The Latest: Senate Dems trim list of services to be taxed

Senate Democrats are paring back on the services that would be subject for the first time to the Illinois sales tax.

The Revenue Committee discussed changes Tuesday to a revenue measure that's not been called on the Senate floor.

Heavy lobbying has convinced the Senate to remove landscaping and home maintenance and personal services except for tattooing and piercing.

The plan still includes a 32 percent increase in the personal income tax rate.

House Democrats have proposed a plan to subsidize higher education costs for college students who choose to stay in Illinois.

Senate Democrats are proposing a backup state budget plan that doesn't cut some vital areas as much as a proposal that narrowly won approval last week.

The Democratic senator from Chicago says it still includes steep spending reductions but forgoes a previous $400 million cut to Medicaid.

Democratic Senate President John Cullerton of Chicago made workers' comp part of the attempted compromise he hatched with Republican Leader Christine Radogno (ruh-DOHN'-yoh) of Lemont (lih-MAHT') last winter.