Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner says he's urged Republican state senators to keep negotiating for a budget compromise that's ``a good deal for taxpayers.''
The Illinois Senate has been working for months to pass a so-called ``grand bargain'' that could resolve a nearly two-year state budget impasse.
After a deal fell apart last week, Democratic Senate President John Cullerton blamed the Republican governor for sabotaging it. He says Rauner peeled off GOP votes that had been lined up to support an income tax increase, property tax freeze and other measures.
Rauner said Tuesday that he didn't ``tell them to turn away.''
He says he told lawmakers any deal should include more spending cuts. Rauner also says if an income tax hike is permanent, a property tax freeze should also be permanent.
