Rauner Optimistic Democratic Party Rank and File Will Revolt to Do a Budget Deal

CHICAGO, May 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner told Dan Proft and Amy Jacobson on AM 560 "The Answer", in an exclusive interview for Upstream Ideas, he is optimistic Democrats will band together to get a state budget passed by the end of the legislative session on May 31 because unlike House Speaker Michael Madigan, they are privately "sick of the status quo" and are gathering up the courage to "do the right thing."

"They know we need reform; they know we need to grow our economy; they know our property taxes are too high; they agree that the reforms that were recommended actually make sense and are reasonable," Rauner said.

The governor said fear of retribution from Madigan has made it difficult for one or two Democrats to break away and support reform, but that fear would be significantly reduced if a sizeable group comes forward in support of "a grand compromise" that favors Illinois taxpayers.

In previous months, Democrats were afraid to stand up to Madigan, fearing their stance would harm their chances in the primaries, Rauner said. But now that risk no longer exists.

"We've got one week left, and if we focus and don't get distracted with other issues, and we focus on grand compromise bipartisan reforms, I think we can get some good things done," he said.

• On being labeled anti-public sector union due to AFCSME contract dispute:  "We have made a fair proposal. Some of the union leaders are used to getting 100 percent their way. They've been able to do that in Illinois for decades and it's been a big problem."
• On giving local governments more control over union dealings as part of the Turnaround Agenda: "I'm not taking away anybody's collective bargaining right. But what I'm saying is that each community should be controlled by its own residents."
• On Illinois debt not being a revenue issue:  "We have been deficit spending -- spending too much and then borrowing to cover it -- and then eventually raising taxes to help pay for some of the debt. That cycle of financial mismanagement has been going on for decades, and we've got to stop it.
• On cuts to education: "I'm fighting to increase school funding. I increased it last year; I'm increasing it again this year. Our kids and our schools should come first."

About Upstream Ideas

Upstream Ideas, under the leadership of Dan Proft – one of Illinois' sharpest political minds, provides expository content with new information and fresh perspectives meant to inform policy discussions, debunk faulty premises and challenge accepted orthodoxies. Proft is one of Chicago's most respected talk radio personalities and a senior fellow at the Illinois Policy Institute, a free-market think tank. He is also a frequent editorial contributor to the Chicago Tribune.

SOURCE Upstream Ideas