McHenry County reps react to President Obama’s Illinois Legislature address

“I care about fixing our politics not just because I’m president today, but because next year I’ll still hold the most important title of all – an American citizen.”

In the presidential campaign to succeed him, both parties are dealing with voters deeply frustrated with the political climate.

Jarrett wrote “many of the policy ideas he [Obama] put forth have become reality”, emphasizing on the achievements made by the Obama Administration, emphasizing that the administration has cut the unemployment rate down to 4.9 percent from its almost 10 percent when Obama took office in 2009.

“See, I didn’t want this to be like a State of the Union speech where we have one side standing up and the other sitting down”, Obama said.

And for state Rep. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, the speech brought hope.

The president told lawmakers that the founding fathers left the keys to the system to lawmakers in order to make the system work, not stay in gridlock.

“This is the closing of his presidency, this is his past year in office”, said Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner.

Illinois Republicans have long sought a better shot at winning seats in the General Assembly, and they leapt to their feet applauding Obama which prompted the president to emphasize a caveat.

“American politics has never been particularly gentle or high minded, especially not during times of great change”, Obama said. A man who actually worked in Springfield as a state senator and then was elected president – twice – on a message of unity. The president suggested a few systemic remedies – limiting gerrymandering and secret money, making it easier, not harder, for people to vote.

In his remarks Wednesday, the IL native acknowledged that much has changed in nine years – but expressed disappointment that the political landscape in Washington has not. “I make no bones about it”, the president said before reeling off a list things he said he believes in, with those items winning applause largely from the Democratic side of the House chamber.

“For me it will be a continuation of what we’ve already started and are trying to do”, Bryant said.

A statement released by the White House said that the president would speak to lawmakers about “what we can do, together, to build a better politics – one that reflects our better selves”.

“This shouldn’t be controversial”, Obama said, noticing the difference in response. “I’m not saying the folks with a lot of money should have no voice; I’m saying they shouldn’t be able to drown out everybody else’s”.

Obama is returning to the place where he began his political career and the city where he announced his presidential candidacy nine years ago.