By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – State Senator Bill Brady wants lawmakers to return to Springfield to try to come up with a budget after another missed deadline, but he doesn’t want Gov. Bruce Rauner to call for a special session.

PODCAST: Listen to Scott and Patti’s interview with Brady on WJBC.

“Because the legislature failed to do its job, (House Speaker) Mike Madigan and (Senate President) John Cullerton should call us back at our own expense and force us as leaders of their chambers to sit down and pass a package that rebuilds this state and that includes a balanced budget,” Brady said.

The Bloomington Republican told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin and Patti Penn the state would have to pay for lawmakers travel, housing and meals if a special session was called. He said that’s not necessary to continue budget talks.

“One of the reasons is (Rauner) thinks it’s the legislature’s authority to do their job,” Brady said. “If he calls a special session there are per diem checks that are issued. It shouldn’t be the taxpayers responsibility for the legislature to do its job.”

Brady added if Democrats had agreed to a longer-term property tax freeze, the Grand Bargain might have succeeded and he said it still might before the next budget year begins July 1.

The state missed another budget deadline last week and is in danger of beginning a third straight year without a complete spending plan.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].