SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois public schools would receive a $700 million increase to battle poverty under a budget plan proposed by the House majority leader.

Chicago Democrat Barbara Flynn Currie’s legislation was filed Tuesday afternoon. It includes more than $5 billion for K-12 education. It keeps funding at the same level as this year.

But it includes $700 million in “equity grant” funding. That presumably would take the place of school-aide formula revision. A formula fix was approved in the Senate, but has not been considered in the House.

The spending plan would force Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner to make cuts or face schools not opening. Last year, Rauner signed a separate education bill and vetoed the rest of the budget, creating a deadlock.

 

 

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.