By Greg Halbleib

State Senator Bill Brady says disagreement among lawmakers or a small percentage of issues derailed the budget process, but hopes those in Springfield remember the benefits of compromise.

Brady says working toward the deadline to put a stopgap spending plan into place helped bring lawmakers together.

“All in all, in 90 percent of the issues, we generally agree,” the Bloomington Republican told WJBC’s Patti Penn. “It’s some of the bigger issues that divide the special interests that create the problem. The division had grown so great that the legislature was falling apart, and I think this brought us a bit together.”

Brady says compromise is key and cites debate on unemployment insurance as an example.

“Business needs workers compensation reform and labor needs jobs,” Brady said. “So we need to draw the parallel that allows people to get together and give a little bit up of what they’ve been fighting for to get a little bit of what they’ve been fighting for.”

Brady says the time before lawmakers return to the veto sesion will be good for the remainder of the budget process.

“I think everyone needs to take a step back,” said Brady. “We’ve got some breathing room here, physically, emotionally and mentally, but we can’t allow this to happen again.”

PODCAST: Brady’s interview with WJBC’s Patti Penn here.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].