Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner says Speaker Mike Madigan and other House Democrats have no business taking a month long break while the budget crisis in the state threatens social services and public universities.
"That's outrageous. That's a dereliction of duty," Rauner said at a news conference in Springfield today.
Last week, the House left town and is not scheduled to return until April 4th.
House Republican Tom Demmer made a motion to stay and work for at least one more day, but Democratic leaders ruled his motion was "out of order," and left for the month.
"They leave town. It's wrong. They should get back to do their jobs," said Rauner, who stopped short of calling the House back into session.
"It's not worked in the past. The pressure comes from the people, not me," he said.
The Senate is in session three days this week, and three days the next. The Governor urged Senate President John Cullerton to take a vote on what he says are compromise bills to keep MAP grants and public universities going for now.