By Alex Degman/Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Bruce Rauner is responding to some Republicans who’ve disagreed with his approach.
Former Gov. Jim Edgar suggested Rauner and lawmakers get a state budget together before addressing his, admittedly, good ideas. Jim Thompson said state government is more dysfunctional than he’s ever seen.
Rauner shot back with some words of his own.
“I don’t spend any time criticizing my fellow Republicans,” Rauner told reporters Thursday at Charlie Parker’s Diner in Springfield, which he was visiting to promote its standing in a national breakfast food contest. “I do not spend any time criticizing decisions made in the past that created the mess we’re dealing with.”
Rauner’s likely referring, at least in part, to the pension ramp implemented in 1995 which requires annually increasing payments. He notes the state’s now paying more than $7 billion a year into the system, compared to less than $1 billion 20 years ago.