As Illinois continues without a budget for this fiscal year ... Governor Bruce Rauner yestrday tried to sell lawmakers on a plan for the future. However, the state's leading Democrats aren't buying.
Rauner laid out choices. His preferred one looks a lot like what he's been saying all along: legislators should adopt his controversial pro-business, union-weakening agenda. THEN he'll work to raise taxes that could stave off deep cuts.
Democrats have refused to go along, and House Speaker Michael Madigan says that hasn't changed
"That's his extreme right economic theory."
Rauner says in that event, he wants to be given the ability to whack the budget himself.
"It’s like he wants to be the CEO of Illinois."
Senate President John Cullerton, who says lawmakers won't give Rauner that authority. Cullerton estimates the governor’s plan is $3.5 billion out of balance.
