Business groups urge dumping public budget negotiation
Photo Sources: Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) / Flickr --- WBEZ / Flickr
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Five leading Illinois business groups are urging Gov. Bruce Rauner and legislative leaders to skip the public budget negotiation they've scheduled for next week.
In a letter released Thursday, the business leaders say a public meeting over the 18-week budget holdup would prevent "sincere and constructive" conversation necessary for successful negotiation.
Several good government groups last month offered to host a meeting of Republican Rauner and legislative chiefs to spur bargaining over an unsettled state spending plan that should have taken effect July 1.
Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan of Chicago suggested the meeting be public. Rauner then said he'd hold it in his office Nov. 18 and write the agenda.
But the reform groups put out a statement Thursday noting that no agenda or meeting details have been released.