The Illinois Senate left Springfield Thursday without voting on a bipartisan effort to end Illinois' budget stalemate. But hope springs eternal.
The so-called grand bargain — devised earlier this month by the Senate's top leadership — was like a chili recipe where the cooks keep swapping ingredients. The latest version would increase the income tax by one-and-a-quarter percentage points, and further decrease government pensions.
It would also fully fund Illinois government for the first time since 2015.
Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno says it’s not soup yet, but they’re staying in the kitchen.
"That is by no means a statement that we are backing off this effort," Radogno said. Senate President John Cullerton, a Democrat, told his colleagues: When session resumes next month, come back ready to vote.
"The problems we face are not going to disappear," Cullerton said. "In fact, they're going to get more difficult every day."
A variety of interests are marshaling against the plan, from big business to big labor.
During his State of the State address Wednesday, Gov. Bruce Rauner praised the effort, but did not say whether he supported any of the specifics.
