SPRINGFIELD - State lawmakers finished Thursday what appears to be their final fight of 2007 a couple weeks into 2008.

Despite a cry of "democracy is dead" and other complaints from the Senate and House floors, lawmakers eventually approved a plan to raise taxes in Chicago-area counties to rescue its cash-strapped transit systems from the financial ruin they were threatening.

Now they can start thinking about this year.

"I think people are looking for us to work together," said state Rep. David Miller, D-Lynwood.

But the official business of government almost certainly will take a back seat until closer to Valentine's Day.

Here's a look at some upcoming key dates:

n Feb. 5: Primary election day in Illinois, and various elected officials could use time away from Springfield to work on their re-election efforts. Even if they aren't opposed, many are sinking time into helping congressional or presidential candidates.

n Feb. 13: Lawmakers are scheduled to return to a regular schedule of session days.

n Feb. 20 and beyond: Gov. Rod Blagojevich is tentatively scheduled to deliver his annual budget address and set the tone for the next legislative session.

Last year, he asked for a substantial tax increase on businesses to pay for an expansion of health care coverage, a request that sparked months of infighting that has yet to fully subside.

Lawmakers say they're not sure what kind of proposal they'll hear this time around.

"That's not very far off," state Rep. Keith Sommer, R-Morton, said of the budget address. "So, who knows what to expect."

State Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, said he hopes Blagojevich looks past health care and instead focuses on a budget that pays for construction projects across the state.

Blagojevich, for his part, indicated Thursday that health care would remain a priority. He also took a jab at House Speaker Michael Madigan, with whom he feuded much of last year.

"So Speaker Madigan needs to start supporting the things he claims he's for and stop preventing and being against the things he claims he's for," Blagojevich said. "And if that happens, we'll be able to provide affordable, comprehensive health care to all Illinoisans."

If all goes well, lawmakers would finish by May 31 and have plenty of time before early November to manage their re-election efforts.

But in 2007, the goal of finishing business on time proved elusive.

Mike Riopell can be reached at mike.riopell@lee.net or 789-0865. Kenneth Lowe contributed to this report.