Gov. Pat Quinn isn't ruling out a temporary budget as a way of buying more time to reach a final budget deal.

"I'm willing to listen to anybody with a reasonable plan," said Quinn, who until now has rejected the idea of a temporary budget. Quinn made the comments this morning when arriving at his Capitol office for a meeting with legislative leaders.

Republicans are pushing for adoption of a budget to cover one or two months of expenses to keep operations going while work continues on a permanent budget. Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, has also said he's willing to accept a temporary budget, although House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, has not.

Today is the final day of the state's current fiscal year.  Quinn said a budget approved earlier by lawmakers, but not formally sent to him, is "insufficient to do right by the people.  It's not balanced.  It's not anywhere near balanced."

However, Quinn did not flatly say he would veto the spending plan.

GateHouse News Service State Capitol Bureau