SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner said Wednesday lawmakers have only two options to end the Illinois budget deadlock: Implement his cost-saving proposals in exchange for a $36 billion budget, or give him authority to make $4 billion in cuts.
Rauner’s has delivered his second budget address eight months after the current fiscal year’s budget should have taken effect.
It reinforces what he’s said in the past about his openness to raising taxes — but only if lawmakers are willing to give him some of the reforms he wants. Democrats who control the Legislature already have balked at the idea of giving Rauner unilateral power

to make cuts and dismissed his suggested reforms, such as curbing the power of unions.
Rauner’s budget with cuts would be $32.8 billion, because the state doesn’t have enough revenue to match a $36 billion spending plan.
Illinois faces a roughly $5 billion budget deficit this year, and its unpaid bill backlog could reach almost $26 billion by 2020 if current revenue and spending policies continue.
House Speaker Michael Madigan has rejected Rauner’s idea to give the Republican executive sole budget-cutting authority. The Chicago Democrat says Rauner’s conservative agenda is too “extreme” to trust him with that power. Lawmakers gave similar authority in the past to former Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn.
Madigan favors Rauner’s idea for expanded school spending, but says it should include money for community college and needs-based tuition grants which Rauner has rejected. He questioned whether House Republicans would support Rauner’s separate spending authority.
Christine Radogno is minority leader of the Senate. The Lemont Republican told reporters separate education funding legislation would be “piecemeal” budgeting Rauner opposes, but that education is Rauner’s top priority and parents of schoolchildren have to have certainty about opening the classrooms.
But Chants calling for Rauner to fund higher education filled the Capitol’s third floor rotunda as he delivered his budget address.
Hundreds of students from the state’s colleges and universities stood outside House chamber doors Wednesday calling for Rauner to sign a budget and fund higher education.
“Save our schools,” students yelled.
As Rauner left the House chamber following his speech he was met with boos from demonstrators. A group of Chicago State University students chanted, “This is what democracy looks like,” as a handful of lawmakers exited the chamber.
Black caucus leader Sen. Kimberly Lightford says the Republican governor’s address was full of rhetoric that did not address higher education funding.
Rep. Al Riley says by not funding higher education Rauner is stalling economic development.