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More Illinois residents feel pain as budget impasse drags on

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has filed legislation that would block a cont…

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ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (AP) – Illinois municipalities that host video gambling in bars and restaurants won’t get their cut of profits from the machines until the state budget is in place, Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office announced Monday.

But a spokeswoman for Senate President John Cullerton said his office would have to review the constitutionality of the pay raise legislation.

Rauner sought to eliminate the pay raises on his own, using his amendatory veto powers to eliminate the hike from a series of budget bills lawmakers sent him.

Killing off the raises, however, appeared to do little to loosen the gridlock that has kept Rauner and lawmakers from agreeing on a spending plan for the fiscal year that began July 1. “Governor Rauner is ready to work with Speaker Madigan, (House Republican Leader Jim) Durkin and all members of the General Assembly to pass true structural reforms and a balanced budget”.

“The person who had the singular authority to avoid all this was Gov. Rauner”, Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said.

The pay increase set to take effect this month would boost the $68,000 base legislative salary by nearly $1,400.

Rep. William Davis, a Democrat from Homewood in the Chicago suburbs, cast the lone vote against the bill.

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Madigan again called on Rauner to drop his pro-business, anti-union agenda and instead negotiate on the budget.

House Speaker Michael Madigan