Lawmakers return with long list of unfinished business

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The calendar says Illinois lawmakers are supposed to finish their spring session in just three weeks, but it may take far longer.

Top officials haven't begun serious talks about a new state budget. Lawmakers seem divided over what to do about pay raises and a new ethics proposal. And there's been no progress on a statewide construction program.

Legislators return to Springfield on Tuesday.

To make their scheduled adjournment date of May 29, they'll need some amount of cooperation among top Democrats.

But so far, House Speaker Michael Madigan has not been getting along with Senate President Emil Jones, while Governor Rod Blagojevich is keeping a low profile.