Gov. Bruce Rauner Wednesday called on lawmakers to work past the “difficult” 2015 year in the legislature and work together to reach a “grand compromise” in 2016 to turn around the state.

 

However, during his 35-minute State of the State speech, his second as governor, Rauner repeated the need to pass components of his "turnaround agenda" that has so far resulted in gridlock at the Capitol, leaving the state without a budget in place seven months into the fiscal year.

 

That budget gridlock was reflected by the hundreds of protesters who chanted slogans outside the House chamber while Rauner delivered his speech. They were members of the Responsible Budget Coalition, which has tried to underscore the damage being done to nonprofit human-service organizations and higher education because of the budget impasse.

 

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