The Latest: GOP: Dems' absence in budget talks inexcusable

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Latest on Illinois budget negotiations between Gov. Bruce Rauner and lawmakers (all times local):

2:15 p.m.

Republican leaders who met with Gov. Bruce Rauner to discuss Illinois' budget stalemate say Democrats' absence is inexcusable and won't help negotiations.

GOP leaders state Rep. Jim Durkin and state Sen. Christine Radogno said Monday after their meeting with the Republican governor that their discussion was productive. But Durkin and Radogno say Democrats need to be engaged to move forward.

House Speaker Michael Madigan said a scheduling conflict prevented him from attending. That prompted Senate President John Cullerton to cancel, saying the meeting wouldn't be productive without everyone there.

The state has gone without a spending plan for 16 months because of an ideological dispute between ruling Democrats and the governor, who wants them to enact union-weakening, business-friendly legislation as part of a budget deal.

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11:55 a.m.

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner's vision of a swift, post-election budget compromise is off to a rocky start with Democratic leaders absent from the first negotiation meeting the Republican governor requested.

Rauner asked House and Senate leaders to meet Monday afternoon to begin work on ending a 16-month budget standoff but only Republicans will be attending. House Speaker Michael Madigan said Sunday he has a scheduling conflict. Senate President John Cullerton then bowed out, saying the meeting wouldn't be productive without everyone there.

Rauner used his vast wealth to reduce the Democrats' numbers on Election Day, but they still control the Legislature and have resisted Rauner's demands for union-weakening, business-friendly legislation as part of any budget deal.

Lawmakers return to Springfield on Tuesday for a brief, annual fall session.