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Illinois House Session Cancelled to Further Budget Talks

People
Chicago Tribune
Gov.. Bruce Rauner (left) and House Speaker Mike Madigan (right)

The Illinois House was supposed to be back in Springfield Wednesday. Not anymore.

Here's what House Speaker Michael Madigan said *last* week, just before it became clear that a budget wasn't going to pass by an end-of-May deadline.

"The House will be in continuous session. We will be here every Wednesday through June, starting next week."

Now, he's released a memo saying the first week, at least, is cancelled.

Madigan says bipartisan "working groups" of legislators are still meeting about a budget, and there's no session given the need for those talks to "continue without interruption."

Gov. Bruce Rauner’s accusing Madigan of slow-walking a deal.

"We're at a critical point in the state of Illinois. We have no budget. We have a General Assembly that ended the spring session and went home and has not come back. One way or another we're going to get the legislature back in town."

Rauner could call legislators back to Springfield for a special session, but he hasn't done it. 

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