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Rauner: 'Treading Water' On Agenda, Budget

Gov. Bruce Rauner spoke in public Wednesday for the first time since Tuesday's big summit with legislative leaders.

Brian Mackey reports the governor's assessment of his meeting with legislative leaders.

Raunersays he's not expecting quick progress in his standoff with Democrats in the General Assembly.

The governor says he wants Illinois to be more business-friendly. He's also proposing legislation to weaken labor unions, something Democrats say they'll never do.

"My sense is we're in a little bit of a treading water phase," Rauner said. "So my sense is we'll have a dialog, but we all know where we are."

Illinois has avoided a complete shutdown through a mix of court orders and limited action by the legislature and governor. But universities and social service agencies are struggling. They haven't seen state money in months.

Copyright 2015 NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS

Brian Mackey covers Illinois state government and politics from the WUIS Statehouse bureau. He was previously A&E editor at The State Journal-Register and Statehouse bureau chief for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. He can be reached at (217) 206-6020.
Brian Mackey
Brian Mackey formerly reported on state government and politics for NPR Illinois and a dozen other public radio stations across the state. Before that, he was A&E editor at The State Journal-Register and Statehouse bureau chief for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.