Last week's budget compromise between the governor and Illinois General Assembly "is a very important step in the right direction." That's according to Governor Bruce Rauner who stopped in Moline today to shake hands with local residents and talk about the partial year, stop-gap plan.
He says the state will spend much less than democrats wanted, and "that's a big deal." And the compromise doesn't just bail out Chicago schools.
"I work for the kids there, but I work for the kids in the Quad Cities, too. I want all schools to get a little bit more money, a little more affrodable money. And that's what we did, we got all schools more money on an affordable basis. That's a big deal."
As for revenue, Rauner says a tax increase is possible.
"Speaker Madigan said last December he wants the income tax to go back up to 5 percent. You know, I'm not sure that's the right level. But I'll say I'm open to some ideas, and I'll work with them on a bipartisan basis. But we need reforms to grow our economy. That's what we need."
The governor says democratic leaders, or as he now calls them "the super majority," also agreed to consider pension reform later this year.
