The consequences of Illinois lawmakers' failure to approve a state budget continue to pile up, while neither side in the yearlong political battle appears willing to budge.
Business leaders warned Thursday that lack of action on a budget will jeopardize nearly $2 billion dollars in road and bridge construction — and many jobs — this summer.
A major credit rating agency lowered Illinois' already worst-in-the-nation rating to two levels above "junk" status, increasing the cost to taxpayers of state borrowing. Schools are at risk of not opening this fall.
Comptroller Leslie Munger warned that some approved spending will stop July 1, including payments to some lottery winners and 9-1-1 call centers.
Meanwhile, Republican Governor Bruce Rauner and Democrats who run the Legislature continue to blame each other.
