Has Governor Bruce Rauner put to rest questions surrounding why he isn’t at this week’s Republican National Convention in Cleveland?

A day after Rauner told reporters in Taylorville then didn’t, he answered a question in Murphysboro about why he wasn’t at the RNC Turns out, that may never have been in Rauner’s plans.

“As I’ve been clear, I was never intending to go,” says Rauner. “Illinois has lots of problems. We’re not fixing them fast enough. And, I’m full-time focused on getting Illinois strong, and I’m focused in Springfield and traveling the state…so that’s how I spend my time.”

Rauner also dodged questions about the Republican National Convention during a bill signing last week in Springfield.

Nevertheless, the bills Rauner signed in Murphysboro strengthen the Freedom of Information Act, and allow for a longer statute of limitations for the filing of wrongful death lawsuits if the death was intentional or violent in nature.