By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – Illinois’ governor spoke about the state’s budget impasse and again touted his turnaround agenda in Bloomington Monday.

Gov. Bruce Rauner told the crowd of McLean County Chamber of Commerce members at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts he’s “cautiously optimistic” a budget will be passed by mid-January. He had a few reasons for that belief, one of which is Chicago’s financial situation.

“Frankly, we should have had a budget with compromises done last June,” said Rauner. “The reason I think that in the next 60 to 90 days it’ll happen is Chicago needs the help. They’re running out of money. And after Jan. 1 it only needs a simple majority vote in the legislature to get anything done. Right now it needs a super majority.”

Rauner added he’s not willing to simply pass a “massive tax hike” to balance the budget without approving structural reforms in the state. He said both Republicans and Democrats support pieces of his agenda, but they aren’t willing to vote on them.

Rauner said he’s meeting frequently with the legislative leaders on the budget, but explained why he hasn’t met with them all at once.

“I used to do four leader meetings in May and June. I found the dynamic among the four is not real constructive; let me put it that way. I found much better progress when we negotiate one-on-one,” Rauner said.

Rauner also spoke Monday with students at Thomas Metcalf School. He said his job is “to think about the next generation, not the next election.”

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].