Rauner Ready To Make Rundown Governor's Mansion Home
(CBS) -- Illinois' new governor Bruce Rauner spent his first full day in office but, he's having second thoughts about spending his nights at the executive mansion because it's a mess.
CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports from the outside, from a distance, the mansion actually looks ok.
But after returning from a trip to the official governor's residence, that Rauner promised during the campaign would be his official residence, he gave us a reality check.
"It's really tragic what's happened," Rauner said. "That's the people's house. The floors are buckled. You can't even come in the front the main the real entrance. Furniture has been damaged. There is plaster falling out of the ceiling.
The Rauners admit they'll have a tough time convincing their kids to stay there.
"We're empty nesters now so we talked about when they're in town with us which would be their rooms, and what not," Rauner said. "That was an interesting discussion."
You would think it would be an easy sell, with its elegant state dining room, wood paneled library, and historic Lincoln bedroom. But time and hard winters have taken their toll, to the point where millions are needed to fix and restore the once regal residence. Money, Rauner says, the cash-strapped state can't afford.
There's already $5 million in taxpayer money appropriated for repairs and renovation, but Rauner says spending it on the mansion when funding for social services and education is threatened is simply not acceptable.
