Plenty of blame to go around

I implore our political leaders in Springfield, Gov. Rauner (R), Speaker Madigan (D), Senate President Cullerton (D), House Republican Leader Durkin (R), and Senate Republican leader Radogno (R) to do their jobs and pass a balanced budget. I urge my state representatives Rep. David Harris (R) and Sen. Matt Murphy (R) to pressure GOP leaders especially Gov. Rauner to negotiate a compromise with Democrats that everyone can live with. To those who blame the state's fiscal crisis entirely on the Democrats, I remind you that over the last 40 years, from Jan. 1975 to Jan. 2015, Republicans (Thompson 14 years, Edgar 8, Ryan 4) have held the governorship for 26 years to the Democrats (Walker 2, Blagojevich and Quinn 12) 14 years. I didn't even include Rauner's 1½ years in office in the 40 years.

Every governor has veto power to reject a budget he does not like. Republican governors who didn't like budget bills sent to them by the legislature over the last 40 years could have vetoed them and negotiated better budgets. They didn't.

There is enough blame to go around. Leaders, get a budget now and work together to solve the state's problems without trying to gain a political advantage over the other party.

You, Republicans and Democrats in Springfield, owe the people of Illinois an apology for last 41½ years of mismanagement.

James Backes

Des Plaines