By Eric Stock

GIBSON CITY – Illinois’ current stop-gap budget expires in a few weeks and a Central Illinois lawmaker is appalled by what he considers a lack of urgency.

State Rep. Tom Bennett, R-Gibson City, was one of those who questioned the lack of effort to get a budget bill passed for the first time in over a year and a balanced budget for the first time in over a decade.

“We should not be leaving Springfield without a comprehensive budget in place,” Bennett said. “”For months, working groups have been working together to put an agreement together and now the compromise they have reached should be put into some kind of budget deal.”

Lawmakers’ major achievement of the recently closed session was passing a clean energy bill that will keep Exelon from closing its nuclear plants at Clinton and the Quad Cities.

“During this last week of the veto session, we saw a frenzy of activity to put together a comprehensive energy bill,” Bennett said. “I only wish we could have seen that kind of urgency toward a budget agreement that all of Illinois needs.”

Lawmakers have been told they could be called back to Springfield this weekend if the legislative leaders come to an agreement.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].