Illinois legislators will return to Springfield this week after a two-week break. There's some suggestion it was their last hiatus for a while.
Legislators are set to spend much of the next seven weeks in session. There's a lot to do: Gov. Bruce Rauner is pushing a massive agenda.
He wants to overhaul the workers' compensation system, and to give municipalities the ability to rein in labor unions. Plus, there's dealing with a $6 billion deficit.
According to the schedule, lawmakers have until the end of May to get their work done. Already, there's suggestion they'll blow past that deadline. Here's the governor talking about the budget on Wednesday:
"So by July - we'll really know ... my goal is by July we'll kinda now where we're at."
He walked back from that comment some the next day in Peoria
"Well, I'll walk on whatever timeframe the leaders of the General Assembly recommend. I've asked that we focus intensively now and try to get everything done by May 31."
Try just may be the key word.
