Rauner considering special session

Posted on June 12, 2017
Bruce Rauner
Gov. Bruce Rauner told reporters if lawmakers don’t make progress on a budget soon, he may call for a special session. (Photo courtesy Facebook/Bruce Rauner)

By Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – If there’s no progress on putting together a balanced budget soon, Gov. Bruce Rauner said he may be forced to call a special session.

“I’ve said (to lawmakers), come back to Springfield with me and let’s get a balanced budget done,” Rauner said. “So far they are resisting, if they keep resisting I might have to resort to calling a special session. We’ve got to get this done”

Rauner has resisted similar calls from lawmakers in the past saying it would be a waste of time. Last year he considered paying for a special session out of his own pocket, but one was never called.

“Right now, I’m talking with the members of the General Assembly,” Rauner told reporters. “We had our chiefs of staffs meetings, if they don’t come back pretty quickly, we are going to have to look at a special session.”

Last week’s meetings among various chiefs of staff didn’t report any progress to solve the state’s budget impasse now 23 months in and if there’s no budget by July 1 the state faces junk grade credit status.

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