There's just one week left until lawmakers in Springfield go on a two-week spring break, and leaders from both parties say they want to use this week to close the budget holes left in this year's budget.
But since state-run programs began running out of money two months ago, both parties have been fighting over where that money should come from.
When the General Assembly passed this year's budget last spring, lawmakers were relying on the assumption that Democratic Governor Pat Quinn would be reelected, and the income tax rate would stay where it was.
Instead, Republican Bruce Rauner defeated Quinn and the tax decreased by 25%. That left a $2 billion-dollar hole in the budget for the rest of the year.
Programs like subsidized daycare, prison guard salaries and pay for court reporters has begun running dry, months before the new fiscal year begins on July first.
Speaking with reporters in Decatur, the governor joked that democracy is slow when it comes to the legislature deciding which money should be reallocated to these programs.
"In business, obviously we would have had the budget issue addressed probably six weeks ago, the General Assembly has different opinions on what's nonessential and what is essential. They're working that through now; I believe we're very close on that."
Lawmakers are deciding what funds to borrow money from, a relatively common practice.
But Rauner wants to sweep the cash and not pay it back, saying these funds are a place to hide money in government.
