On ‘Grand Bargain,’ Senate Democrats Say They’ve Nothing Left To Concede
Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, speaks to reporters after the latest test vote on the 'grand bargain' failed to generate Republican support. Brian Mackey/NPR Illinois
There was another setback Wednesday for efforts to end Illinois' budget stalemate.
Senate Democrats attempted a series of test votes on items in the so-called “grand bargain.” But Republicans refused to go along, saying more negotiation is needed to reach a deal they can support.
Senate President John Cullerton says his Democrats have gone as far as they can go in meeting Governor Bruce Rauner’s non-budget demands.
He says Rauner and his team “don’t know how to govern.”
“At some point in time, you have to just agree: ‘OK, let’s make a deal,’" Cullerton said. “And you have to understand the other side and understand how far they can go. And what’s at stake here is a disaster, after the next 20 days, if we don’t have any revenue.”
The Senate Republican Leader, Christine Radogno, says she thinks negotiations should continue.
She says the two sides are close to an agreement on the remaining issues, which include freezing property taxes and changing the system through which people injured on the job are compensated.
Time is running out — this year’s legislative session is scheduled to end May 31st.
Links
- Domestic Violence Agencies Struggle As State Owes Millions; ‘Taxpayer Bargain’ Proposal
- Did Rauner ‘Pull Votes’ Off The Grand Bargain?
- With ‘Grand Bargain’ In Doubt, State Senators Go Home Until Tuesday
- Caterpillar Raid; ‘Grand Bargain’ Update; Flowers & Cold Weather; La Vida Baseball
- Senate GOP Says “Grand Bargain” Blocked; Dems Point To Rauner
- State Senate ‘Grand Bargain’ Begins To Move, But Toughest Votes Are Still Ahead
- Illinois Senate Makes Progress On ‘Grand Bargain’
- State Senators Could Vote On “Grand Bargain” Today
- Senate Leaders: Not Backing Off ‘Grand Bargain’