Senators insist day off isn't for Obama's benefit

SPRINGFIELD - With their former colleague vying for votes in neighboring Indiana, the Illinois Senate has called off work today, a move one Republican said is improper given Illinois' lingering problems.

"I'm not sure that's an appropriate reason to call off session with only a few short weeks to go, to send your camp over to Indiana to campaign. I don't think that's appropriate," said Illinois Senate Republican leader Frank Watson of downstate Greenville.

Democrat Barack Obama's former Illinois Senate colleagues have routinely hit the campaign trail to try to sway primary voters across the country.

And while some have traveled to Indiana on Obama's behalf, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Senate president said that's not why today was called off.

"We canceled session (today) because, as we've done in two or three previous weeks, we found we can get just as much done in two days as three," said Cindy Davidsmeyer, spokeswoman for Senate President Emil Jones Jr., a Chicago Democrat.

Jones and several other Democratic officials were in Springfield on Monday for an official party meeting regarding convention delegates. Davidsmeyer said Jones did not plan to be in Indiana today.

"He's been there, a couple times," she said.

State Sen. Terry Link, a Waukegan Democrat, also has traveled to Indiana and other states for Obama. He said Republicans -- the minority political party in the Illinois Senate -- are trying to make an issue out of something that isn't one.

The Illinois Senate initially scheduled to resume its session today. But late last week, it was announced the Senate would not reconvene until Wednesday. A typical session week at the Capitol is Tuesday through Thursday. The Illinois House is in session today.

Lawmakers are now in what's supposed to be their final month at the Capitol, but numerous issues remain unresolved. There's been no agreement on how to fix the current budget that by some estimates is $750 million out of balance, let alone how to successfully bargain on the next budget that faces even steeper challenges.

A budget is supposed to be passed by a June 1 deadline, though few expect such a timely deal to occur. Last year, lawmakers and Gov. Rod Blagojevich blew past that deadline and the July 1 start of the next budget year. The longest overtime in state history ensued, and the special sessions called by Blagojevich technically are still going.