Governor encourages bi-partisan compromise and focus, focus, focus

Gov. Bruce Rauner and Republicans leaders Monday reiterated that lawmakers must pass reforms to workers compensation, pensions and other issues before they’ll entertain talks of a tax increase to balance the budget.

Speaking at a Statehouse news conference, Rauner said he is “cautiously optimistic” that rank-and-file lawmakers will be able to negotiate compromises on reforms that Rauner said are essential to growing the state’s economy.

“We’ve got eight days left,” Rauner said. “We’re encouraging bi-partisan compromise and focus, focus, focus. Hopefully, we don’t get all bogged down on a lot of other issues.”

Rauner and the four legislative leaders last week agreed to appoint people to working groups that would work on proposals for workers compensation reforms to control business costs, property tax relief coupled with local government cost controls and changes to pensions to save the state money.
“These are not partisan issues,” Rauner said. “They are good government issues.” SJ-R has the rest of the story.