By John Dempsey, WLS-AM News

(CHICAGO) As the State of Illinois budget standoff drags on, former Republican Governor Jim Edgar is criticizing current Republican Governor Bruce Rauner.

Edgar spoke at a Tuesday event sponsored by the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform in downtown Chicago.

Without mentioning Rauner’s name, Edgar told the gathering that compromise is vital if the state is to move forward.

“The essence of democracy is compromise.   Particularly in a state like Illinois, with the diversity this state represents.  You have to be willing not only to listen to the other point of view but you’re gonna have to find common ground.”

Edgar also said he has not spoken to Rauner in more than a year, but has spoken frequently with Rauner’s nemesis, Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Madigan and Rauner are locked in a battle of wills over Rauner’s pro- business reforms, which Madigan says would hurt unions and weaken the middle class.

Upon hearing Edgar’s remarks, Downers Grove Republican State Representative Ron Sandack told “The Big John Howell Show” on WLS, that Edgar was wrong to criticize Rauner.

“Edgar had a heck of a lot more hand than Rauner has, and the circumstances by the way, are totally different now than they were in the 90’s when Edgar was Governor.”

Edgar was governor from 1991 to 1999, and for two of those years there was a Republican majority in the State House.

@ 2016 WLS-AM News