Big rally, little action at Capitol

Gov. Pat Quinn ordered lawmakers back to the Capitol on Tuesday and wants them to consider a tax increase. That didn't happen, but there was a big rally by people who rely on state funding for child care, assistance for the disabled and other social services. Here's a look at Tuesday's special session.

Cost: Upward of $42,000 to cover the $132 daily lawmakers get for meals and hotels for session days. Of note, the Senate has scheduled a "regular" session for today rather than have the governor issue a "special" session order. The difference? No meal and hotel money for regular sessions after May 31.

Action: None. Lawmakers met for about 10 minutes before adjourning to have separate closed-door meetings among Republicans and Democrats.

News Flash: More than 5,000 people crowded the Capitol to protest possible budget cuts next week if there's not a new budget deal that'd require a tax increase.

Deadline: July 1 is the start of the new budget year. Right now there is no budget approved for that year.

Quote of the day: "They've (Illinois House) just got to get their act together," state Sen. President John Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat, on the Senate approving a budget-balancing tax increase last month but the House rejecting one.