State Senate adjourns without taking action on rates
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SPRINGFIELD, ILL. (AP) -- The long-anticipated next step in the electric rate debate at the state Capitol will have to wait a little longer.
The state Senate adjourned this afternoon for a two-week Easter break without taking any action on consumers' complaints about soaring electric rates.
Senators had been expected to either come to an agreement on financial relief for customers or vote on a rate rollback and one-year freeze before leaving town.
But Senate leaders decided to wrap up their work and delay action on those ideas until after the break. They say several members had to be home by sundown for religious reasons and staying in session wasn't practical.
Senator Gary Forby says he's disappointed he didn't get a chance to push for the rate freeze and says it will be hard to face angry consumers back home.
He and other lawmakers say they'll keep working on the issue and hope to get something done when they return.
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