Gov. Bruce Rauner spent part of his State of the State address laying a new 10-point education agenda. Rauner’s plan includes increased funding for early childhood education, allowing districts to make changes to collective bargaining and bidding, and creating a new education entity within state government
The top priority in Rauner’s plan is changing how state education aid is distributed to schools. Senate President John Cullerton applauded its inclusion in the address, saying “If the governor wants to work with Senate Democrats, committing to a better school funding system is a good way to start.”
In other State news, the leading Senate Republican scoffs at the the leading House Democrat saying there have been some accomplishments where lawmakers and the governor found common ground without the governor demanding his agenda. Reacting to the governor’s State of the State speech, Speaker Michael Madigan said there have been accomplishments in record K-12 spending, correcting the 2015 fiscal year budget, landmark public safety legislation, like body cameras, and updates to unemployment insurance. Madigan said in each instance there weren’t strong demands from the governor.
Governor Bruce Rauner laid out his “turnaround agenda” again Wednesday for his second State of the State speech.
