Dive Summary:

• Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn will unveil a new budget proposal Wednesday with an expected 3%, or $278 million, cut to K-12 education in the state.
• The cut, which Quinn blames on the state's rising pension costs for government workers, are the third straight significant annual reduction to education funding in the state.
• The budget proposal also calls for overall cuts in higher education funding, but Quinn's administration says he wants to maintain early education and college grant program spending.

From the article:

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to call for spending nearly 3 percent less on education as he unveils a new budget proposal Wednesday, a move he blames squarely on the state's increasing government worker pension costs. ...