Obama arrives in Springfield to address state lawmakers

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - 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.