Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner hasn't met with legislative leaders since the end of May, so today's expected meeting is important.
Or, rather, it will be if talks continue.
Illinois has been without a budget since July and is one of two U.S. states without a spending plan (Pennsylvania is the other).
Rauner, a Republican, says he talked with leaders from both parties. But they haven't met as a group -- something critical for progress, according to Amanda Vinicky, statehouse bureau chief for Illinois Public Radio.
Vinicky's reports from Springfield air almost daily on WNIJ.
"When you look at previous divides," Vinicky says, "that's how things got settled: in backroom meetings with legislators that are calling the shots."
Those legislators are: House Speaker Michael Madigan (D), House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R), Senate President John Cullerton (D) and Senate Minority Leader Christine Rodogno (R).
Madigan and Culllerton acknowledge phone calls with Rauner. But they describe those discussions as not helpful or fruitful.
Rauner has long insisted that Democrats pass his "Turnaround agenda" before he'd agree to any discussion about raising revenue. That includes a property-tax freeze, overhauling worker's compensation, weakening unions, and legislative term limits.
Democrats say the budget comes first, and any talk of weakening unions would hurt the middle class. But Vinicky notes that rank-and-file lawmakers tried to find common ground on issues like worker's compensation, hoping that might lead to a broader agreement. According to Vinicky, those talks have stalled.
Nevertheless, Vinicky says, momentum appears to be gaining for a two-year budget. "Governor Rauner talked about that when he was a candidate," she says. She notes business leaders, human services groups and school districts also want a multi-year plan.
"They say it's the constant uncertainty that makes businesses not want to come here," Vinicky says, adding that schools operate on a calendar that's different from the state's fiscal year (July 1 -June 30).
As for today's meeting, Vinicky says each participant will get ten minutes to make a public statement before they go behind closed doors. "And that's all supposed to take place in front of the cameras," she says. "You have business groups and others saying, `What gets done in front of the cameras?'"
Other groups, Vinicky notes, think public statements will show voters "where the divide comes from, and where it persists."
Today's meeting was rescheduled from Nov. 18, when Speaker Madigan needed to attend an out-of-state funeral.
Late Monday, the Governor's office issued a news release saying the meeting would take place at 2:30 p.m. in the state capitol building. According to the release, the participants' 10-minute speeches will be streamed live.
