Rauner's IL budget threatens hospitals, executives say

Shudders rippled through Illinois hospital and pharmacy industries earlier this week when Gov. Bruce Rauner proposed cuts to health care for the poor as part of his first budget for a financially shaky state. In his budget address Wednesday, the Republican governor said his proposed cuts to Medicaid, government worker pensions, state universities, mass transit and Illinois cities are "our last, best chance to get our house in order." Some observers and groups echoed that sense of urgency. Jeffrey Brown, a finance professor at the University of Illinois, lauded Rauner's budget speech for its "lack of pandering to the voter," giving him high marks for being honest about Illinois' financial problems.