Senate GOP Leader Expects Short-Term Budget Deal By End Of The Month
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A top Republican lawmaker said it's likely the Illinois General Assembly will reach an agreement on a stopgap budget deal soon, but long-term solutions might take a while.
Headlines have been dominated by the sharp rhetoric between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, after the spring legislative session ended without a spending plan for the next fiscal year.
With no state budget in place, public schools won't be getting state funding unless lawmakers work out a deal, and the Chicago Public Schools have warned schools won't open in fall without funding from the state.
Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno said she's hopeful there can be real movement on budget issues within a legislative working group, where Democrats and Republicans have been working calmly and quietly.
"One of the great things to come out of the working group is that members on both sides are a little more open to hear the message, and understand the other side's point of view. So, again, we're lifted away from that rhetoric that's so hot; where people sit at a table and really, genuinely understand the issues. So if we're going to solve this, it's critical that rank-and-file legislators understand how this is going on; the nuances of workers' compensation, what the collective bargaining issues are," she said.
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Radogno said she believes lawmakers will be able to settle on a short-term budget plan before the end of the month. The new fiscal year starts July 1, and the state has been operating without a full budget for 11 months.
However, Radogno said she doesn't expect any movement on a full state budget before the November elections, because Republicans and Democrats will have to agree to things their respective constituencies might not like.
Radogno said she doesn't expect Democrats to agree to Rauner's pro-business, anti-union "Turnaround Agenda" priorities before the November elections.
"There seems to be a willingness to do things that their constituents might not like after the election. By the same token, many Republicans are very, very opposed to the concept of looking at revenue; so there's things that need to be done, probably, on both sides that we're going to have to each look at how far we can go," she said.
Radogno is the guest on "At Issue" this weekend, and you can hear more of her thoughts Sunday night at 9:30 p.m.
