The words of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan suggest a deal may not happen. Madigan cautioned reporters not to assume that the state's budget crisis will be solved by negotiations between Governor Bruce Rauner and the Democrats who have veto-proof majorities in the General Assembly. After Wednesday's sessions of both houses, Madigan again repeated his mantra that the impasse can be ended if both sides are reasonable, meaning if Rauner drops his insistence on his reform agenda.
Pressed by reporters about why negotiations haven't been pursued more urgently, Madigan said, "I don't necessarily presume that there will be some kind of a deal put together between the governor and the legislative leaders."
