Obama plans Springfield speech as Democrats, Rauner war

President Barack Obama is scheduled to talk to state lawmakers at the Illinois Capitol next month.

"I look forward to welcoming President Obama to the State Capitol and hearing him speak about finding common ground between Republicans and Democrats," Gov. Bruce Rauner said. "Despite our political differences, the President and I share a passion for improving education, especially for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, a belief in the benefits of term limits and redistricting reform for restoring good government, and a strong desire to see more economic opportunity for all Illinoisans."

Rauner and Democrats are locked in a historically long war over the state budget, a stalemate that has led to cuts to social services, the threatened closure of a university and uncertainty about long-term taxes and spending here.

Obama used his spot in the Illinois Senate to win statewide election to the U.S. Senate in 2004.