The Latest: Obama discusses congressional district maps
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Latest on President Barack Obama's visit to Springfield, where he is addressing state lawmakers about how the U.S. can "build a better politics" (all times local):
2:05 p.m.
President Barack Obama says lawmakers should rethink how congressional districts are drawn as a way to improve the country's political climate.
Obama's comments Wednesday in an address to Illinois state lawmakers is sure to resonate with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and his GOP counterparts who've been pushing that idea. It's one of the policy changes Rauner wants from Democrats as he continues a standoff with them over a state budget, now eight months overdue.
Obama criticized gerrymandering and joked it's the reason "why our districts are shaped like earmuffs or spaghetti."
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1:50 p.m.
President Barack Obama is telling Illinois state lawmakers that people around the country are turned off by the current "poisonous political climate" in the U.S.
Obama is addressing state lawmakers in Springfield's state Capitol, the place where he got his political start as a state Senator. It's also the city where he announced his candidacy for president.
The president's speech is focused on how politicians can work better together. He told state lawmakers that partisanship makes people cynical and says "we gotta build a better politics."
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1:40 p.m.
President Barack Obama is reminiscing about his days in the Illinois legislature and his first lessons in politics.
Obama says one of his first speeches as young lawmaker was eloquent and passionate and that he was "feeling pretty good" about himself.
Then a party leader came by to throw cold water. Obama says the leader told him, "I think you changed a lot of minds, but you didn't change any votes."
Obama says the moment was his first lesson in humility.
The president is addressing the Illinois General Assembly in Springfield, speaking on the importance of political cooperation and bipartisanship.
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1:30 p.m.
President Barack Obama is telling lawmakers in the Illinois statehouse where he started his political career that he learned how to work together with others there and forge compromises.
Obama addressed the Illinois General Assembly Wednesday afternoon, nine years to the day he announced his presidential run at the Old State Capitol a few blocks away. Obama told lawmakers in the House chambers that he remembers his time in the legislature as a time when "we could fight like heck on one issue and shake hands on the next."
Obama's speech comes at a particularly vitriolic time in Illinois politics. Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats who control the Legislature can't agree on a state budget and the stalemate is entering its eighth month.
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1:15 p.m.
President Barak Obama has begun addressing Illinois lawmakers in Springfield.
Obama says it's "an incredible privilege" to address the group where he began his political career. It's also a few blocks where he announced nine years ago that he would make a run for the White House.
Obama thanked the lawmakers Wednesday afternoon "for such a warm welcome" as he returns home.
White House aides said Obama wanted to return to the place his career started to discuss how the U.S. can "build a better politics" in which Americans aren't so starkly divided by race, religion or political party.
However, his speech comes during a time when his home state is in disarray and entering the eighth month without a budget.
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12:15 p.m.
President Barack Obama has arrived at the Illinois state Capitol in Springfield where he is addressing lawmakers about how elected officials can work better together.
Obama is returning to the place where he began his political career and the city where he announced his presidential candidacy nine years ago.
Before his address Wednesday afternoon, Obama stopped by the Feed Store to pick up some barley soup and take selfies with customers. It's a restaurant he frequented during his time as a state senator in Springfield.
Obama was accompanied by longtime aides Valerie Jarrett and David Axelrod.
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11:50 p.m.
President Barack Obama has arrived in Springfield to address the Illinois Legislature on the ninth anniversary of his announcement at the Old State Capitol that he would make a run for the White House.
Obama's speech to Illinois lawmakers Wednesday afternoon comes during a time when his home state is in disarray and entering the eighth month without a budget.
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner greeted Obama at Springfield's Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport. The president was accompanied by Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth.
White House aides said Obama wanted to return to the place his career started to discuss how the U.S. can "build a better politics" in which Americans aren't so starkly divided by race, religion or political party.