Letter to Dave Koehler, Jehan Gordon-Booth, and Chuck Weaver:

I am writing to ask you to start or join a movement to advance a solution to the impasse that exists in Springfield. As you well know, people in Illinois suffer as this situation goes on. Vital services are being cut and the most vulnerable are being affected. I believe this was the governor’s plan all along to hold these people hostage, a cynical ploy. There are enough legislators in Springfield, Democrat and Republican, to come to an agreement, pass a budget, and override the governor’s veto. “Primary” is not verb, so the threat of being “primaried” is not only undemocratic, it is ungrammatical. Is holding on to a seat more important than serving the people? Who has power in Illinois, people or a party or governor? Anyone could have beaten Pat Quinn. Rauner does not have a mandate even though he may believe so. He is one man who, through spending much of his own wealth, came to the governor’s office. Each of you represents a district made up of Illinois citizens who expect you to do a job for us and not for party leaders. I am nearly 70 years old and have lived in Illinois all my life except for Peace Corps service. I own a centennial farm in Bureau County, and I live in Peoria Heights. I have grandchildren in public schools and a granddaughter at ISU. This impasse is doing more damage to Illinois on purpose than any previous government did by accident. It is your job to work for the people, not one party or one individual.

Burt Raabe

Peoria Heights