McHenry Times

Democrats passed on bipartisanship and pushed another tax-heavy budget before the spring legislative ended with no agreement, Sen. Karen McConnaughay (R-St. Charles) said in a statement recently.

"To say I’m disappointed is an understatement," she said, according to the press release. "It’s devastating that, once again, the General Assembly is adjourning without passing a balanced budget with structural reforms. Even though Senate Republicans made many attempts to work in a bipartisan fashion across the aisle, we found our colleagues unwilling to compromise.”

McConnaughay said that will both sides negotiated in a way that would have offered property tax relief, spending cuts and workers' compensation reform, in the end Senate Democrats passed a partisan budget bill that floundered in the House.

Sen. Karen McConnaughay (R-St. Charles)

According to a Reuters report, the General Assembly will continue in a special session to work on a deal before the next fiscal year begins on July 1.

“This budget crisis has a resounded impact throughout Illinois – human service providers, schools, employers, residents, and many more,” McConnaughay said in her statement. “Members of both sides have to continue our work and come back to the table in good faith, with viable solutions that the Governor will sign into law. As the true optimist I am, I believe we can do it and finally bring this budget impasse to an end."