SPRINGFIELD - Like a parent scolding misbehaving children, Gov. Pat Quinn admonished lawmakers Tuesday for putting off the state's problems and warned them a long, hot summer awaits in the capital city if they don't vote to raise taxes.

"We must not put off decisions. That's not what adults do," Quinn said in a hastily scheduled joint session of the House and Senate just hours before the state's budget year would end and Illinois would start a new one with no spending plan in place.

Quinn's last-ditch appeal swayed few. A plan to borrow money to make a $2.2 billion pension payment in order to free up money for agencies that care for the elderly, poor and mentally and physically disabled failed twice in the Senate.

Meanwhile, the House tried to paint Quinn into a corner, sending him a budget he said he'd veto but including a massive construction-spending plan he'd made a priority.

Legislators complained of the governor's evolving and often-contradictory stances on budget issues. He's been against and for a temporary budget, warned of massive service cuts but then said he wouldn't make them, and has varied on exactly what kind of tax hike he wants.

"I'm not sure anybody knows what he's going to do," said House Republican leader Tom Cross, an Oswego Republican.

Others simply said Tuesday's surprise pep talk rubbed them the wrong way.

"I wouldn't want to be in Quinn's shoes, but you can't come in and slap around the General Assembly," said state Rep. Mike Tryon, a Crystal Lake Republican.

"To say that we were basically acting like kids is, I don't think, the proper terminology to use at this time," said state Sen. Terry Link, a Waukegan Democrat, noting that senators approved a tax increase.

Unwilling to muster the will to cut more than a third of its roughly $30 billion operating budget to fill the deficit, and unable to find the votes needed to raise taxes, lawmakers appear resigned to put off decisions in hopes things will somehow be resolved in the coming weeks.

"I think that (tax increase) could happen when it becomes very clear to members of the legislature that there are certain services in the state that should be performed by the state and either they're not being performed or they're jeopardized because of the absence of money," said House Speaker Michael Madigan, a Chicago Democrat who voted for Quinn's proposed tax increase in May.

The lack of a state budget won't immediately shut down state government and programs, but it throws great uncertainty into the mix for anyone relying on state funding. Illinois has a two-year, nearly $12 billion gap between the money it will collect and what it plans to spend. Across the state, social service agencies that provide therapy and care on behalf of the state say they'll begin laying off employees and turning away clients today.

There's also the prospect of numerous lawsuits in the coming week by groups seeking to block funding cuts. For instance, a federal court weighed in Tuesday saying the state cannot legally cut certain services to abused children. Quinn, and some lawmakers, predicted more legal action would come.

However, state Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, a Chicago Democrat, noted the law books are filled with things lawmakers have passed but never paid for.

"Most of the statutes we adopt we are not required to fund," Currie said.

An initial spending plan that kept state government running but didn't cover the full year has been derided by Quinn, who Tuesday said he'd veto it and any other budget that doesn't include a tax increase, something he sees as the only option.

Quinn did propose an additional $1 billion in cuts, but many cannot be done immediately. For instance, he called for a dozen furlough days for state employees, but that's not an option in the union contract. He also said 2,200 employees would be laid off, and he promised prison closings or downsizing. But layoffs and closings require 30 days' notice.

Asked if those notices would go out today, Quinn said only, "Very soon."

Exactly what happens next is uncertain. Lawmakers adjourned with no specific return date. All eyes now turn to the governor and whether he'll order them back to the Capitol as the holiday weekend approaches.

"I'm prepared to stay here all summer to get the job done," said Quinn.

Scolds: Quinn says he's ready to stay all summer