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Gov. Rauner Meets With Democratic Leaders Again and Hopes to Work Well With Trump Administration

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President-Elect Donald Trump (left) and Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (right)

Gov. Bruce Rauner and Illinois lawmakers are contemplating dire economic forecasts as they meet in search of a state budget deal.
The Republican governor and Democratic leaders have been unable to agree on a full-year spending plan for nearly two years. The state is operating with a partial budget that ends next month and lawmakers need to agree to a fiscal blueprint for the spring.

Rauner is optimistic something can get done before January because he believes some democrats are coming to his side on how to reach a balanced budget deal.
 
"I've personally seen and heard democratic rank and file legislators say, 'you know what, this is bologna'. Some have gotten brave enough to say it publicly. I think it was Elaine Nekritz, but others are saying privately, 'we need a balanced budget with reforms.' I think there's a growing sense within the rank and file, not with the leaders yet, the rank and file, let's do this."
 
Legislative leaders met with the governor at the Capitol Wednesday and discussed numbers released Tuesday by Rauner's budget director. They include an estimate that the state will be $7 billion in the red by June 30, and that the backlog of unpaid bills will top $13 billion by then.

Rauner avoided talking about Donald Trump throughout the presidential campaign. 

Wednesday, however, the governor opened up some. 

Rauner still didn't actually say Trump's name ... he left it at "President-Elect" and "new administration."

But Rauner did volunteer that he and Trump spoke by phone last Friday.

"I've had some good conversations with the new administration in Washington. 'Cause I want to try to figure out if we can work well together. 'Cause I want Illinois to benefit from the changes that are going to come in D.C. There's going to be big changes coming."

The governor went on to say that he's good friends with two of Trump's "senior folks."  Rauner's office refused to say who.

Rauner and Trump have a lot in common: They're both businessmen-turned-politicians who won voters with promises of change, and said their wealth would keep them independent of special interests.

The governor says it's the first time he'd spoken to Trump.

As a news producer and news anchor on All Things Considered, Brad provides the listeners with a recap of the day's top local and state news as well as breaking news at any given time. Contact WSIU Radio at 618-453-6101 or email wsiunews@wsiu.org
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