By Madison Mings
Editor
SPRINGFIELD – Another historical visit was made by President Barack Obama Feb. 10. President Obama stopped by in Springfield, IL again to address the Illinois General Assembly about issues with the state budget crisis.
The last time we had a visit from the President was nine years ago in 2007. President Obama came to the Old State Capitol to announce that he was running for President.
At 10:05 a.m. Air Force One left Washington/ The White House. Then at 11:13 a.m. Air Force One arrived at the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport.
President Obama then went downtown to grab something to eat at his favorite spot when he was a senator, The Feed Store. He said hello and shook hands with customers. The employees of the Feed Store had 30 minutes notice that the President would be stopping by for lunch.
At 1:25 President Obama began to address his 1 hour speech to the Illinois General Assembly at the Illinois State Capitol.
The lame duck President summarized that Democrats and Republicans need to come together about issues and not be so polarized and try to end gridlock.
President Obama thought back to the good times as a state senator in Springfield when he worked with Republicans.
“Where I’ve got opportunity to find some common ground that doesn’t make me a sellout, it means to get stuff done. The same applies to Republicans. When I hear voices in either party boast up their refusal to compromise listeners in or itself. I’m not impressed.” He said.
President Obama called it a “myth” that the political environment today is unique or hopeless and that politicians today aren’t more beholden than they have been in the past.
“We’ve gone through periods when we thought democracy was struck.” Obama said. “We have to find a new way to do business. We’re in one of those moments.”
President Obama has 11 months left in office and he listed four solutions he said would help accomplish his goal of a better politics. They include reducing “Some of the corrosive influence of money in our politics.”
“I don’t believe that money is speech of that political spending should have no limits or shouldn’t be disclosed,” Obama said.
Obama called for changes in the way congressional districts are drawn after the decennial census. He said both partners are guilty of gerrymandering districts to achieve a political advantage.
“Nobody has clean hands on this thing.” Said Obama. “In America, Politicians should not pick their voters, voters should pick their politicians.”
Obama’s comments mentioned specifically congressional districts, not political map that determine state legislatures. Gov. Bruce Rauner wants changes to legislative redistricting as part of his turnaround agenda.
Obama said there should be steps taken to increase voter participation. Also the same day registration and early voting, he mentioned a bill sponsored by Sen. Andy Manar, D- Bunker Hill to automatically register voters when they apply for driver licenses.
“As one of your constituents, I think you should pass that legislation right away.” He said.
Finally, he said to those in the political area should exhibit more civility.
“We can’t move forward if all we do is tear each other down.” He said.
Springfield area lawmakers said they were unsure if Obama’s speech would help Illinois break its political over the budget and Rauner’s agenda.
Madison Mings can be reached at [email protected]