Lawmakers start budget work anew

They did a lot of work over the weekend. I didn't follow the moves in Springfield blow by blow, but it does seem to me that things were actually getting done down there as the session winds down. I'm sure everyone didn't get everything they wanted, but it seems like a far cry from what Illinois political observers witnessed maybe the last two years or so. That was overtime, gridlock and simple posturing with one side demonizing the other.

Still there is work to be done on a budget according to the AP:

Gov. Pat Quinn and top Illinois lawmakers renewed budget negotiations Monday, promising to genuinely work together in a new push to solve the state's money crisis and avoid drastic cuts that could affect services ranging from elderly care to drug addiction treatment.

Quinn met with legislative leaders for about 90 minutes in his Springfield office after lawmakers missed a Sunday night deadline to come up with a new budget and figure out how to fill an $11.6 billion deficit. Lawmakers couldn't agree on a mix of spending cuts and tax increases to close the gap.

Now the state must start sending notices to local agencies that provide a wide array of services, warning they could lose much of their funding.

Both parties tried to stay positive after Monday's meeting. Republicans said Democrats agreed to take a new look at reforms to government pension and health programs to cut costs, while Democrat Quinn said he's hopeful an agreement can be reached before service cuts start taking effect July 1.

Hopefully all parties involved in this negotiation are dedicated to making the tough call instead of just passing it a long like it's nothing.