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Republican Rep. Says All Sides Need To Give To End Illinois Budget Impasse

As the budget gridlock continues, downstate Republicans are finding themselves having to balance support for the Governor with constituent concerns.

One of those lawmakers is C-D Davidsmeyer. The Jacksonville Republican says he hears a variety of comments from constituents. From social service providers who need funding to others who feel the state is broken and big changes are needed to get spending under control and create jobs. He says he's hoping for compromise sooner than later.

He says he understands both sides will have to give a bit. 

"Being very realistic, in the short term I think there probably is a need for revenue. Especially with the backlog of bills. We probably have got maybe 4 to 4.5 billion dollars of unpaid bills right now," he said.

But Davidsmeyer also says a tax increase won’t solve all the problems. He says Democrats have thrown a road block in the path of negotiations with the governor that could end the impasse.

Even those who serve in the General Assembly are trying to figure out when a solution could surface.  Davidsmeyer says he has theories. Those include Democrats waiting until election filing is past to broker a deal.   There's also speculation some of those downstate Republicans could break ranks in an attempt to spare cuts at state-run facilities in their districts,.  

Davidsmeyer says little is happening now.

"The people who need to be talking are still not sitting in the room, sitting at that table together," he said. " It's frustrating hearing from constituents and understanding that people are actually affected by this."

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