Rauner frustrated at lack of progress to end budget impasse

(AP) — Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner expressed frustration at the lack of progress in budget negotiations with Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, saying Wednesday that his efforts to arrange a one-on-one meeting have gone nowhere.

Rauner accused Madigan and fellow Illinois Democrats of "playing games" by purposefully stalling talks on a long overdue budget so they can argue for a tax hike.

The ideological clash between Rauner and Democrats who control the Legislature has plunged Illinois further into debt during the nine months the state has operated without a budget due to court-ordered spending for key programs.

The last time Rauner met with Madigan and other legislative leaders was in mid-December.

[...] Democrats have passed a bill to fund community colleges and tuition grants for low-income students — a $721 million measure Rauner vetoed, saying the Democrats didn't identify funding for it.