State Senator Chuck Weaver, a Peoria Republican, says he thought Governor Bruce Rauner reached across the aisle in his State of the State speech. The senator says he's optimistic that the General Assembly can reach a bipartisan deal on pensions.
"The point that people need to remember is he's stepping way out from where he wants to be to try and meet the other side and work with President Cullerton on this and I think that's the thing we need to take away. People say the governor is inflexible, but the governor is trying to make this work."
In his speech today, Rauner said Illinois has the worst unfunded pension liability in the U.S. He is supporting Senate President John Cullerton's plan to reform the pension system. However, they disagree on collective bargaining rights.