Obama to preach ‘better politics’ to bickering Ill. Capitol

Obama’s visit will mark the nine-year anniversary of his presidential campaign announcement on the steps of the Old State Capitol in 2007.

President Barack Obama took a trip down memory lane Wednesday, recalling more political collegiality in his home state of IL where he first held public office and decrying the fractious national political scene in Washington.

“Now, in the final year of his second term, the President looks forward to addressing the Illinois General Assembly on February 10 about what we can do, together, to build a better politics – one that reflects our better selves”, the White House statement read.

Ironically, or perhaps not so ironically, the president’s own words towards politicians of a different stripe haven’t always been so civil in the past.

Rather than reward the most extreme voices or whoever is best at “launching schoolyard taunts”, the president told IL lawmakers in Springfield that “we should insist on a higher form of political discourse that is based on respect”. The next major date on the IL legislative calendar is Governor Bruce Rauner’s budget address on February 17th.

“He came by and slapped me on the back and said, ‘Kid, that was a pretty good speech”.

The Illinois legislature has been bitterly divided over how to proceed economically as the state is now in its eighth month without a budget.

Restricting money’s influence on politics, changing the congressional redistricting process and removing barriers to register and vote were several solutions Obama suggested to cultivate bipartisanship.

Franks said Obama addressed, “how we as individuals, as lawmakers, have to put aside partisan differences and do what’s best for the citizens”. He believes all of his failures – and there have been many – are the fault of Congress, foreign leaders, or even the American people. “The speaker is probably not used to any other powerful men, certainly in the state of IL that he has to provide deference to”, Dunkin said.

Senate President John Cullerton also spoke fondly of Obama. He remembered attending the occasional fish fry, poker games, and having meals together.

IL senators and representatives were sitting in the House chambers, Republicans on one side of the room and Democrats on the other.

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

“It’s up to voters to make it happen, and we urge Illinoisans to volunteer through our website (MapAmendment.org) and help make reform a reality”.