Rauner: 'Outrageous' the House is off until next month

(AP) — Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner admonished Democratic Speaker Michael Madigan on Tuesday over the House calendar, calling it "outrageous" that legislators in the chamber aren't due to return until April 4 despite an Illinois budget stalemate now in its ninth month.

Last week, Rauner accused Madigan of playing political games instead of working with Republicans to pass legislation to fund higher-education institutions and social service programs that have suffered during the budget impasse.

[...] the governor's office said the two bills Democrats passed are linked and will put Illinois further in debt because the state is currently spending at a deficit without a budget.

Cullerton spokesman John Patterson said the Senate president has been working with education officials and lawyers to address both school funding and pension reform.