Gov. Bruce Rauner gave his fourth State of the State Address yesterday in Springfield, while facing fierce opposition in his re-election bid this year.
Republican Sen. Chuck Weaver applauded the order as well. Weaver wrote down one quote from the address, which was “turn yesterday into tomorrow.”
Both Rauner and Weaver say Illinois has numerous assets, “and I believe our political environment in Springfield – I believe – has been the main thing that’s caused that to be halted, and the Governor is saying lets take a look at how we did it yesterday, with regard to some of the great things we’ve had in this country before the political system tore them apart, and how do we go back to letting people do a great job with their businesses.”
Weaver summed up the speech by saying Rauner “outlined his successes but stood firm in the challenges that remain.” He was pleased that Rauner used this speech to bring up the Discovery Partners Institute, an effort to link research to entrepreneurship through the University of Illinois System.
Weaver was pleased that Rauner used this speech to bring up the Discovery Partners Institute, an effort to link research to entrepreneurship through the University of Illinois System.
The Governor was also boastful about the way he’s handled the outbreak of Legionella at the Quincy Veteran’s Home that killed 13 residents in 2015, a topic his political opponents have attacked him on.
Rauner’s opponent in the Republican primary for governor this spring, Rep. Jeanne Ives called Rauner’s 7-day at the Quincy Veteran’s Home a “publicity stunt.” Rep. Dan Swanson doesn’t see it that way, “As a military member, when the commander is willing to get in the fox hole with the soldier, to me that is a good thing. To get first hand experience of what it is like at the level.”
He thought he hit a lot of the “high points” including talking about an executive order the governor signed just Wednesday, that would create a chief compliance officer in the executive branch to handle sexual harassment allegations and urged the legislator to do the same.
A quote that resonated with Swanson from the State of the State was a phrase the governor has used before, “we can not tax and borrow our way to prosperity.”
Swanson also called Rauner’s remarks “upbeat.”
Sen. Jil Tracy told WGIL she was encouraged that Rauner continues to push for measures like term limits and workers comp reform.
