The state’s four legislative leaders say they’ve reached a tentative agreement on a school funding plan.
After a meeting Thursday, both Democrat and Republican leaders released statements saying they have come to preliminary terms on a plan to allocate the money that was appropriated in the budget passed last July. Per the budget’s language crafted by Democrat leadership, school funding could not be distributed until the General Assembly adopted a new “evidence-based” funding formula.
House Speaker Michael Madigan canceled session Wednesday, saying progress was being made behind closed doors.
In a release from GOP leaders State Rep. Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, and Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, they say the new bill’s language will be drafted and details of the agreement will be released once the drafts have been reviewed. The leaders will meet again in Springfield on Sunday. The House is expected to take action on Monday afternoon.
Gov. Bruce Rauner said Thursday morning that he was still disappointed that it had taken so long.
“My only real frustration is Speaker Madigan and his caucus held the education bill for two months to create a crisis,” he said. “That’s not fair to our teacher or our school children.”
Rauner had issued an amendatory veto of the original funding bill, removing what he called a bailout of Chicago’s teacher pensions.
In a release, Rauner applauded the leaders for reaching an agreement and hoped to see legislation pass both chambers soon.
[This story is from Illinois Radio Network News.]
