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Quad City representatives sound off on Illinois budget debate

Illinois lawmakers will meet in Springfield on Tuesday to continue the Illinois budget debate. It’s difficult to see any peace-talk between democrats and ...

Illinois lawmakers will meet in Springfield on Tuesday to continue the Illinois budget debate.

It's difficult to see any peace-talk between democrats and Governor Rauner when both sides are still pointing fingers at each other over the Illinois state budget.

Several state-run programs have already been cut due to the impasse.

Governor Rauner said he will not sign a spending plan unless it includes his turnaround agenda to help businesses and curb union power.

However, democrats said they've met the Governor halfway and are calling on him to do the same.

"We're trying to do things in a way that we can compromise and unfortunately the governor needs to learn what that word means; compromise," said State Representative Mike Smiddy, a democrat from Port Byron, Illinois. "I think we could come up with something that could work for both sides if we could come around to the turnaround agenda later on."

Rock Island County Chairman, Bill Bloom, said he supports Governor Rauner's turnaround agenda, and thinks the democrats will eventually include it in their budget.

"The longer it goes on, I think pressure will actually build on the democrats to make a deal with the Governor," Bloom said. "For years, we've been signing off on unconstitutional budgets that run massive deficits to the tune of billions of dollars and like any family, like any company, we've got to learn to live within our means."

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