The consequences of Illinois lawmakers' epic failure to approve a state budget continue to pile up, while neither side in the yearlong political battle appears willing to budge. Business leaders warned that lack of action on a budget will jeopardize nearly $2 billion in road and bridge construction - and many jobs - this summer.
A major credit rating agency lowered Illinois' already worst-in-the-nation rating to two levels above "junk" status, increasing the cost to taxpayers of state borrowing.Schools are at risk of not opening this fall. And Comptroller Leslie Munger warned that some approved spending will stop come July 1, including payments to some lottery winners and 911 call centers.
Meanwhile, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats who run the Legislature continue to blame each other.
