About a dozen Illinois newspapers are using their front pages to send a blunt message to the state's political leaders to end the state's year-old budget stalemate. Newspapers in Peoria, Springfield, Chicago and elsewhere published the simultaneous editorials today as lawmakers return to the Capitol to debate budget proposals.
The Southern Illinoisan in Carbondale directed Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic leaders to "Do Your Job." Others joined with similar editorials on their opinion pages.
Newspapers rarely print opinion pieces on front pages or coordinate opinions. Rosanne Cheeseman is interim publisher of The State Journal-Register in Springfield, which coordinated the effort. She said newspapers are taking the step because lawmakers appear to have stopped listening.
Though Rauner and Democratic leaders are negotiating, Illinois could enter its second year without a budget Friday.
