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Without a budget, IL governor says Quad Citians should urge lawmakers to pass 2 ‘essential’ bills

EAST MOLINE, Illinois — After Illinois lawmakers failed to pass a state budget for the second straight year, Governor Bruce Rauner has been traveling stat...

EAST MOLINE, Illinois -- After Illinois lawmakers failed to pass a state budget for the second straight year, Governor Bruce Rauner has been traveling statewide touting two bills he says are "essential."

Rauner spoke on Illinois' budget crisis at the East Moline Corrections Center on Thursday morning, June 2, 2016. Being without a budget puts schools and universities in danger of closing and could lead to cuts in critical state services.

To combat this, Rauner says there are two bills that need to pass "right now:" one to fund the education system and another to fund government operations.

The first bill would fully fund K-12 education for the first time in seven years, Rauner said.  This bill would include funding for early childhood education, which he says is "essential" for low-income families who need childcare.

The second bill represents a change from Rauner's position last week. He now supports a short-term, stopgap budget would keep government operations up and running through the end of the year. This would include the university system, government services, and the corrections system, which Rauner says is "critical to public safety."

Passing these bills would provide funding from now through January of 2017, Rauner said.

Rauner said he was in the Quad Cities asking citizens to put pressure on local representatives in the Democratic super majority to pass the two bills.

"Please reach out to them..." said Rauner, "ask them to stand up and do what's right for their district here in Rock Island County and in northwest Illinois."

Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, said he's willing to break from Democratic House Speaker Mike Madigan, but placed the blame on Republicans' unwillingness to compromise.

"When we look at the word compromise -- What have the Democrats demanded through this whole budget process? We've not demanded anything. His demands are the turnaround agenda," said Smiddy.

Rauner slammed Madigan, who he says has controlled Illinois for 30 years, leaving the state with huge deficits and billions in debt.

Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton argue Rauner's yearlong insistence on passing pro-business legislation and curbing union power is the reason for the 11-month budget impasse.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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