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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois House has approved a series of measures that would ban semi-automatic assault weapons in Illinois.

One amendment approved yesterday would make it a felony for anyone to possess a military-style assault weapon or to have large-capacity ammunition magazines.

Chicago Democratic Rep. Edward Acevedo says civilians shouldn't have these guns because they're made for "mass destruction."

The debate was part of a procedure House Speaker Michael Madigan set up to allow open discussion of contentious issues. The first was last week and he followed that one with another on pensions.

The amendments were approved with Democratic votes only.

Republicans refused to cast votes. GOP Rep. Dennis Reboletti of Elmhurst says Madigan's procedure puts politics before public safety.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to call today for additional cuts and more scrutiny of money that's automatically sent to local governments, public transportation and other programs as he presents his proposed budget.

The Chicago Democrat will propose slashing $400 million from education in the fiscal year that starts July 1. It also will pin the blame for the cuts on lawmakers' failure to fix the state's worst-in-the-nation pension problem.

The automatic fund transfers include more than $2 billion in spending that Quinn's aides describe as "on autopilot." The amount those programs receive is set in state statute. Trying to cut it is likely to cause a contentious debate.

Quinn's proposed budget also attempts to pay down $2 billion in unpaid bills.

St. Louis Aldermanic President Lewis Reed may be down, but he's not out. Although Reed lost the Democratic mayoral primary to three-time incumbent Mayor Francis Slay on Tuesday, he says it's still critical to focus on the city's future.

Reed says he's ready to get back to the work of moving the city forward and adds, don't count him out in four years.

"I can say absolutely, I want to run for Mayor, I think it's an important seat," Reed said. "If you take a look at the things that are plaguing us as a city that's the seat where you really truly have an opportunity to change the quality of life of people across the city."

Mayor Slay, meanwhile, will face Green Party candidate James McNeely in the general election on April 2nd. Slay is expected to win an historic fourth term.