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Obama Urges 'Better Politics' In Speech to Illinois Legislature

Brian Mackey/WUIS

President Barack Obama arrived at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield where he is addressing lawmakers about how elected officials can work better together.

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Part 2

"We have to find a better way of doing business," he said, " to build a better politics."

He told the lawmakers -- now mired in a budget impasse for more than seven months -- that a refusal to compromise is not a trait to be admired.

Obama told lawmakers that the Illinois statehouse was where he learned how to work together with others there and forge compromises.

Obama told lawmakers in the House chambers that he remembers his time in the legislature as a time when "we could fight like heck on one issue and shake hands on the next.''  

Obama's speech -- nine years to the day he announced his presidential run at the Old State Capitol a few blocks away -- comes at a particularly vitriolic time in Illinois politics.

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats who control the Legislature can't agree on a state budget and the stalemate is entering its eighth month. Obama addressed the Illinois General Assembly Wednesday afternoon,.

The President began by telling stories of his first term as a state senator, as a member of the Democratic minority  at the time -- some two decades ago.

He recalled his first speech, early hazing, visiting sites around the capitol and more.

Obama says one of his first speeches as young lawmaker was eloquent and passionate and that he was ``feeling pretty good'' about himself.  Then a party leader came by and threw cold water. Obama says the leader told him, "I think you changed a lot of minds, but you didn't change any votes.'' Obama says the moment was his first lesson in humility. 

Many of the president's tales elicited laughter and applause from the packed chamber, which included former Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat, as well as current legislators and officials.

The president spoke about the current political climate in the country and within Illinois, saying that all sides need to work together.

He detailed three areas that he considers of paramount importance: Getting big money out of politics, putting an end to grossly gerrymandered districts, and making voting easier.

Rauner greeted Obama at Springfield's Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport. The president was accompanied by Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth.

Before his address, Obama stopped by the Feed Store restaurant to pick up some barley soup and take selfies with customers. It's a place he frequented during his time as a state senator in Springfield.  

White House aides said Obama wanted to return to the place his career started to discuss how the U.S. can ``build a better politics'' in which Americans aren't so starkly divided by race, religion or political party.

  • The Associated Press contributed to this report.