Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner is attempting to frame the debate heading into Wednesday's special session of the General Assembly.
Rauner delivered a video message Tuesday night from the Old State Capitol Historic Site. It lasted three minutes, and was timed so it could be carried live on the evening news.
“Right now, our state is in real crisis,” Rauner said, "and the actions we take in the days ahead will determine how history remembers us."
The governor outlined his expectations for the special session: namely, legislators taking up his economic agenda then sending him a budget.
"We’ve asked the General Assembly to come together in a special session for the next 10 days – not as Democrats and Republicans – but as leaders who share bipartisan concern for our state’s future,” Rauner said.
Democrats say the governor’s call for “unity” rings hollow, since Rauner and the Republican Party have been attacking Democrats in TV commercials and direct mail. The Democrats also say they’ve tried to meet Republicans partway on Rauner's agenda, but the governor said their legislation was not good enough.
Rauner has made his agenda a precondition for negotiating on the budget throughout his term.