Lawmakers back in Springfield as budget fight stretches on

Illinois lawmakers will be back in Springfield, but little progress is expected as Democrats and Republicans remain deeply divided over a new state budget.

“I think the speaker wants pressure”. “The reality is if it were just our office working with President Cullerton or Mayor Emanuel or certain members of the General Assembly in both parties, we would have this done”. He said he couldn’t answer whether the raises will take effect even though there was no action to nix them.

Madigan continued to say the budget deficit is the No. 1 problem for the state, and he called Rauner’s priorities “non-budgetary items” and “diversionary”.

Responding to a reporter’s question about a budget being the product of negotiation between Rauner and top Democrats, Madigan took issue with the underlying assumption.

Governor Bruce Rauner is in the political dogfight of the year, trying to rescue Illinois from its economic decline under the state’s Democratic-public union machine.

“He could have presented this legislation months ago”.

“It’s all integrated and we’ve got to have reforms first as part of the budgeting process”, he said.

“It may sound like common sense on the surface, but when you’re injured on the job, and you’re hurt for the rest of your life, how do you put a number on that?” she said. “After we’re out of session?”

Bertino-Tarrant disagrees with Rauner’s idea for workers’ compensation reform, which could severely limit the amount that can be paid out to injured workers.