With top Illinois officials far apart on a budget deal, parents with children in school should be among those bracing for a possible state shutdown.
Democratic U-S Senator Dick Durbin - who's been in Congress through three major federal shutdowns - says allowing that to happen in Illinois would be "a disaster."
"If our state fails to reach an agreement on a budget - I'm told by August the 6th - a hundred schools districts, including the city of Chicago, will have to announce they're not going to open their classes on schedule. That is a disaster, which we cannot let happen in our state."
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Democratic legislative leaders remain at odds over how to balance the state's spending plan.
Durbin did not place blame on either side; but says they all have a responsibility to make the "politically difficult" choices.
