SE Illinois News

Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) described Gov. Bruce Rauner’s decision to call lawmakers back to Springfield for 10 straight days of banging out a budget deal "the right thing to do," according to a press release.

“It’s the job of the legislature to pass a balanced budget," Righter said in his statement. "Constitutionally, the legislature is the only entity that that can pass a balanced budget.”

The General Assembly closed the spring legislative session without a budget in place for the third year in a row, and legislators were challenged to reach an agreement that would require a three-fifths' majority in the special session, rather than the simple majority required in a normal session. Lawmakers also were facing the prospect that without a budget, the state's credit rating would suffer further damage, possibly being downgraded further to junk bond status.

Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) | Sen. Dale Righter General Assembly Senator Biography

Heading into the special session, Righter said he looked forward to negotiating in good faith with the Democrat majority and hoped to pass a bipartisan and balanced budget, "one that includes the necessary reforms that will move Illinois forward economically and fiscally,” the statement said.