By Jim Hagerty
Reporter

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House of  Representatives will take at least another day to finish its spring session, Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, said Friday.

Madigan said representatives need extra time for what was scheduled to be a three-day session to resolve coronavirus-related budget issues.

“We have continued our work toward a state budget and voted to secure funding that will ensure vital services like health care, education, and resources for those facing layoffs and furloughs are met,” Madigan said in a statement.

The speaker said he expected the agenda to take all of the scheduled three days and that an extension came as no surprise.

“We must continue our work to provide relief and support to all Illinois communities and the people of Illinois affected by this unprecedented crisis,” he said. “The House will convene tomorrow to continue our work.”

Lawmakers are trying to wrap up the budget by May 31 so to pass it by a simple majority.

In other state news, the Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting a total of 105,444 COVID-19 cases, including 4,715 deaths, in 100 counties. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have processed 25,113 specimens, 2,758 of which were positive, for a total of 697,133 tests.