Big crowds, not always friendly, greet Gov. Rauner - WSIL-TV 3 Southern Illinois

 

MARION -- Gov. Bruce Rauner, booed by union members outside the civic center Wednesday, told voters inside a town hall event that he's not the anti-labor leader he's been portrayed.

"If you like the current system on prevailing wage, if you like the current system on collective bargaining and everything, keep it," Gov. Rauner told them. "That's fine. I don't want to strip anybody's collective bargaining wage."

What he supports, he said, are local communities deciding those issues. He has said previously that local governments' costs are higher in Illinois because public employees are unionized.

The distinction Rauner is trying to draw on the issue matters little to Lisa Sharp, a construction worker from Jonesboro, who was among those protesting the governor's visit to Marion.

"He's very non-union. And we're very against that," Sharp said.

After the Q&A session with voters wrapped-up inside the civic center, Becky Thompson of Herrin told News 3 she'd come to hear when the state might have a budget. It's not likely until January when the General Assembly's rules will allow financial bills to be passed with a simple majority, rather than the super majority required now, Rauner told the crowd.

Thompson, who describes herself as "in the middle" politically, also liked it when Rauner said, "We're not the state of Chicago. We're the state of Illinois."

"Yes!" Thompson said, laughing. "Even though I lived there in that area for 25 years, I always said when we were there that 'Chicago rules.' And he's not going to let 'em."

It was then off to Marion Junior High School for Gov. Rauner, who presented certificates to eagle scouts and spoke to a student assembly in the gym. As he entered, the band was playing at high tempo, giving it the vibe of an old-fashioned pep rally. Rauner even went over and mingled with band members, shaking some of the kids' hands.

"I was actually kind of nervous when he was watching me, just because he's the governor!" said 7th grader Victoria Shore, who plays the clarinet. "And he was watching my band play. But all at the same time, it was really special."

Students had some questions about the state's debt and agency cutbacks. They also wanted to know where Gov. Rauner lives. He told them on the third floor of an 1800's governor's mansion. Someone else wanted to know where Rauner went to college. He went to Dartmouth in New Hampshire before getting his MBA at Harvard.

Another student asked what tasks he has to perform.

Gov. Rauner told the students he meets with world leaders, attends funerals for fallen officers and firefighters, and signs bills into law.

"Well, I think it's pretty important," 6th grader Reid Williamson said afterward. "And it's a lot of work. It's almost like being president."

Even down to the part where the other party controls the legislature and no one's sure when an entire fiscal year's budget might

Big crowds, not always friendly, greet Gov. Rauner - WSIL-TV 3 Southern Illinois