CHICAGO (AP) — Gov. Bruce Rauner says this week’s meeting with legislative leaders about the state budget impasse was productive even though House Speaker Michael Madigan did not attend.
The Republican governor commented Friday after the Democratic speaker missed the latest meeting Thursday due to what his spokesman said was a scheduling conflict.
Rauner says Madigan is “not a big fan” of the meetings and “has not wanted to be there.” Madigan spokesman Steve Brown says Madigan is committed to finding a budget agreement and makes “every effort” to attend the meetings.
Rauner says Thursday’s meeting focused on term limits, redistricting and fixing the state’s $111 billion pension debt. He didn’t elaborate.
Rauner says the next meeting will likely be at the start of next year. The budget stalemate is now in its six month.
