The Illinois Senate has moved forward on pieces of a budget compromise. But the tough votes are scheduled for Wednesday. The Senate approved non-contentious parts of what's called the "grand bargain'' on Tuesday. It's an effort to find a breakthrough on a two-year stalemate between Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Legislature.

University of Illinois leaders are backing proposed legislation that would tie levels of state funding with performance metrics like awarding financial aid, graduation rates, and holding down tuition costs. President Tim Killeen says the 5-year pact would guarantee ‘baseline’ state funding would increase by the rate of inflation during each remaining year.

This fall marks the first time Democrat Scott Bennett has campaigned for his Illinois Senate seat. The former prosecutor, who was appointed to the seat, faces Republican Urbana Alderman Mike Madigan on November 8. He says Governor Bruce Rauner needs to make more concessions from his 'Turnaround Agenda' as budget negotiations continue.

The Republican who shares a name with Illinois' longtime Democratic House Speaker is touting a number of Governor Bruce Rauner's business reforms as challenges Democrat Scott Bennett in Illinois' 52nd District. "The Other Mike Madigan" is an Urbana Alderman and restaurant owner who says solutions to Illinois' budget woes start with serious tax reform, and reductions in government spending.

52nd District Senate incumbent Democrat Scott Bennett of Champaign and Republican challenger Mike Madigan found a few areas to agree on during Wednesday's candidate forum in Champaign, but Madigan also endorsed a number of business reforms touted by Governor Bruce Rauner in recent months. The two also looked at where they would make cuts in government operations, and where they stand on pensions.