© 2024 Peoria Public Radio
A joint service of Bradley University and Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Rauner says "forcing change" is no easy task

Governor Bruce Rauner was elected on the promise he would "shake up" state politics.

Today, he admitted he's struggling to make good on that pledge.

Rauner -- a Republican who has never before held public office -- told the nonpartisan Taxpayers Federation that Illinois began going "down the drain" a long time ago. He says the state's problems were created by politicians who took the easy way out.

"Forcing a change in the system? I knew it was going to be hard. It's harder than I thought. And it takes longer."

Illinois is in the midst of a historic political stalemate.  The state is in its tenth month without a budget ... as Rauner presses his agenda, and Democrats refuse to go along with it.

The governor is campaigning for term limits, a clamp-down on collective bargaining, and a workers' compensation system that's friendlier to businesses.   Democrats say those will hurt ... rather than help ... the economy.

Amanda Vinicky moved to Chicago Tonight on WTTW-TV PBS in 2017.