Thursday, October 29, 2015

Politico Magazine Covers Illinois Political Standoff

Politico Magazine published an article discussing the deep political differences that have led to Illinois' four month long budget impasse. From the article:
Anyone who understands the “my way or the highway” personalities of the state’s rookie Republican governor, Bruce Rauner, 58, a private equity mogul in his first elective office, and its veteran Democratic Speaker of the House Michael Madigan 73, who has, in effect, been running the state for decades—he won his House seat in 1971 and, has been speaker almost continuously since 1983—knows that Green might be right. “This is a state that doesn’t believe in compromise,” Green says. “It’s in neither combatants’ interest to cave in now.” 

On his side, Rauner insists that enough is enough. He refuses to soften his stance that he will not negotiate on the budget until Democrats agree to his broader business-friendly “turnaround agenda.” Without more fundamental reforms, Rauner argues, Illinois may get a budget, but it will be the same old red-ink mess that has hobbled the state’s growth.