By AP/KWMU
Springfield, Ill. – Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich will testify before the State Senate today (Wednesday).
The Senate is meeting as a committee, a rare move called a Committee of the Whole.
It will discuss the governor's plan to revamp the state's education bureaucracy.
Blagojevich wants a new Education Department created under his control.
But the nine black Senators who are the Senate Black Caucus oppose the plan.
They are withholding support until the plan also reforms the school funding formula.
Blagojevich says reforming the funding formula is important, but restructuring the education system should come first.
The current State Board of Education would be gutted, under the governor's plan.
Blagojevich says his proposal could save taxpayers $1 billion that could be reinvested in education.
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley praised the plan on Tuesday and said it will bring accountability back into education.