Rauner ad targets Madigan, IL Dems

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WLS) -- Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner took out new ads targeting House Speaker Michael Madigan and Illinois Democrats as he tries to drum up support in his battle over the budget.

Rauner, who proved during his campaign there was virtually no limit to what he'd spend to get elected, has again reached into his political pocketbook to win support for his policies.

In the ad, Madigan and Democratic lawmakers are the "bad guys."

"Illinois is at a crossroads. Mike Madigan and the politicians he controls refuse to change," the ad says. "All they want is higher taxes. Again."

"Change in Springfield isn't easy. But you didn't send me here to do what's easy," Rauner said.

Rauner spent more than $30 million of his own fortune to get elected. His political action committee reportedly will shell out another $800,000 in the next two weeks to spin the governor's side of the budget controversy.

"I think that he's still in campaign mode. I'd like him to get over the campaign mode and start governing," State Senator John Cullerton, (D) IL Senate president, said.

Rauner vows never to sign a tax increase to resolve the state's budget deficit until Democrats, who control the General Assembly, agree to pro-business, anti-union reforms.

"We'd all like to sit down at the table with him, but it seems like we're being forced on his agenda and not the budget," State Representative Linda Chapa La Via, (D) Aurora, said.

"For the first time, the people of Illinois are going to hear another point of view," John Tillman of the Illinois Policy Institute, to which Rauner is a major donor, admits the governor is using money in an attempt to influence public policy. He said that for decades unions have used their money to direct policies set in place by Democrats.

"They've liked having monopoly control of the narrative. Now they've got a competitor and I think it's going to be good for the people of Illinois," he said.