Little Progress In Meeting of Illinois Leaders

Dave Dahl -- Illinois Radio Network

Once the cameras and microphones were turned off on the big budget meeting in the governor's office Tuesday, the governor and four legislative leaders talked for about an hour.

Some talked more than others, according to Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont).

“When there is a meeting, at least, the Speaker says nothing,” she said afterward.

“I learned a long time ago,” House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) responded later, “that when you talk, you don't learn. And my purpose (Tuesday) was to listen to learn.”

“The Senate President talks a lot,” Radogno continued, “and some of what he says is different out here (with reporters) than in (private) – and that's a problem.”

“The first thing we have to do is see if we can even agree on what the facts are,” Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) said.

Asked for an example of Cullerton's public and private statements conflicting, Radogno said the private Cullerton was against making public a meeting such as Tuesday's.

Gov. Bruce Rauner found a way to work the elements of his “Turnaround Agenda” into the discussion, and Madigan says he's no fan.

Term limits and redistricting, Madigan told reporters, are Republican campaign issues for 2016. “I don't think that they ought to be advancing political party positions relative to a future campaign as part of a (solution to) the budget impasse,” he said.

Rauner did not address reporters after the meeting.