Madigan Misses Thursday Meeting With Rauner, Other Legislative Leaders

Governor Bruce Rauner and the legislative leaders went half a year without all getting together.  They met Thursday, for the third time in as many weeks. But a major player was missing. 

The private meeting in the governor's office lasted an hour and 40 minutes.  Senate GOP Leader Christine Radogno says it was a good meeting.

"We are still talking about he same issues we've been talking about; we'll be digging in a little deeper on pensions and workers' comp," she said.  "We also talked about redistricting reform, term limits."

There's a caveat. House Speaker Michael Madigan wasn't there.  

"The fact is we're not going to move this along unless we're all are fully participating and actively invovled in these negotiations," said Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin.  "We're four of us, we had a good discussion.  But we're not going to get any further down the road unless we have everyone in this room."

Madigan's spokesman says the longtime Democratic leader had a "conflict in scheduling." He wouldn't specify what that conflict was. 

Gov. Rauner and Cullerton didn't comment after the meeting in Chicago.  Illinois has been operating without a spending plan since July 1.