Statehouse Insider: Being correct isn't always enough

Sen. DAVE KOEHLER, D-Peoria, sort of stepped in it the other day.

Appearing on a Peoria television public affairs program, Koehler said funding for K-12 schools should be held up until there is agreement on a full state budget.

"I'm a believer this year that if we're really serious about getting the budget done, we don't separate out and fund K-12 for a whole year and then have a mess with the rest of the budget," Koehler said. "I say shut the schools down until we get a budget."

Koehler's comments apparently caught some of his fellow Democrats off guard. Several of them quickly issued statements saying they didn't agree with the notion of shutting down K-12 schools until a comprehensive budget is passed. Gov. BRUCE RAUNER's education secretary, BETH PURVIS, called Koehler's comments "irresponsible" and said they don't represent the views of the governor.

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