Today the Herald & Review writes:
The General Assembly is hardly a "nose to the grindstone," organization.
According to the General Assembly’s own records, the House and Senate have each
been in session less than 15 times since Jan. 1. Senate sessions are scheduled
for next week, but the House doesn’t plan to meet again until April 4.
Such a schedule might be acceptable if the state was operating smoothly. But the
state, as we all feel every day, is entering its ninth month without a state
budget. While legislators are enjoying their "spring break," the rest of the
state is suffering because the government has not performed the most basic of
its functions…
This political posturing was tiring a long time ago. It’s clear that Madigan has
little desire to work with Rauner, even on the most basic of issues. It’s also
clear that Madigan’s House Democrats, despite what they say at home, are not
capable of acting independently.
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The state needs a budget, school spending reform, pension reform
and a host of other issues resolved. Instead, our legislative
leaders are going on "spring break."
The Belleville News Democrat adds:
Too bad Illinois House members feel no sense of urgency or
emergency. No budget. No college spending authorization or help for
the needy students who are not getting their tuition grants and may
need to drop out. Time for a nice, month-long rest for the weary
lawmakers of Springfield…
The capitol building is on fire. Lawmakers cannot pretend Illinois
Gov. Bruce Rauner can put it out by himself when there is a drip of
dollars coming in and an all-consuming debt standing at $7.25
billion.
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