Illinois' top lawmakers say budget talks are on the verge of collapse with the deadline for next year's budget just four days away. Republican Governor Bruce Rauner is calling on rank-and-file legislators to pressure Democratic leaders.
He says House Speaker Michael Madigan is walking away from negotiations. But Madigan says the "working groups" of lawmakers trying to hash out an agreement on the governor’s controversial agenda *aren’t* working.
"The governor continues to fail to persuade in his own working groups, in part because he's introducing new ideas."
The governor this morning insisted he won't back down from pro-business plans. Legislators say they will continue to meet – formally and in small groups - over the weekend.
The legislative session is set to adjourn Tuesday. The only spending plan alive so far is one Democrats passed out of the House earlier this week, but which Rauner’s office has indicated he’ll veto.