Oct. 22--Gov. Bruce Rauner on Thursday shot back at his fellow Republican predecessors who have criticized his leadership during the budget impasse, saying he is focused on the long game even if it causes some immediate disruption.
Rauner was responding to recent comments by former Govs. Jim Edgar and Jim Thompson who said Illinois government is in the worst shape they've seen.
The state has been operating without a full budget since July 1 as Rauner tries to push a pro-business, union-weakening agenda against staunch opposition from Democrats.
"I do not spend any time criticizing my fellow Republicans. I do not spend any time criticizing decisions made in the past that created the mess that we're dealing with. What we're focused on is the current situation and the future," Rauner said at a morning stop at a Springfield diner.
"We're going through some change, change is difficult, change causes pain. We believe very strongly that we're going to go through some short-term pain for some very long-term gain," Rauner said.
He dismissed suggestions that his refusal to back down could do more harm than good should he not eventually get his way, saying he's been encouraged by business leaders to "stay the course."
