By Greg Bishop/Illinois Radio Network
The scheduled House session for June 8 was canceled this week while working groups continue to meet behind closed doors to hash out a balanced budget.
Lawmakers failed to pass a budget last week as the legislative session came to a close. House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, said lawmakers would meet every Wednesday through June. But a message to lawmakers early Tuesday said this week’s session is canceled so working groups can continue working uninterrupted.
Last week, state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, urged Gov. Bruce Rauner to call lawmakers back to Springfield. Franks criticized the working groups.
“I don’t believe that our government ought to be carried out in secret meetings with people meeting behind closed doors scheming to raise our taxes. I think that’s wrong,” Franks said. “I keep hearing about a grand compromise that’s going to raise our taxes $5.4 billion. We ought to be talking about that in the open, not behind closed doors.”
Franks said what he sees from both sides is 100 percent political gamesmanship.
“No leadership, nothing about policy,” Franks said. ”It’s all about politics.”
Rauner has not yet committed to calling a special session but has said he’s working to negotiate with Madigan to find more days lawmakers can come to Springfield for a budget deal.
House Clerk Tim Mapes said Madigan is hopeful that working groups continue making progress as they have over the past few weeks.
Session ended May 31 without a budget. The next fiscal year begins July 1.
