Edgar to Rauner: Passing a budget should be first priority

Posted on October 15, 2015

By John Gregory/Illinois Radio Network

CHICAGO – Former Gov. Jim Edgar is criticizing the current governor from his own party for the current budget stalemate.

In a lecture to political science students at the University of Illinois-Chicago, Edgar said he supports some of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposals, but believes Rauner’s demands amount to “holding the budget hostage.”

“One of the things I’ve learned as governor, you can’t do everything you want to do at one time,” Edgar said. “You’ve got to set priorities and you’ve got to wait for the ripe opportunity, and I think the priority right now has to be to get a budget.”

Edgar labeled the current stalemate as perhaps worst “mess” he’s seen in his years following state government, and he guessed that if there was ever trust between Rauner and Democratic lawmakers, it “pretty well got wiped out” by the TV ads run by Rauner’s campaign committee in June.

When asked if he had any specific recommendations for Rauner, Edgar said he’s advised the governor to focus on the budget several times, but to no avail.

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