GOP joins budget talks

Illinois Sen. Debbie DeFrancesco Halvorson, D-Chicago Heights, left, confers with Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, right, while on the Senate floor during session at the Illinois state Capitol in Springfield, Ill., Tuesday, June, 5, 2007. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

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SPRINGFIELD (AP) - With Democrats in disarray, Republican legislative leaders joined state budget talks Tuesday and began pushing for a spending plan that would hold taxes flat but squelch efforts to overhaul education and health care. The first budget negotiations to include Republicans produced no breakthroughs. "I'd say we're far apart. There was listening but there was also a lot of posturing," said House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego. "It's the first step in a fairly long journey." Democrats showed no signs of putting aside the differences that have snarled budget talks - a situation the mayor of Chicago labeled "embarrassing." Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office said the House should work five days a week this month, instead of the typical three days. Senate President Emil Jones blamed the House for the budget stalemate. For his part, House Speaker Michael Madigan linked the budget to a freeze on electric rates that Jones has opposed. Democratic leaders failed to agree on a new Illinois budget before a May 31 deadline. Now different legislative rules kick in, and Republican votes will be required to pass anything. So three months after Blagojevich offered his budget proposal, Republicans were invited to meet with the other leaders and discuss their priorities. They favor a budget without any major tax hikes or big increases in health and education spending. They generally want to stick to the new money produced by natural growth in state revenues - something in the neighborhood of $700 million. That would cover the state's annual contribution to government pension systems and a small increase for schools. Republican lawmakers also are interested in a construction program that would provide new roads and school buildings. One way to come up with the money is to expand the size of riverboat casinos. On the Democratic side, Madigan has passed a similar budget through the House, although it includes a number of small tax increases for business. Blagojevich and Jones favor a dramatic gambling expansion and much higher business taxes to provide about $5 billion for education and health care. Many lawmakers complain that Blagojevich spends little time at the Capitol trying to work with the Legislature. Still, the governor is calling on the House to convene five days a week until a budget passes. "Everyone in America works five days a week and is expected to put in full-time work in order to complete their jobs," said Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff. She would not answer any questions. Jones said the Senate would meet at least five days a week, and he said lawmakers failed to adjourn on time "because of lack of concern in the House basically." Madigan argued that rate relief for consumers hit by skyrocketing electric rates would open the door for budget action. Jones has been reluctant to approve rate relief that would apply to customers of both Ameren and ComEd. Many of Madigan's members are demanding relief, and they have blocked action on a House budget plan until they get it. Madigan said once rate relief passes, the House budget could move to the Senate, where Democrats have a large enough majority that they might be able to approve it without any GOP assistance. In Chicago, Mayor Richard Daley said it was "embarrassing" that Blagojevich and Democratic lawmakers can't agree on a budget. But he said the problem will fade if Democratic leaders put aside their egos and finish the job. "Like anything else, if you get it done, everybody will forget about the embarrassment," he told reporters after the dedication of a new North Side center for Chicago's gay community. Blagojevich wants to guarantee that everyone in the state has access to affordable health insurance. Even though the plan has limited support in the Legislature, he stuck by his proposal Tuesday. "He's still hung up on his health care proposal," said Watson, the Senate GOP leader. "I don't know why in the world he'd still be talking about that." --- Associated Press Writer Deanna Bellandi contributed to this report from Chicago. © Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.