The stalemate that's embodied state politics of late continues -- there is still no Illinois budget for fiscal year 2016.
Now, that has consequences. Without a budget, Illinois doesn't have the authority to spend any money.
That means no paychecks for state employees, and vendors not getting paid -- something which could mean no services.
Diane Gedik, who is with Autism Speaks in Chicago, says a shutdown affects the support Illinois state government provides for her 20-year-old son with autism.
“I work here, I was born here, I pay my taxes here and I don’t want to have to move out of state to find a state that will service my son,” Gedik said.
Lawmakers are expected to debate a short-term budget fix today to avoid a shutdown, but it’s not clear if that plan has enough support. Democrats are looking to approve one that would cover basic needs, at least temporarily.
"I would refer to it as the potential for a proposal that would fund essential state services for the month of July and keep the lights on,” said Democratic Representative Lou Lang.
Rep. Jack Franks -- a Democrat from Marengo -- often doesn't stick with his party on fiscal issues, but he says he's going to this time.
"A vote against this is saying kids who are on ventilators will not get their treatment,” Franks said. “A vote against this is really saying that people are going to die."
But Gov. Bruce Rauner says a short-term plan is phony and unacceptable. It appears his fellow Republicans -- like Rep. Bill Mitchell, from Forsyth -- are sticking by him.
"An interim budget wouldn't be appropriate,” Mitchell said. “We ought to solve the problems."
Gov. Rauner has previously discarded the notion of a short-term budget. His top fiscal aide says talk of a shutdown is exaggerated.
Without Republican support, every Democratic member of the House would have to vote for a stop-gap budget in order for it to pass. Voting is scheduled to begin Wednesday.
- WUIS's Amanda Vinicky and WBEZ's Tony Arnold contributed to this report.
