© 2024 St. Louis Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Other

Blagojevich Delivers State of the State

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.
UPI
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

By AP/KWMU

Springfield, Ill. – Illinois lawmakers and officials say Governor Blagojevich delivered a better speech in this year's state of the state.

They say the governor presented a much more optimistic tone for this session than his speech blasting the education bureaucracy last year.

Both Republicans and Democrats applauded the governor for highlighting problems such as reform for medical malpractice and worker's compensation insurance.

But some criticized the speech for being light on details.

Senator Dan Rutherford says he needs more details on the governor's plans, particularly those aimed at attracting more businesses to Illinois.

"To see some of the stuff and testimony the past two years, of the increased fees particularly that have taken place, and now we're saying we're going to go out and help business, I think it's somewhat inconsistent with a pattern that's been but we've got to see what we can do to help it," Rutherford said.

Blagojevich also repeated his call for a new law barring the sale of violent or sexually explicit video games to minors.

The governor will give his budget address February 16th.

Other