SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Latest on the Illinois Senate president’s call for House action on a budget (all times local):
2:15 p.m.
House Democrats will take another look at a Senate-approved spending plan next week as a way to end a two-year budget stalemate.
Steve Brown is spokesman for Chicago Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan. He says Democrats are ready to examine a variety of solutions when they answer Gov. Bruce Rauner’s call for a special legislative session beginning Wednesday.
Democratic Senate President John Cullerton of Chicago told The Associated Press Friday that House Republicans should step up and vote for the Senate fiscal plan. It includes a $5 billion tax increase balanced by $3 billion in spending cuts. Cullerton says it was negotiated with Senate Republicans and reflects the wishes Rauner laid out for a spending plan last winter. He says enough GOP votes would provide a margin able to overcome a Rauner veto.
Brown pointed out there wasn’t enough Democratic support for the proposal in May.
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1:30 p.m.
Illinois Senate President John Cullerton is urging the House to take action on the Senate-approved budget plan during next week’s special session.
The Chicago Democrat told The Associated Press Friday that Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s call to the Legislature to be in session the last 10 days of the fiscal year is not the best way to get a budget.
But he says the House can use the time to act. He says House Republicans should endorse a Senate budget Cullerton says reflects Rauner’s wishes. Its $5 billion tax increase is balanced by $3 billion in spending cuts.
Rauner and the Democratic-controlled General Assembly failed last month for the third year running to agree on spending. The result is a $6 billion deficit and a $15 billion pile of overdue bills.
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