Guessing Democrats have cut all of the fat from the Illinois budget, right?  Why else would they contemplate pulling a stunt like this?  From the ChicagoTribune:

Leading Democrats still are looking to raise Illinois’ income tax to fix the state’s out-of-whack budget, but they may put off doing so until after Sunday’s scheduled adjournment to try to force Republicans to share in the political pain.

Publicly, House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, both Chicago Democrats, said Tuesday they believed the legislature could meet its Sunday deadline for delivering a budget and acting on reform legislation spawned by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s arrest and ouster.

But both leaders are having trouble rounding up enough votes to pass Gov. Pat Quinn’s 50 percent increase in the income tax rate.

“I think we need some help from the Republicans,” Cullerton said.

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