Former Illinois Republican Gov. Jim Edgar says Gov. Bruce Rauner should zero in on getting a state budget adopted and let up on his pro-business, anti-union policy agenda -- at least for now.

"He comes from a different background than I do. But I just think it's very important for a governor, you've got to have a good budget and you need it in place," Edgar said Thursday, The News-Gazette reports. "You can try to compromise on some issues -- and I think there are certain things (Democrats in the Legislature) might give him -- but some of the things he's asking for, they're not going to give him. They're just not going to give him.

"But I come at it from a little different background. I come at it as someone who came out of state government, and I'm still concerned about the state budget and having a good fiscal foundation," the former governor added. "(Rauner) comes out of the business world and he's very worried about some of these economic issues. He's the governor. I'm not going to argue with him."

Illinois has been without a state budget since July 1. Rauner, a Republican, is trying to win items on his "turnaround agenda" through the budgeting process. Some of those items include workers' compensation reforms, a property tax freeze and limits on collective bargaining. 

Edgar noted that many proposals on Rauner's policy agenda are just not going to fly with the Democrats, who have supermajorities in both chambers.

"Some of the things he wants on workers' comp, based off of what union people and Democrats have said, I just don't think they're going to compromise," Edgar said. "They might give him some things."