By Greg Bishop/Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois’ leading statehouse Democrats differ on the way forward to find a balanced budget with reforms to grow the economy.
Republican leaders said stopgaps aren’t successful or balanced, and that their Democrat counterparts were sending mixed signals.
After Monday’s meeting between top statehouse Democrats, top Republicans, and Gov. Bruce Rauner, Senate President John Cullerton said there is some movement on workers compensation and pension reform.
“We have an understanding of the topics and the process that we need to go through, and we’re going to come back with suggestions, and I assume that would be like the normal give-and-take you have with negotiations over pieces of legislation,” he said.
Speaker Michael Madigan had a different tone, saying he’s pushing for another stopgap budget.
“I think it’s helpful in any activity that you model yourself after successful activities. So, if something works, why not do it again?” Madigan said.
Leading Republican Sen. Christine Radogno said anything short of a full balanced budget isn’t successful.
“There has not been a successful budget. I wish someone would ask him what are the seven successful budgets is he’s talking about?” Radogno said.
When asked if he’s talking about more deficit spending, Madigan only offered,“It’s within the wherewithal of the participants in this process to have a balanced budget.”
Leading Republican state Rep. Jim Durkin said he’s heard rank-and-file Democrats urging for some closure. ”They want to bring this to a conclusion. They want a full year budget. They don’t want to go down this process of having a piecemeal approach.”
Another meeting is expected Tuesday morning.
A stopgap spending bill expires at the end of December.
