* Strike one…
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie flew to Illinois today, trying to sway business leaders to bring their business east. He won’t say whom he’s meeting with. One thing is certain: It’s no one from Kraft Foods Inc.
“We received an invitation to meet with the governor, but schedules were simply not conducive to a meeting at this time,” Michael Mitchell, a spokesman for Northfield-based Kraft, the state’s fourth-largest company by market capitalization, said in an e-mail. […]
The administration wasn’t releasing details of the meetings “in the interest of discretion,” said Michael Drewniak, another spokesman. Drewniak said he didn’t know whether taxpayers paid for the trip. […]
Representatives of four of the six largest publicly traded businesses based in Illinois said no meetings with Christie were planned.
* And this is from Senate President John Cullerton…
“I want to applaud Governor Quinn’s tireless efforts to draw and keep businesses like Mitsubishi here. Mitsubishi’s announcement means more jobs for Illinois and new technology to push our country’s energy and transportation policies forward. I look forward to working with Governor Quinn this session as we strive to make Illinois more competitive.”
“Illinois has reformed its pension system, enacted spending limits, recruited and retained key businesses and put itself back on track for stability and prosperity. Compare that to New Jersey where the governor is spending more of the people’s money promoting himself in the Illinois media than he is on his state’s underfunded pension systems.”
“Showmanship and 2012 aspirations don’t create jobs anywhere. A workhorse approach like that displayed by Governor Quinn is what gets results.”
Oof.
* According to a press release from Gov. Quinn’s office, Mitsubishi intends to invest $45 million into its Normal plant and build a crossover SUV. Also…
A goal to have 1,000 electric vehicles on Twin City streets by 2014 moved closer to reality Friday, as Mitsubishi Motors pledged to supply exactly that many of its new, all-electric i-MiEV car for local drivers starting later this year.
The Japanese automaker also signed a pact with Gov. Pat Quinn to boost research and development of electric vehicle technologies in Illinois, and to temporarily supply a “limited number” of i-MiEVs to the state’s fleet.
- Living in Oklahoma - Friday, Feb 4, 11 @ 3:27 pm:
I would trade Christie for Quinn any day of the week, but this dog and pony show on Christie’s part needs to come to an end. I get it, we all get it, Illinois has a less than stellar business climate right now. Manage your problems at home Mr. Christie, we got plenty of our own and we are well aware of them.
- amalia - Friday, Feb 4, 11 @ 3:29 pm:
wow, Cullerton in Quinn’s corner. impressive.
- Northsider - Friday, Feb 4, 11 @ 3:32 pm:
***“Illinois has reformed its pension system, enacted spending limits, recruited and retained key businesses and put itself back on track for stability and prosperity. Compare that to New Jersey where the governor is spending more of the people’s money promoting himself in the Illinois media than he is on his state’s underfunded pension systems.”
“Showmanship and 2012 aspirations don’t create jobs anywhere. A workhorse approach like that displayed by Governor Quinn is what gets results.”***
Bada-BING!
- shore - Friday, Feb 4, 11 @ 3:37 pm:
I am struggling to figure out what economic miracle mr. cullerton has made happen in Illinois?
- Demoralized - Friday, Feb 4, 11 @ 3:41 pm:
==Illinois has a less than stellar business climate right now==
I am so far failing to see that in Illinois right now @Living in Oklahoma.
- Demoralized - Friday, Feb 4, 11 @ 3:43 pm:
Also, the tax increase has started to manage our problems. Unlike Gov. Christie and others who make stupid statements and promises about no tax increases we were responsible. Sure, I hated it but I’m more than willing to do it than watch other morons in other states proclaim the magic budget fairies are gonna make everything OK without any new money.
- L.S. - Friday, Feb 4, 11 @ 3:48 pm:
Other than controlling his own narative pretty well, Christe hasn’t done a thing. He is an empty ball of one-lines and unfufilled promises. This whole idea that this guy has somehow saved his state just through cuts is smoke and mirrors and the smoke is clearing on some harsh realities for those citizens. I’m no fan of Quinn but he contrasts well against this baffoon. I hope the people of NJ give him some grief for wasting their dwindling tax dollars on this stunt.
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 4, 11 @ 3:52 pm:
All the nonsensical bickering between Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana– and especially New Jersey, which is not even a neighboring state– is a needless distraction. Rise above it.
- dave - Friday, Feb 4, 11 @ 3:52 pm:
I am struggling to figure out what economic miracle mr. cullerton has made happen in Illinois?
Huh? Who said anything about an economic miracle?
And how the heck does Christie’s spokesperson not know if taxpayers are paying for this? In other words, the answer is, “yes.” We should FOIA his itinerary.
- wordslinger - Friday, Feb 4, 11 @ 3:54 pm:
It would be pretty funny if the dude didn’t have anything lined up before he got here. Whoops.
Mayor Koch came on raiding party to Chicago once, back in the day. Big mistake. Daley took him out to dinner and he went home empty-handed.
Okie, the Illinois economy is five-times the size of Oklahoma’s. I guess there’s less-than-stellar and then there’s double-secret-probation-less-than-stellar.
- What's in a name? - Friday, Feb 4, 11 @ 3:57 pm:
Who does this? Mayors and Governors travel to other Countries to try to do business WITH them not take business from them. I can’t recall ever hearing of a governor essentially cold calling in another State. Truly pathetic.
What a Putz!
- VanillaMan - Friday, Feb 4, 11 @ 3:59 pm:
It is all a stunt at our expense. Get used to it.
- Bill White - Friday, Feb 4, 11 @ 4:14 pm:
. . . schedules were simply not conducive to a meeting at this time . . .
Heh!
- wordslinger - Friday, Feb 4, 11 @ 4:18 pm:
–It is all a stunt at our expense. Get used to it.–
VMan, we can always count on you to rush to the defense of someone whose avowed goal is to throw Illinois taxpayers out of work.
Did you miss a paycheck recently? I don’t think so. Check your bread, brother. See which side it’s buttered on.
- piling on - Friday, Feb 4, 11 @ 4:23 pm:
Looks like it’s time for Gov. Snooki to beat a retreat back to the Jersey Shore.
- Thoughts... - Friday, Feb 4, 11 @ 4:57 pm:
Christie is to Republican as Blagojevich is to Democrat.
The more I hear from this guy, that’s what I’m thinking. A populist who says what the people want to hear, but doesn’t actually do anything while his state falls further and further into the sinkhole.
The funny thing is that after experiencing it firsthand, most of the folks here know the stunt he’s trying to pull and don’t buy it. Personally, I love watching him make a fool of himself.
And also personally, as a Democrat, if Palin isn’t the nominee in 2012, I see Christie as the next best thing.
- sal-says - Friday, Feb 4, 11 @ 5:19 pm:
One can only hope that NJ media covers these ‘non-meetings’ in IL as well as they cover real news.
Hey, it’s only taxpayer money, right?