The Senate voted Feb. 8 on four of 13 measures that make up the budget framework Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and Democrat Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) have been negotiating. Opposed to taking a piecemeal approach, Senate Republicans held firm in their call for the budget package to be voted on in its entirety, not as individual pieces of legislation.
Republicans also noted that while significant progress has been made on the package, there is still substantial work to be done on key parts, including workers’ compensation reform that will help make Illinois competitive again, and education funding, which is vital to get done right.
Despite the Senate casting these votes on individual measures, and given there is not yet agreement on the package as a whole, Senate Republicans say negotiations should continue and be completed before a final vote on the comprehensive budget package.