SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Latest on legislative efforts in Illinois to seal a budget deal after the state started a third straight fiscal year without a spending plan (all times local):
4:20 p.m.
The House will vote Sunday on a revenue plan after all.
Speaker Michael Madigan issued a statement saying he was “encouraged by the progress we continue to make.” He said there would be a vote on the House floor Sunday on a plan “modeled on the bill supported” by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Earlier Saturday, Madigan rankled Republicans when he announced that there would be no votes on a deal to end a two-year stalemate this weekend. House GOP members accused the Chicago Democrat of “slowing down” the process for political advantage.
Madigan issued his statement as Senate Democrats appeared before reporters to explain that negotiations were delicate but progressing and defending Madigan’s approach.
Illinois has been without a budget for two years because of disagreements between Madigan and other Democrats and Rauner. Saturday marked the third fiscal year in a row Illinois has begun without a budget agreement.
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1 p.m.
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan says negotiations on a budget deal are ongoing, but that no votes will be taken over the weekend.
The Chicago Democrat appeared briefly on the House floor Saturday to say legislative leaders would meet again. The state is starting its third straight fiscal year without a budget.
Republicans stood and chanted in objection. One GOP member shouted “Speaker Junk” as Madigan left the floor. That’s a reference to the promised downgrade of Illinois creditworthiness by bond houses if there’s no budget deal. Madigan wrote the major agencies Friday asking for more time to seal a deal.
A $36.5 billion plan to rebuild Illinois’ crumbling finances passed a critical test on Friday, but a final deal hasn’t been reached. Without a budget, the state comptroller will be unable to cover basic services ordered by courts and road construction and Powerball ticket sales could halt.
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12:15 a.m.
Illinois lawmakers are returning to work Saturday after missing a key deadline to prevent the state from starting an unprecedented third consecutive fiscal year without a budget.
That means the state is entering dangerous territory.
A $36.5 million plan to rebuild Illinois’ crumbling finances passed a critical test Friday, but no deal was reached before a midnight deadline.
Without a budget, the state comptroller will be unable to cover basic services ordered by courts, road construction and Powerball ticket sales could halt, and the state’s credit rating could be downgraded to “junk.”
The fiscal morass is the longest of any state since at least the Great Depression, with Illinois ringing up a $6.2 billion annual deficit and a $14.7 billion stack of past-due bills.
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