Cullerton Hopes President Obama's Visit Has Effect On State Lawmakers
(CBS) -- Senate President John Cullerton made an appearance at today's meeting of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, talking about the President Barack Obama's February 10 visit to Springfield and the effort to continue funding higher education amid the on-going budget battle.
According to the White House, the president intends to speak to the General Assembly about "what we can do, together, to build a better politics."
Senate President John Cullerton recently wrote the president, saying now would be a good time for a visit.
"Well, he's had some problems, himself, in Washington, so he's certainly aware what the conflict is like," Cullerton said. "He's had to fight that. Hopefully he'll have an effect on all of us."
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Rev. Jesse Jackson, sharing the stage with Cullerton, also noted the president has had the same struggles as the Democrats and the governor.
"I don't expect the president to come here and get involved in a local fight between the governor and the House and Senate," Jackson said. "He's not done nothing in Washington because they're so ideological."
Cullerton also urged college students across the state to call the governor's office to tell him to sign the $700 million to continue funding colleges and grants for low-income students.
The governor has said he'd veto the bill and Republicans have said the state can't afford it without a budget.
The state has not had a budget since July 1.
