SPRINGFIELD - The fate of three state prisons remained unclear Wednesday as the House and the Senate began pushing their budget plans forward.

The House version of the budget would keep open the prisons at Pontiac and Stateville and could result in the long-awaited opening of Thomson Correctional Center near the Quad-Cities.

The situation in the Senate is unclear.

The House and Senate are working this week on their own versions of the state budget, with an eye toward finalizing a deal before May 31.

State Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago, the Senate's budget architect, wouldn't directly comment on the status of the trio of prisons.

Assistant Senate Majority Leader Rickey Hendon, D-Chicago, said the Senate will negotiate with the House on an agreed budget, and that the prison question could be one of the issues on the table.

State Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, said staff members from Senate Democrats have been in touch with Republican staffers and have indicated that Pontiac will not be closed in the Senate's version of the budget.

Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch said the governor has not been involved in the budget decisions by either chamber but continues to advocate the closure of an older prison such as Pontiac in favor of fully opening Thomson.

State Rep. Gary Hannig, D-Litchfield, who heads up budget negotiations for House Democrats, said the Thomson prison has been allotted about $6 million over the governor's suggestion to open the facility.

Hannig said attempts to close Pontiac are "dead" in the House.

"Certainly it's not our intention to close any facility," Hannig said. "Maybe the governor will continue to pursue it; that's his call."

Kenneth Lowe can be reached at kenneth.lowe@lee.net or 789-0865.