Weekend Budget Talks Produce No Noticeable Progress

A weekend of meetings with Illinois’ top leaders brought the state no closer to a budget deal. 

A stopgap spending plan expires at the end of the month.

And yet House Speaker Michael Madigan the governor and legislative leaders didn’t talk about it at all on Saturday.  And at Sunday’s meeting, Madigan said discussion of the budget took place only “from 10:16 – 10:20 and from 11:15 – 11:25,” or a total of 14 minutes.

Madigan says Democrats and Rauner have reached compromises seven times before by dealing with the budget separate from any other issues.  He says that’s how they can pass a budget again.

Republicans have tied the budget to term limits and a hold on local property taxes.

“We are insisting on a balanced budget for the people of Illinois that has meaningful business reforms,” said House Minority Leader Jim Durkin. He says he believes Democrats are stalling.

Madigan says Democrats and Rauner have reached compromises seven times before by dealing with the budget separate from any other issues. He says that’s how they can pass a budget again.

As the partisan feud continues, Illinois is running up a deficit, with the state’s spending authority due to run out at the end of December.

Universities and social service organizations worry they’ll be left without funding.