Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner delivered his second annual state budget address Wednesday before a joint session of the Illinois General Assembly. The Governor struck a conciliatory tone. It comes after he's spent more than a year attacking majority Democrats as part of the problem. The governor mostly avoided details about spending -- with the exception of K-through-12 education, where he wants to increase state funding.
Rauner is giving Illinois lawmakers a choice to either implement his cost-saving proposals in exchange for a $36 billion budget or give him authority to make $4 billion in cuts to end a months-long budget stalemate. Rauner's address comes amid a historic budget gridlock that has Illinois operating without a budget for eight months now, triggering massive cuts to social service programs and higher education. Democrats have already balked at the idea of giving Rauner unilateral power to make cuts. And they've dismissed Rauner's suggested reforms, like curbing the power of unions and instituting term limits. A budget with cuts would be $32.8 billion because the state doesn't have enough revenue to match a $36 billion spending plan.
Governor Rauner touted steps he's taken that he believes will help save Illinois money amid historic budget gridlock. The first-term Republican governor reiterated ideas he's set into motion. He told lawmakers that his plan to cut the time it takes to buy products by streamlining the procurement process will save over $500 million a year.
Governor Rauner also says that selling the downtown Chicago building that houses state government officers, the James R. Thompson Center, will also cut costs for the state. He adds that he's also been negotiating with unions ``in good faith'' on plans that could save taxpayers of $3 billion over the next three years.
