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Illinois Lawmakers Back in Springfield Tuesday

By AP/KWMU

Springfield, Ill – Illinois lawmakers return to the Capitol Tuesday to continue working on a state budget that's already late.

Governor Rod Blagojevich called legislators into special sessions for eight consecutive days late last month as time wound down on getting a budget by the July First start of the fiscal year.

But no agreement was reached by Friday and Blagojevich tried to smooth ruffled feathers by agreeing to let lawmakers take a three-day holiday weekend.

Blagojevich did sign into law Friday a temporary budget to keep state government running for a month.

He has feuded with fellow Chicago Democrat and House Speaker Michael Madigan as well as legislative Republicans over how to close a $2.3 billion deficit while increasing spending for education and health care by $1 billion.

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