Jim Edgar

“We have to get government out of the job of picking winners and losers. That's not its role.”

“Illinois is a very diverse state. It's a microcosm of the country.”

“You have to be willing to compromise. That's what politics is all about.”

“When I came to office, I was a lot more of a Reagan Republican than I am today. I still am a fiscal conservative, but I am much more of a social moderate.”

“The budget is not just a bunch of numbers; it's a statement of our priorities.”

“The state can't be all things to all people.”

“I think one of the most important things we can do is to make sure that we have a first-class education system.”