from Associated Press
Republican Senate leader Christine Radogno says Democrats want bipartisan support for a tax increase so they have political cover.
She says Democrats control the Legislature and could muster the votes if they wanted.
Radogno said Friday she doesn't like to rule out anything but this is not the time to raise taxes.
Democratic Senate President John Cullerton wants bipartisan support for any income tax increase. That's according to his spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon.
Cullerton's Democrat-controlled Senate passed an income tax increase last year, but Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan won't commit to calling a House vote on it.
The governor's budget office has estimated Illinois will have an $11.5 billion budget hole next year even after $2 billion in cuts.
