REACTION IS PREDICTABLY MIXED TO GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER’S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

MANY REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS SAY THEY WERE PLEASED TO HEAR THE GOVERNOR CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON ISSUES LIKE WORKER’S COMPENSATION AND PENSION REFORM. BUT DEMOCRATIC HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE MADIGAN SAYS SOMETHING WAS MISSING.

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REPUBLICANS, LIKE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER JIM DURKIN, WERE ENCOURAGED BY THE GOVERNOR’S CALL FOR COMPROMISE BASED ON MUTUAL RESPECT BETWEEN POLITICAL PARTIES.

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REPUBLICANS WERE ALSO HAPPY TO HEAR THE GOVERNOR CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR PENSION AND WORKER’S COMPENSATION REFORM, AND TO FOCUS ON CREATING JOBS IN ILLINOIS.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES SAY THEY WERE DISAPPOINTED THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE HARDSHIPS AND REDUCTIONS IN SERVICE THEY ARE EXPERIENCING BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET IMPASSE.