SPRINGFIELD - Lawmakers looking to help break the state's budget stalemate holed up with Gov. Rod Blagojevich in his Springfield mansion Sunday night, but there was disagreement over whether any progress was made.

Rank-and-file lawmakers described the 90-minute meeting as positive because lawmakers were given a report about the state's financial situation.

Those numbers show the state heading into the new fiscal year with a nearly $1 billion revenue shortfall.

"It's the first time we've actually seen and talked about numbers," said state Rep. Bob Pritchard, R-Hinckley.

House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, said the report on the state's finances, which could provide a roadmap for resolving differences over the budget, was "inconclusive." Madigan offered no indication progress had been made.

The talks came against the backdrop of a lingering budget impasse that has been marked recently by key leaders trading harsh personal attacks.

And a day after a handful of Republicans raised the idea of impeaching Blagojevich, others made it clear that option wasn't at all likely.

"I don't think those types of tactics are going to get us closer to a budget. We need to unify and come together to get a budget," said state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington. "That's just another example of a distraction that we don't need."

But Sunday wasn't free of distractions.

Madigan suggested Senate leaders were in cahoots with Blagojevich in telling senators they didn't have to come to Springfield on Sunday and could instead spend the day with their families.

"It is my understanding, confirmed, that there was such an arrangement," he said.

Madigan said he was left out of the loop, and he has often been at odds with Blagojevich and Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago.

Patty Schuh, spokeswoman for Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville, denied that was the case. She said senators simply knew that no action would be taken Sunday, so some chose to stay home.

As a result, the Senate met briefly Sunday and took no action. Only 18 of its 59 members showed. Just 79 of 118 House members did the same.

Democrats, who control all levels of state government, missed a key budget deadline at the end of May and are now six weeks into an overtime session to try to adopt a spending plan.

Sunday was the second straight night lawmakers and Blagojevich met in the Springfield mansion.

And while Sunday's budget meeting was taking place, government officials and utility representatives continued to talk about how to lower the power bills of Ameren and ComEd customers.

State Rep. Bob Flider, D-Mount Zion, said most people find their high power bills to be a more pressing issue than a state spending plan.

Downstate lawmakers won't vote for a budget until the electricity issue is solved, and Flider said that the political games of recent weeks have wasted time.

"There just seems to be a lot of posturing that isn't very productive," he said.

In the meantime, a temporary state budget runs out at the end of the month, so leaders have to set their priorities - or approve another temporary plan - soon.

Mike Riopell can be reached at mike.riopell@lee.net or 789-0865.