SPRINGFIELD (AP) – Movie theaters, restaurants and laundromats around the Illinois capital are raking in a little extra cash this summer – much to the chagrin of state lawmakers stuck in town indefinitely.

The state budget stalemate and Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s parade of special sessions – 10 in the last 13 days – have forced legislators to show up at the Capitol nearly every day with virtually nothing to do.

Blagojevich and the four legislative leaders continue negotiations on the budget and other side issues, such as medical malpractice reform. But those talks are behind closed doors, and with nothing to vote on, the rank-and-file lawmakers usually spend only a few minutes in session each day.

Some live close enough to Springfield they can commute, but many are stuck in hotels or homes they rent or own here. They spend time on the phone with their home offices working on constituent issues and try to squeeze in local meetings, yet there’s still plenty of free time.

Many say it makes no sense to keep them here indefinitely with a blank agenda.

“I don’t mind doing my job,” said Rep. Terry Parke, R-Hoffman Estates. “But I do have a problem doing nothing.”

With no end in sight, legislators have had to find ways to entertain themselves.