Governor Bruce Rauner is expressing frustration at the lack of progress in Illinois budget negotiations with Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan. The Republican governor on Wednesday accused Madigan and fellow Democrats of ``playing games'' by purposefully stalling on talks.
“I believe that the supermajority in the legislature is using Chicago State and many other service providers in Illinois as leverage to force a massive tax hike. I believe that’s what’s going on and that’s wrong,” he said.
Madigan spokesman Steve Brown says Rauner's responsible for the gridlock for vetoing the budget lawmakers passed last year.
Rauner says wants to meet individually with Madigan but has not heard back. But the governor refused to say whether he personally had tried to call the Speaker.
Illinois hasn't had a budget since July 1 due to a clash between Rauner and Democrats who control the legislature. The impasse has led to cuts in social service programs and forced higher education institutions to lay off staff and, in the case of Chicago State University, to consider closing altogether. CSU has begun asking staff and students to turn in their keys.
