Don’t expect any legislative movement this month on creating a budget — even if February does have an extra day this year.

Lawmakers in both chambers aren’t scheduled back in session until March 1st. That will put the state a full 8 months into the fiscal year without a full budget.
Leading Republican Representative Jim Durkin said that personalities seem to be getting in the way and he wants Democrat leaders to seriously consider giving the governor broader budget authority.

Durkin says Republican lawmakers have given Democrat governors, and the other way around, broader budget authority in times of financial stress.

In other State news, community organizations and state leaders say more can be done with the Employment First Act, a measure that would make hiring people with disabilities a priority for state agencies.

Greg Bassi of the Department of Human Services says that while the overall goal of implementing Employment First remains strong, working with various state agencies on the measure has sometimes proven difficult.

Rene Luna, an organizer with Employment for Access Living, says he and others with disabilities are growing frustrated trying to find well-paying jobs in Illinois.

Tuesday’s Senate hearing sought to make reforms to the Illinois Employment First Act, which was passed in 2013.