Two days before a Springfield special legislative session is scheduled to end, Illinois Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno announced she will resign Saturday.

New, Higher Taxes Added to Senate Proposal

Illinois residents would pay a personal income tax rate of 4.99 percent under the latest incarnation of a bipartisan proposal proffered by Senate leaders. 

The Illinois Senate leaders join us to discuss their negotiations and fiscal plans for the state.

The Illinois State Capitol (Meagan Davis / Wikimedia Commons). Inset: Senate President John Cullerton, Republican Leader Christine Radogno.

After nearly two years of budget gridlock, spiraling deficits and political acrimony in Springfield, a grand bargain on the budget is coming together in the Illinois Senate.

Measure Called a 'Lifeline' for Social Services

State Republican leaders unveiled a $1.3 billion spending plan Thursday that they say will be a “lifeline” for social services and other programs that have struggled financially in the ongoing budget impasse.

Senate President John Cullerton and Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno discuss the budget standoff in Springfield.

Illinois Senate President John Cullerton is a key player in the state budget standoff. Yesterday, Gov. Rauner told reporters that the state would have a budget if it was up to him, Sen. Cullerton, and Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Today, what remained of the goodwill between Rauner and Democratic leaders seems to have evaporated. Paris Schutz has more.

State Sen. President John Cullerton and Minority Leader Christine Radogno discuss the Fall Veto Session and how they plan to work with Governor-elect Bruce Rauner.

The day of reckoning that wasn't. State Rep. Tom Cross and State Sen. Christine Radogno join us with insight into what went wrong with the governor's special session.

Paris Schutz speaks with Republican leaders one day before the special legislative session on pension reform.