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Illinois lawmakers left the Capitol earlier this week deeply divided over how to close an estimated $12-billion hole in the state budget, setting the stage for the latest in what's become an annual guessing game over when the state will finally have a budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The Illinois Senate passed a two percent hike in the state's personal income tax, but the measure failed to muster enough support to be called in the House where both Democrats and Republicans rejected Governor Pat Quinn's call for a 1.5 percent bump in taxes. Lawmakers approved enough revenue to fund half a year's worth of state spending before adjourning, but the Governor is refusing to sign the measure and has called on the four legislative leaders to negotiate until a permanent agreement can be reached.

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