President Barack Obama will come to Springfield next month to speak to the Illinois General Assembly on the anniversary of the day he first announced his candidacy for president.
Multiple sources confirmed Obama is scheduled to make an address on Feb. 10.
"Nine years after he announced his candidacy for President, Barack Obama will return to the place where his political career began by traveling to Springfield, Illinois," a White House official said in a statement.
“Now, in the final year of his second term, the President looks forward to addressing the Illinois General Assembly on February 10th about what we can do, together, to build a better politics – one that reflects our better selves," the statement read.
The address comes amid a historic state budget impasse in Illinois.
Gov. Bruce Rauner said in a statement he looks forward to "hearing [Obama] speak about finding common ground between Republicans and Democrats."
"Despite our political differences, the President and I share a passion for improving education, especially for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, a belief in the benefits of term limits and redistricting reform for restoring good government, and a strong desire to see more economic opportunity for all Illinoisans," Rauner said in a statement. "I know we can achieve great things for Illinois by having mutual respect for one another and focusing on bipartisan compromise to achieve what’s best for the long-term future of our great state.”
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin stood with Obama in Springfield when he announced his historic run for president.
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“Working together, we can accomplish great things," Durbin said in a statement. "The promise of hope and change that President Obama brought to Springfield back in 2007 can only become a reality if we are willing to compromise and find common ground.”
