Chambana Sun

In the wake of Cook County's decision to omit the possibility of creating independent legislative map boundaries in Illinois, Gov. Bruce Rauner recently urged the General Assembly to include term limits on its fall agenda.

Preparing for a two-day tour of jurisdictions from Rockford to Mt. Vernon, Rauner reiterated the need for reform on term limits and “fair maps” in the face of lawmakers’ repeated denials for improvement in both areas.

“We cannot let this stand,” the governor said. “The only way to overcome entrenched political power is for the people of Illinois to never give up, to keep pushing forward for reform.”

Estimating that 80 percent of voters favor term limits, he pledged to “continue the fight to make it happen.” Summarizing his 18 months in office, Rauner verbalized the issues candidly, both admitting frustration and vowing determination.

“I've learned just how entrenched the politicians holding power are,” he said. “They don't want to change. They are focused on their own power, rather than empowering people. But I have also learned that you want me to keep working to fix our broken political system.”

Career politicians have seemingly prevailed by sheer exemption from the laws that apply to the regular business world, the governor stated.

“If they play their cards right, they've got a lifetime job,” said Rauner. Yet, he pointed out, a vast majority (88 percent) of state-level candidates ran unopposed in their primaries; and two-thirds face no opponents in the upcoming general election.

“That's not democracy,” he stated. “That's a rigged system.”

Acknowledging that implementing term limits is not a fix-all solution to Illinois’ problems — including corruption, too-high property taxes, pension woes and more — Rauner emphasized that progress can be achieved incrementally and help to avoid stagnation.

“We're facing tough challenges, but we can … work together for reform,” Rauner said. “One step at a time … It starts with term limits.”