Illinois Lawmakers Hold Closed-Door Session Without Rauner As 'Junk Bond' Status Looms

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Illinois lawmakers met Sunday without Governor Rauner in a rare closed-door session to discuss the ongoing budget crisis. The meeting comes with just five days left before the state's budget deadline on June 30. If lawmakers fail to come up with a budget, Illinois will become the first state in U.S. history to be classified with a "junk bond" status.

Sunday's meeting came on the fifth day of a 10-day special session called by Rauner to work with lawmakers toward "unity" to resolve the budget issue. With several meetings lasting around 15 minutes, it becomes even more likely that the state will emerge without a budget. The session thus far has resulted in disagreements and stalling, according to NBC Chicago.

In the more than 720 days that Illinois has gone without a budget, Democrats have presented a variety of options, but Rauner has yet to accept any of them. House Speaker Mike Madigan and House lawmakers a working on budget proposal that focuses on property tax hikes and adjustments to school funding. Rauner has already made it clear that he plans to veto a school funding bill.

>>Related:Democrats Don't Buy Rauner's Call for Compromise

After the meeting, Madigan said, "This is a governmental negotiation. This is a situation where nobody gets 100 percent," according to NPR Illinois. In that vein, lawmakers must sacrifice some things and meet in the middle to agree on a budget that puts partisan politics aside and works for the greater good of Illinois resident.

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