(WJBC file photo)

By John Gregory/Illinois Radio Network

CHICAGO – Former Gov. Pat Quinn thinks Illinois may be feeling buyer’s remorse after hearing Gov. Bruce Rauner’s budget plan.

In his first appearance in front of reporters since leaving office, Quinn didn’t shy away from criticizing the cuts his successor is proposing.

“I think if anybody in Illinois knew the budget he presented last week was what he had in store, the election result would’ve been different,” Quinn said. “That’s the worst budget I’ve ever seen any governor presented in the history of Illinois.”

Quinn says he hopes legislators resist Rauner’s budget proposal. As to how Rauner has been talking about him since taking office, Quinn says he has a thick skin, and defends the executive orders he issued just before leaving. Rauner quickly rescinded many of them.

Quinn was asked if he thinks recall, an amendment he supported, could be possible for Rauner, but he would only say “I think it should be on the books and the people can decide whether to use it.”