News Local/State

Rauner Calls For Compromise, Then Attacks

 
Senate President John Cullerton, Gov. Bruce Rauner, and House Speaker Michael Madigan are pictured in these file photos.

Senate President John Cullerton, Gov. Bruce Rauner, and House Speaker Michael Madigan are pictured in these file photos. Brian Mackey/NPR Illinois

Gov. Bruce Rauner has called state legislators back to Springfield this week. He says he wants a budget deal. But Rauner is also spending money attacking Democrats.

The attacks have come in at least three forms: online ads, direct mail, and TV commercials.

RAUNER AD: “Mike Madigan will do anything to keep power. …”

Rauner is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on that ad alone. At the same time, he’s calling for people to “come together” on the state budget.

Senate President John Cullerton says that’s not way to start negotiations.

Speaking on WGN radio’s “The Sunday Spin,” he said imagine sitting down to talk about something with your spouse: “You don’t really want to start off by saying, 'You know, before we start, I just wanted to let you know that I always really hated your mother.'"

Legislators are scheduled to begin 10 days of special sessions on Wednesday.