The State of the State of Illinois in 2016

“It can be seen as being soft on crime, when in reality we’re being smart on crime”, said Rep. Scott Drury, a Democrat from Highwood. “But it is not too late for this General Assembly to make historic progress for the people of Illinois”, Rauner said.

After the speech, which made no mention of the state’s cash-starved university system or struggles faced by human-service providers that have been deprived of state funding, Democrats continued to balk at the governor’s agenda.

Democratic Senate President John Cullerton has said overhauling the way IL funds schools to make it more equitable is a top 2016 priority.

Democrats and their union allies have said Rauner’s agenda would drive down wages and hurt the middle class. Because of the disagreement, lawmakers have been unable to agree on a budget for the fiscal year that started July 1.

Though Rauner returned to previous themes like weakening unions, the governor went out of his way to strike a more conciliatory tone with Democrats, who control the legislature. Rauner said he won’t sign off on a tax hike until Democrats give him some of his “structural reforms”.

“When I found out I was pregnant I was homeless and I went through severe depression”, said Love.

Rauner’s address received a mixed reaction from metro-east lawmakers.

He added, “The collection of choices we make to end this impasse must prioritize spending for the best interest of middle-class families and our most vulnerable residents”. However, Speaker of the House Mike Madigan has pointed to multiple votes by the House for a property tax freeze, all of which fell short. I am afraid we will be in for a long, tough, hot summer because the speaker of the House is bound and determined to show Gov. Rauner who is boss. “It’s going to require more money, but it’s something we can work on”. We have to create a situation that fosters business and people moving back into IL.

She says Illinois’ economy won’t revive unless there’s a change in the status quo. He realizes the legislature does not agree on everything, however we should be able to come to an agreement on something. “The governor should also be limited to two terms of four years”.

“Ultimately, we need state funding to be tied to a measure that is weighted and integrated so that all students across the State of IL are depending on their need, can get the funds need so that we can give them a great education”, said Humphries. College students are not receiving their financial aid, homebound seniors continue to suffer and mothers are lacking access to day care.

Another reporter: So, are you hopeful at this point.

Rauner is one of a handful of GOP governors elected in recent years to lead mostly Democratic states, such as Wisconsin and MI, which has produced some big collisions. “I’m also looking forward to tackling important issues this session such as property tax relief and eliminating burdensome government mandates”.

However, Republicans weren’t reading the governor’s remarks the same way.

Republicans, on the other hand, blamed Democratic leaders. It’s not unusual for him to be the worst-dressed man in a room, sporting plaid shirts that look like they came from the sale rack at a discount store. So who has benefited from the governor not having a budget for nearly a year?

Rauner’s office past year proposed limiting eligibility for some programs to save money during the state budget impasse.

“The state of the state is poor for poor people”, state Rep. LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago) said.

Rauner introduced plans to redesign how the government contracts services and buys goods, to modernize technology and to reduce the prison population, and he announced that he’s taken steps to move the state’s economic development agency into a private model. Rauner “has these side issues he has been holding to”.

“The problem is going to be many of our members are probably going to say, ‘Well, that’s OK; that’s pension reform”.

Cullerton said the pension bill he and Rauner are working on does not include diminishment of collective bargaining for state employees.

“To achieve a grand compromise, we must cast partisanship and ideology aside”, he said.