* Pretty much expected…

November 13, 2015

Dear Speaker Madigan, Leader Durkin, President Cullerton and Leader Radogno:

I am writing to follow-up on our upcoming meeting scheduled for November 18th at 8:30 AM.

Each of us brings strong and passionate views to this meeting related to the structural reforms needed to turn around Illinois and the spending/revenue levels needed to balance the budget. The people of Illinois deserve to hear our negotiating positions in a dignified and respectful manner — uninterrupted and unfiltered. At the same time, I acknowledge the bipartisan concerns we’ve received about allowing this meeting to become political theater rather than constructive negotiation.

Therefore, I propose the following agenda and format:

• We convene the meeting in the Governor’s Office in Springfield. For approximately the first hour of the meeting, we will have a pool camera deliver a live feed to media outlets around the state. I will make brief opening remarks to welcome everyone and explain the format.

• At that point, we will allot 10 minutes for each leader to make his or her case to the people of Illinois — uninterrupted and unfiltered. While you can discuss any issues you’d like, I suggest it may be most productive for each leader to use their 10 minutes on the issues about which they feel most passionately: Speaker Madigan, balancing the budget with specific additional taxes/revenue details; Leader Durkin, the need for reform before revenue; President Cullerton, overall spending levels, pension reform and Chicago’s financial crisis; Leader Radogno, economic reforms to improve the jobs climate like workers’ compensation reform; and I will focus on term limits, redistricting reform and local control of costs and property taxes. Again, these are only suggested topics.

• After all of us have had the opportunity to deliver our 10 minutes of remarks to the people of Illinois, we will ask the pool camera to leave so we can continue with constructive negotiations in private.

• When the meeting has adjourned, the opportunity for media availability for any and all participants will take place outside the Governor’s Office.

I believe this plan is reasonable and equitable to all parties. It affords each of us the opportunity to address the people of Illinois without interruption or media filter — and it strikes a balance to ensure we maintain decorum and a constructive atmosphere for negotiations.

Please have your chiefs of staff follow up with Mike Z with any questions or comments.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner Governor