By Greg Bishop/Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate’s so-called grand bargain engine started up briefly Wednesday but then sputtered to a halt after Republican leadership said it’s not ready yet.

The package of 12 bills that are linked together includes several tax increases, pension reform, procurement reform and a property tax freeze, among other issues. If one bill fails, the entire package fails.

The package is heralded by some to be what will end the state’s 22-month-long budget impasse. Critics say the tax increases are too great and the economic reforms are too weak. Senators started voting on the measures earlier this year but stopped when Republicans said the package wasn’t ready.

Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said Wednesday it’s time to move forward.

“Kind of like what happened in my family when I grew up as the oldest of nine kids, we had one bathroom and at some point you’ve got to do your business or you don’t, and it’s time to move on because somebody else needs the room,” Cullerton said. “So we have to move on.”

But Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, said there are still some things that aren’t ready.

“The property tax issue is still a sticky point,” Radognoe said. “I agree with that, but property taxes are extraordinarily important to every single one of our constituents and getting a property tax freeze that works and is meaningful to them is a critical part to that.”

Radogno said the revenue bill is also sticky and not yet done. She said a budget meeting is expected to be held Thursday.

It’s unclear if and when the remaining measures in the package would be called for vote.

Gov. Bruce Rauner has said the property tax freeze needs to be permanent and whatever the economic reforms are, such as workers compensation, it needs to be significant enough to bring about economic growth.

The Senate is back in session Thursday.