Illinois Senate Returns, Promises To Push Budget Deal

Springfield
The Illinois State Capitol in Springfield on May 31, 2016. Seth Perlman / Associated Press
Springfield
The Illinois State Capitol in Springfield on May 31, 2016. Seth Perlman / Associated Press

Illinois Senate Returns, Promises To Push Budget Deal

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Senate returns to Springfield along with a promise of continued work on a budget compromise.

The Senate is in session Tuesday. Democratic Senate President John Cullerton of Chicago and Republican Leader Christine Radogno of Lemont hoped to win an endorsement of their negotiated plan last month. But the wide-ranging proposal has enough pieces for everyone to dislike part of it.

The plan includes an increase in the income tax to deal with a multibillion-dollar deficit and worker boosts such as an increase in the minimum wage. Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s desires — cost-cutting changes to the workers’ compensation program and a freeze on local property taxes — are included too.

Lawmakers’ feud with Rauner has kept the state from approving a budget for nearly two years.