Gov. Bruce Rauner wrapped a 10-city tour with a visit to a Champaign manufacturer Wednesday. As his call for budget reforms wrapped at HL Precision Manufacturing on the city's west side, about 25 members of state government unions called on the Republican governor to 'do your job', saying Rauner should come to the table to negotiate with AFSCME. A Rauner spokesperson says the trek around the state, which was not on the governor's official schedule, was not about his re-election campaign, although it was paid for with political funds.

State senators are meeting in Springfield this week.  But the Illinois House is not scheduled to return to the Capitol until April.  On Tuesday, Gov. Bruce Rauner criticized House Speaker Michael Madigan, saying the Democratic leader would rather 'go on vacation.'

President Obama has voiced a commercial asking voters to support Juliana Stratton, Rep. Ken Dunkin's opponent for the Democratic nomination for Illinois' 5th House District.  The race is largely seen as a proxy war between House Speaker Michael Madigan, who's supporting Stratton, and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, whose allies are supporting Dunkin.

The Illinois Senate, led by Democrats, has approved legislation that would let an outside arbitrator settle state-employee wages and working conditions if talks reach an impasse.  It passed by a 38-17 vote Thursday and now heads to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's desk. He vetoed an identical proposal last year.

A new effort from Democrats to fund Illinois' financially strapped state universities and community colleges is getting a cold reception from Gov. Bruce Rauner.