By Greg Bishop/Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Bruce Rauner met with most of the legislative leaders, but not House Speaker Michael Madigan, Tuesday morning, with another meeting expected later in the day to work on a deal for a balanced budget and reforms to grow the economy.

Sen. President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said there will be another meeting later in the day after he met with leading Republicans and Gov. Bruce Rauner. Cullerton said they exchanged proposals on several issues.

“Which we did in the area of worker’s’ comp and consolidation of government and pensions and so we’re going to come back later today, hopefully, if we can get our schedules worked out, ” Cullerton said.

The leaders did not meet later on Tuesday.

Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, was absent from Tuesday morning’s meeting. A Madigan spokesman said a scheduling conflict kept the Speaker from attending. Leading Republican Sen. Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, said Madigan’s absence speaks for itself.

Leading Republican Rep. Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, said things can get done when everyone is engaged.

“When we meet we can get some things accomplished. We met yesterday and I think we made some progress. It’s disappointing that the Speaker did not meet with us this morning. Hopefully we can reconvene this afternoon, and we can keep ongoing with the issues,” Durkin said.

The current stopgap spending measure expires at the end of December.