CHICAGO – "It's a lie for government to pretend it can protect you," former State Senator Steve Rauschenberger (R-Elgin) said this week in an video-recorded interview with Illinois Review. "It's an embarrassment [that elected officials responded as they did] – that's not American, it's not the people we are. We should never let this happen again this way."
"As things have become clearer that this is not going to kill five million Americans," Rauschenberger said. "I think there's been a slowness to address the real issues. We should be focused on the vulnerable, and let the rest of society get back to work, back to school and get on with their lives," Rauschenberger said.
The 6 min interview:
Steve Rauschenberger served in the Illinois General Assembly from 1993 to 2007, when Republicans held the majority and Pate Philip was Senate President.
Long known as one of the most articulate conservatives in the Illinois General Assembly, Rauschenberger continues to speak out on issues affecting the state of Illinois – where he still resides. He became President of the Technology & Manufacturing Association in 2015, where he continues to serve today.
During his early years in the Senate, he was a member of a group dubbed the "Fab Five." The group was made up of conservative state senators elected in 1992 who were anti-tax, pro-balanced budget and often challenged the Republican leadership of Senate President Pate Philip and Governor Jim Edgar.
The group's other four members serving in the Illinois Senate were [former U.S. Senator] Peter Fitzgerald, [current State Senator] Dave Syverson, [former State Senator] Patrick O'Malley and [Kane County Board Chairman] Chris Lauzen. Rauschenberger became chair of the influential Appropriations Committee during his first term.
As Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Rauschenberger negotiated the multibillion-dollar state budget – and balanced it.
