total, Sims pointed to the financial picture coming from the federal government, adding, “We are not running away from our responsibility. We are running towards it.”

Later in the evening, State Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) denounced a $7,000 legislative pay raise in the budget as being “out of touch.”