With eight days left in the spring session of the General Assembly, the bitter battle over the Illinois budget continues. Gov. Bruce Rauner on Monday reiterated that he'd consider tax hikes if he gets his pro-business reforms.
“The question is, will the Democrats stand up and do the right thing together for reforms, despite the fear of retribution?” Rauner said. He was joined by business leaders and Republican legislative leaders, explained Springfield reporter Amanda Vinicky.
“They tried to say, ‘Stop framing this as a battle of wills, of Rauner versus House Speaker Michael Madigan,’” Vinicky said.
“They said that this is a battle for the soul, for the future of Illinois. It seemed as if they were trying to get out in front of the issue, if in fact there is no budget, trying to say, ‘Hey, don't blame us. This would be at the fault of House Speaker Michael Madigan.’”
Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin also joined Rauner's press conference.
Jim Durkin
“We’re eight days out. Illinois is not going to except another year without a budget. But I will say this: If we leave by the end of the month without a budget, it’s not because the Republicans – the governor, the Senate Republicans and House Republicans – are not willing to negotiate and compromise to find a solution. It’s not going to be on our hands, it’s going to be on the Democrats’ hands,” Durkin said.
Meanwhile, Madigan spoke recently at an anti-Rauner union rally in Springfield that drew an estimated crowd of 10,000.
“I don't think he and unions were ever friends,” said Vinicky as to whether Rauner is feeling any pressure from unions. “I don't think that anything that has happened this year – or that is going to happen – is going to change that. Rather, it will just be a matter of, is Rauner, after this long stalemate, what is he going to get out of it, and will it be enough to appease his business partners?”
While you don’t get a sense of urgency in Springfield, Vinicky said bipartisan groups are continuing to talk and the governor and many legislators say they’re “hopeful.”
“These are the topics that they have been discussion for more than a year now,” Vinicky said. “The governor is calling for ‘focus.’”
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