President Obama to address IL General Assembly

When President Obama touches down in Air Force One in Springfield Wednesday morning he will make history, becoming the fourth USA president to address the Illinois General Assembly.

Ironically, however, political-watchers have long labeled Obama as a president with a profound distaste for working with Congress in Washington to get things done, more so than any Commander-in-Chief of recent memory.

Meanwhile, Democrats who control both chambers of the legislature have butted heads with Rauner since the Republican and former businessman took office a year ago. Obama was a member of the Illinois Senate from 1997 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004. Obama continued by saying finding common ground between parties doesn’t make lawmakers worse or less of Democrats or Republicans. Dunkin jumped out of his chair and shouted “Yes!” before Obama verbally slammed him.

Obama said without compromise, citizens can not govern themselves.

“If we can’t compromise, by definition we can’t govern ourselves”, Obama said. It must be fought for, and won by all of us…It requires citizenship and a sense that we are one.

Some state legislators welcome the reform.

HORSLEY: Obama says partisans who brag about refusing to cut deals simply block what most Americans would regard as actual progress – fixing roads, educating kids, passing budgets.

Days later, the mayor, governor and secretary of state announced a project to salute Obama’s time in the capital city. Which is why, in my final State of the Union address, and in the one before that, I had to acknowledge that one of my few regrets is my inability to reduce the polarization and meanness in our politics. “I was able to be part of (reducing) that here and yet couldn’t translate it the way I wanted to into our politics in Washington”.

Obama said reducing the influence of money, making it easier to vote and ending the way voting districts were drawn politically would help solve the problem. We’re also considering automatic voter registration for every citizen when they apply for a driver’s license.

Hi, everybody. I’m speaking to you today from Springfield, Illinois.

The tone of Obama’s speech to the Illinois General Assemly wasn’t exactly a scolding, but more a lamentation of the polarized nature of current American politics coupled with a hopeful sentiment that Americans can and should be encouraged to do better. “And I think that’s okay”. “I should get some applause on that too”.

The crowd roared at Obama’s rebuke of the state lawmakers who has stood by Rauner’s side at press conferences.

Obama’s short stop in Springfield comes at the start of a weeklong trip to California, where he will raise money for Democrats and crack jokes on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”.

“It will be when I run countywide”, Obama recalled his bravado response.