By Nick Gale, WLS-AM 890 News

(SPRINGFIELD, Ill.) — One state Republican senator broke ranks with his party to vote for a senate budget plan.

Republican State Sen. Dale Righter of Mattoon voted with Democrats in favor of the initial budget package. He says he did so because of input from his constituents, which includes Eastern Illinois University.

“In the last several days I’ve had a laundry list of phone conversations from people back home,” Righter said. “People who are Democrats. People who are Republicans. People who are Independents. The have reminded me of a point that I have been making in this building for the better part of three years that this state has to start balancing its budgets. That is the first and most important thing. Every dollar that we throw onto the backlog of bills is another dollar that the next generation has to pay for even though we got to spend it. That’s simply wrong. And that is the basis for which I supported this. Obviously I am elected and work for the people of the 55th senate district and that’s who made the call today.”

Also of note, two Democratic senators who broke from their part on the initial vote. Senators Tom Cullerton, D-Villa Park, and Julie Morrison, D-Deerfield, voted no on the revenue measure.

@ 2017 WLS News​