Rauner, lawmakers remain deadlocked on budget; time is short

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois lawmakers will spend Memorial Day in the state Capitol trying to fashion their first state budget in two years as the end-of-session deadline nears.

Legislative leaders and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner met Sunday but reported no progress on breaking an 11-month deadlock on a state spending plan.

Democrats hold majorities in the House and Senate. Any business conducted beginning Wednesday would require three-fifths majorities in both houses.

Rauner and Democrats continue to bicker over the first-term governor’s conservative, business-friendly agenda that curbs union power. Democrats say those issues should be set aside until a multibillion deficit is taken care of through a tax increase and spending cuts.

Other issues are pending too. They include an expansion of medical marijuana use and automatic voter registration.