The Illinois Senate briefly opened its spring legislative session Wednesday.
Senator Dave Luechtefeld says they dealt with a couple of resolutions and clean-up bills, then Senate President John Cullerton called off Thursday's session and sent everyone home. The House won't meet until January 27th.
Luechtefeld says it's likely there will be no substantive budget talks until after the March Primary Election. He says there is even talk of not dealing with a budget until after the November General Election. The Okawville Republican says this is another example of political gamesmanship.
"So much about what happens in Springfield is about votes. It's about how you get elected and how you stay in power. That's sad, but that's much of what happens in Springfield is how do we stay in power and how do we get power?"
Luechtefeld says if there is no budget until after the General Election, lawmakers could work on a two-year budget.
Luechtefeld doesn't have to worry about winning over voters any longer. He announced last year that he would not seek re-election.
Luechtefeld says higher education advocates pointed out colleges and universities are one of the last areas not receiving any state funding due to the stalemate. Governor Rauner reportedly took a shot at institutions for - among other things - raising more than a billion dollars in new revenue though tuition hikes in the past 14 years.
But, Luechtefeld says it's the state's fault for much of the tuition increases.
"The reason tuition has gone up is the fact that the state is paying less and less of the bill. Of course, the universities have to have a way to make up that difference. Of course that sometimes keeps people from going on to a four-year institution."
Luechtefeld says there were discussions Wednesday that the Senate Democrats were going put forth a bill to pay for MAP grants and some other higher education costs. But, the Okawville Republican says he thinks the leadership backed off on that because the House was not in session.
Both chambers are due back on January 27th, when the governor delivers his State of the State address.
