Illinois Democrats in a standoff with Gov. Bruce Rauner and other Republicans say they're working to pass a new state budget independently of the GOP - while acknowledging the move comes with political risk.
Senate President John Cullerton says the budget is still taking shape and it's unclear when Democrats will present it. He says Rauner left them no choice because he presented a budget that wasn't balanced.
Rauner has proposed a $31.5 billion budget that fills a roughly $6 billion revenue gap by slashing spending. The governor has said he's open to finding new revenue if he gets a set of pro-business reforms passed. But Democratic lawmakers remain largely opposed to that agenda.
House appropriations chairs say Democrats' budget includes cuts but aims to not hurt the most vulnerable.
