Appeals court rules against Rauner term limit measure

CHICAGO (WLS) -- An appeals court has ruled that a question about term limits can't be on the Illinois ballot in November.

The group seeking term limits, led by republican governor candidate Bruce Rauner, is now expected to take the dispute to the Illinois Supreme Court.

After a Cook County court ruled against the term limits effort earlier this summer, supporters saw their first appeal rejected Wednesday afternoon.

In its ruling, the Illinois Court of Appeals in effect says the 600,000 signatures collected in support of the measure mean nothing.

The judges agreed with a lower court ruling that the initiative to impose term limits on lawmakers is not a "structural and procedural" change as required by the state constitution.

Rauner spent many thousands of dollars of own money as he chaired the effort to limit state House and Senate terms to eight years. His lawyers attached language changing the sizes of the chambers, and raising the number of votes needed to override a governor's veto, hoping to meet the structural and procedural requirement.

The appeals court wasn't buying.

Rauner said Tuesday that he would appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court.

"We'll encourage the justices to rule in this case," Rauner said. "Let's get term limits on the ballot so the people of Illinois can decide."

The high court must make a final decision by Friday, the last working day before the Nov. 4 ballot is certified.

In another campaign development Wednesday, Rauner agreed to eight joint appearances with Gov. Pat Quinn, including three formal debates.

One of the agreed-to debates will happen on ABC7, though the exact October is date to be determined.