Three Springfield-area legislators told their audience at the Better Government Association “Idea Forum” at the Sangamo Club Tuesday they are as frustrated as anyone over the budget impasse. “It’s ridiculous that the leadership and the governor haven’t met since May,” said Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill. “We need to be here,” said Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Litchfield, frustrated that the legislature is rarely called into session these days. Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, offered to gather legislative leaders and the governor on the porch of his North Fifth Street home to work out a deal. “There’s usually beer in the fridge,” he offered. All three said they spend much of their time dealing with constituent problems caused by the impasse. Only Manar, the lone Democrat on the panel, blamed the governor for “bringing in issues that don’t deal directly with the spending plan,” but neither Bourne nor Butler put any emphasis on the governor’s “turnaround” agenda. “The two sides should get together and figure it out,” Bourne said. “It could happen tomorrow. The leadership knows the answers.” The panel discussion, “New Lawmakers vs. Old Problems,” is available at WMAY.com –Fletcher Farrar, editor and publisher
This article appears in Sep 24-30, 2015.
