SPRINGFIELD (AP) — Gov. Bruce Rauner has hit a roadblock in his effort to persuade lawmakers to give him more authority to(Credit: Vepar5)
patch a $1.6 billion hole in this year’s budget.
Senate President John Cullerton says he’s opposed to giving Rauner additional budget powers without more commitment from Rauner to consider new revenues in talks over next year’s budget.
Rauner and House Speaker Michael Madigan said last week they were close to an agreement allowing Rauner to transfer funds to plug budget holes. A Cullerton aide says the leaders no longer are nearing an agreement.
Rauner’s proposed 2016 budget would include deep cuts to Medicaid and other programs to bridge a roughly $6 billion gap.
However, lawmakers face a more immediate crisis in funding child care programs, court reporters and prisons.
