Politics & Government

Not Even 'The Daily Show' Can Find a Happy Ending to the State Budget Crisis

Rep. Ron Sandack and Sen. Daniel Biss get called 'a couple of bickering muppets' in the June 28 episode.

Image courtesy of Comedy Central.

Rep. Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove) would like to remind everyone that "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah" is a comedy.

Sandack appeared on the show's June 28 episode alongside Sen. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) to help correspondent Jordan Klepper find a happy ending to the Illinois budget crisis.

Find out what's happening in Downers Grovefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Instead, the pair proved just how difficult it is to pass a budget "with a couple of bickering muppets running the state."

Biss said he blames Gov. Bruce Rauner for holding the budget hostage, but Sandack defended the governor, saying Rauner couldn't line item $4 billion in an out-of-balance proposal.

Find out what's happening in Downers Grovefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Sandack said he isn't to blame for the state's lack of a budget, while Biss said, "We're all to blame."

Klepper was left to conclude that these politicians "wouldn't know a happy ending if it hit them in the face."

Of course, the conversation continued on Twitter, where Sandack took some heat for seeming to equate the struggle of taxpayers and business owners to the problems faced by homeless youth and the elderly.


Biss also gets ribbed for bro-ing out over the Constitution.

All in all, the legislators escaped their TV escapades in good humor.

Don't miss the uncensored video, which features the opposing politicians bonding over "Billy Madison" and trust falls. Note: the video below contains adult language.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.