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Senate Budget Negotiators: We Have No Plan B — Yet

Sen. Heather Steans, a Democrat from Chicago, debates legislation on May 10, 2017.
Brian Mackey
/
NPR Illinois
Sen. Heather Steans, a Democrat from Chicago, debates legislation on May 10, 2017.

Both the Illinois House and Senate return to work in Springfield today. Just over two weeks remain before the annual legislative session is scheduled to end.

Brian Mackey reports on the status of budget negotiations heading into the final scheduled weeks of the spring legislative session.

After 22 months without a budget, all eyes have been on the state Senate. But after another failed attempt to vote on the "grand bargain” last week, it’s reasonable to ask if anyone is thinking about plan B.

The answer from Senate budget negotiators is: not yet. Each says they're still trying to make a comprehensive deal both sides can live with.

“We are focused on getting an agreement on a budget that has cuts in it, that is balanced, that has reforms,” says Sen. Dale Righter, a Republican from Mattoon.

Sen. Heather Steans, a Democrat from Chicago, say they're still negotiating: “I’m remaining really optimistic that we’re actually going to get some Republicans to yes, and thats certainly my hope."

That would mean Democrats satisfying Gov. Bruce Rauner’s business and political agenda, and Republicans agreeing on a series of tax hikes to begin stabilizing state finances.

Copyright 2017 NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS

Brian Mackey formerly reported on state government and politics for NPR Illinois and a dozen other public radio stations across the state. Before that, he was A&E editor at The State Journal-Register and Statehouse bureau chief for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.
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