Illinois lawmakers return to Springfield this week from a lengthy spring break, facing a to-do list that covers everything from gun control and sexual harassment, as well as trying to approve a new spending plan for the second straight year.

 

They return after a primary election that did not produce any upsets that might have changed the atmosphere in the Capitol for the last scheduled eight weeks of the spring session. The General Assembly is scheduled to finish its work by May 31.

 

Kent Redfield, retired political science professor at the University of Illinois Springfield, said the fact Gov. Bruce Rauner survived his primary challenge, albeit narrowly, means he will still hold sway over Republican lawmakers who have grown accustomed to his financial support. Had Rauner lost, Redfield said, “Rauner obviously could still veto stuff, but nobody’s going to walk a plank for him if he were a lame duck.”

 

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