Ex-Gov. Ryan: Rauner, Madigan need to 'sit down and talk'

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Former Illinois Governor George Ryan spoke about his time in federal prison at his first public appearance since being released in 2013. He also said cooperation is the key to getting things done in Springfield.

Ryan, 81, spoke at a lunch in Waukegan, Ill., sponsored by the Coalition to Reduce Recidivism, an organization that helps parolees avoid going back to prison.

"Justice is supposed to be blind. But the fact is most people are blind to the justice system," Ryan said.

The Republican, who spent more than five years in prison after a federal corruption conviction, has kept a low profile since his release in 2013. Before his own legal troubles came to light, Ryan led the effort to abolish the death penalty in Illinois.

"He was the spearhead of that effort to abolish the state's death penalty. Please give him a round of applause for that," State Senator Kimberly Lightford, (D) Maywood, said.

Referencing the current budget stalemate in Springfield, State Senator Terry Link, a democrat from Vernon Hills, praised Ryan for being the last Republican governor with whom they got along.

"Where today we don't even see the governor, let alone try to work together on something," Link said.

"Governing is about cooperation and getting along. You're going to have your differences but you've always got to at some point resolve your differences and govern," Ryan said.

Ryan, who said he remains a loyal Republican, would not take sides in the current dispute. However, he said he could always make a deal with House Speaker Michael Madigan because they spoke with each other on a regular basis.

"They're not meeting, I understand," Ryan said of IL Gov. Bruce Rauner and Madigan. "And that's the first thing they've got to do is sit down and talk about things, maybe just the two of them," Ryan said.