FINGER POINTING

• Gov. Bruce Rauner didn’t make more than a fleeting reference to Illinois’ budget until the end of his annual State of the State address on Wednesday.

• Rauner highlighted ethics reforms, increased funding for schools and improved cybersecurity of state records and said he was “deeply optimistic” about Illinois’ future while pinning blame for budget problems on predecessors.

• Democrats scoffed, with one potential 2018 challenger calling Rauner an “epic failure.”