SPRINGFIELD - Several Illinois lawmakers are in Turkey this week as part of what's being billed as a cultural tour of the nation.

Among those on the trip, which began Friday, are state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, state Rep. Dan Reitz, D-Steelville, and state Sen. Pamela Althoff, R-McHenry.

The tour is being sponsored by Chicago-based Turkish-American business groups and is designed to forge relationships between the lawmakers and their counterparts in Turkey.

Stops include a visit to the Turkish parliament.

It's not clear how many lawmakers are on the trip, but aides say the lawmakers are paying their own airfare costs.

The trip comes after lawmakers spent much of the last year stuck in Springfield dealing with gridlock over the state budget.

Steve Brown, a spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, said many lawmakers were pleased that the General Assembly was able to adjourn by May 31.

"This year they are just trying to go on and live their lives," Brown said.

The tour is expected to end June 30.

Kurt Erickson can be reached at kurt.erickson@lee.net or 789-0865.