* AP…
Gov. Bruce Rauner promised Wednesday that Republicans would outspend Democrats this fall in a GOP effort to reclaim the Illinois General Assembly.
“This year, we’re going to go toe-to-toe with them,” Rauner told party county chairmen at an event starting the Illinois Republican Party Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair. Rauner said Democrats have far outspent the GOP in recent elections, but “we’re going to do better than they do. You’ll see the biggest ground game ever for legislative races in Illinois.”
He did not mention the source of funding, but he has previously poured millions of his personal wealth into party coffers. […]
“We’re going to stand against that machine and beat that machine this year,” Rauner said. Democrats have their party day at the Illinois State Fair on Thursday. Democrats hold supermajorities of 71-47 in the House and 39-20 in the Senate.
* Sun-Times…
“The machine has pounded with their power in the past. They have outspent us two, three, four-to-one. Not this time. Not this time. We’re going toe-to-toe — and, in fact, we’re going to do better than them,” Rauner said of the well-funded campaigns, which already include TV ads and mailers.
Rauner, whose own funds help to fuel his governor’s campaign, continues to push on for his reforms, despite a constant battle with state Democratic leaders. Although Rauner didn’t mention Madigan during the breakfast, party organizers handed out a button featuring a picture of a young Madigan which included the words” “career politician since 1971.”
Rauner spoke of a state “taken over by a machine, a political machine that doesn’t care about people,” saying it’s also taken over Chicago, the Democratic Party and the Illinois General Assembly.
“We are going to stand against that machine and we are going to beat that machine,” Rauner said to cheers, saying the machine is behind job losses, lower family incomes and the highest property taxes in America.
* Tribune…
Much of the Rauner effort has been to link Democrats to Madigan, the Southwest Side Democrat who has served as speaker for 31 of the last 33 years. At the fair, Republicans distributed buttons pushing term limits with a picture of a young Madigan, calling him a “career politician since 1971.” That’s the year Madigan arrived in the Illinois House after serving as a delegate to the convention that resulted in the 1970 Illinois Constitution.
While attacks on Madigan haven’t worked in the past, state House GOP Leader Jim Durkin, of Western Springs, said the difference this time is the governor’s money.
“We have the resources to be able to really educate Illinoisans about what’s happening in Illinois and what the problem is. First time we’ve had the resources to do it,” Durkin said.
“It’s either the governor and on the other side it’s organized labor,” he said of the campaign money race. “This is competition. We’re competing with them. … It’s both green.”
* Rauner chanted “Term limits! Term limits! Term limits!” at the end of his speech. People were pretty hot and tired by then, so there wasn’t a whole lot of energy in the crowd. Plus, the issue can’t be addressed by voters until 2018 at the earliest.
Meanwhile, there’s a presidential race going on, but you’d hardly know it by listening to the speakers…
I saw very few Trump signs at the rally today.
- Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 3:50 pm:
I’m pretty sure “Let’s Fix Illinois” was the Blagojevich administration’s agenda.
- Hamlet's Ghost - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 3:51 pm:
Can’t win the IL Senate - not enough candidates were even slated to do that.
As for the IL House, how many seats are realistically in play notwithstanding the Governor’s money?
- Let Rauner Burn his money - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 3:56 pm:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/08/16/it-might-be-time-for-republicans-to-start-worrying-about-their-house-majority/
I just don think his money can save them
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 3:57 pm:
Bruce Rauner supports Donald J. Trump for President of the United States.
Bruce Rauner said so. Bruce Rauner knows it.
To the Post,
With Mike Z and the Schimpf Twins, they can make hay…
Of course, Trump alienating women, minorities, Republicans like me, and Rauner alienating the Trade Laborers, teachers, and it appears more that social service advocates, patrons, and benefactors… Could be really about precinct by precinct, group by every active group…
Love the Legislstive Races. Love.
Then there’s the Rauner/Munger referendum, holding hostage budgets and legislators… and how inept Mendoza’s Crew “appears”…
… November is going to be great!
- Gartner - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:01 pm:
Looks like more tweets about protesters than actual protesters
- Norseman - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:08 pm:
Trump = Rauner.
- The Captain - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:18 pm:
The current Comptroller is Leslie Munger, appointed by Rauner.
Three current state reps, Bourne, Wojcicki-Jimenez and Olsen, were all appointed by local party leaders at the behest of Rauner while Butler and Welter were appointed during his term, same with McConchie and Weaver in the Senate.
The Governor put $12 million into his campaign fund in the last two years, gave $10 million of it to the Illinois Republican Party who has since given most of that to the two Republican General Assembly caucuses who have spent most of it on ads, mail and polling for Republican candidates. Local Republican ads have been on my TV more often this week than Michael Phelps has.
All while Rauner has been laser focused on passing an agenda to reduce the wages and bargaining rights of people who work for a living and to reduce the payouts they would receive if they get hurt on the job. In order to pass this agenda he’s held the state hostage, gutted the social service safety net, stopped funding MAP grants (a need-based college funding program), refused to fund higher education putting the accreditation of many state universities at risk and stopped paying vendors who provide state services. All of these actions have resulted in massive layoffs.
So when Rauner spoke of a state “taken over by a machine, a political machine that doesn’t care about people,” he’s right that one exists and it’s a threat to Illinois and tomorrow at Democrat Day we’ll hear from the party that hopes to stop him.
- Illinois Bob - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:24 pm:
@OW
=… November is going to be great!=
It will be in Illinois for “your party”, which is Democratic and candidates who vote like them….and take money from the same sources.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:27 pm:
- Zonker -
I read your comment.
- illini - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:32 pm:
Acknowledging is one thing - adding fuel to the fire is something else.
- Lester Holt's Mustache - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:34 pm:
While Gov is busy spending $$ to tie D candidates to MJM, D $$ is going to be spent tying each and every R candidate to Gov and Trump. “Candidate X won’t even stand up to Donald Trump supporter Bruce Rauner, how can he stand up for us?” is a tag line I expect to hear over and over and over.
- AC - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:36 pm:
==Rauner spoke of a state “taken over by a machine==
Sounds like the plot to Maximum Overdrive. Sometimes, I wonder if our Governor enjoys talking about machines more than antique tractor collectors.
- walker - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:37 pm:
What will Rauner’s reaction be when his outspending Dems on legislative campaigns produces little or nothing in terms of seats? He’ll be lucky to gain 2 or 3 seats this year.
- That Guy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:43 pm:
Walker, Two or three seats in the House would be a huge win. I would imaging Rauner and crew would be ecstatic.
- There They're Their - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:44 pm:
With that backdrop, I would expect the Governor to come out and do the scene from Patton!
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:48 pm:
===…Two or three seats in the House would be a huge win. I would imaging Rauner and crew would be ecstatic.===
Really?
So for $20-30 million, Rauner wins 2-3 seats, and gets out of the Phony Super-Majority shadow…
… now for that $20-30 million, Rauner now lost that… Phony Super-Majority crutch, and still can’t get 60 or 30.
Odd measure at being estatic I guess. Pay $20-30 million to now actually lose a strawman.
Welp, ok then…
- Ghost - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:50 pm:
a lot of white there; Money never hurts but how will money help bring votes from minorities and young voters…..
Rauner believes that the only reason conservative white guys dont get votes is money. I guess this election will answer if cash = votes.
- kimocat - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:51 pm:
Captain — well said.
- Ghost - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:52 pm:
Side note is it me or does the guy with the Trump sign look like OW from behind…..
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:54 pm:
===Side note is it me or does the guy with the Trump sign look like OW from behind…..===
Pffft. I part my hair on the OTHER side… That’s all I’ll say.
- Thunder Fred - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 5:03 pm:
Ghost- Today’s event was ticketed and only republicans were invited. OW’s party has their event tomorrow.
- walker - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 5:05 pm:
A Guy: A “huge win” Trump style, for changing two House seats?
OK my friend, play it that way. If that’s all you can get for those millions, then I guess you have to tout it.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 5:05 pm:
- Thunder Fred -
The Raunerites met for Governor’s Day…
I’m not a Raunerite, but you already know that. I’m a Jim Edgar - John Kasich Republican.
You’re welcome.
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 5:12 pm:
That’s not OW. “Security” wouldn’t let him that close to Rauner.
- DuPage Bard - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 6:31 pm:
If there is no super majority what does everyone do? The Gov finally governs?
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 6:58 pm:
===If there is no super majority what does everyone do?===
There is no effective super-majority now. The legislature’s failure to override the vast majority of Rauner’s veto is incontrovertible proof of that. That Rauner keeps touting that a super majority exists is just another Rauner lie, and that from a carhartt regular guy who was “gonna take the arrows”, when, in truth, he’s done nothing but dodge them.
- HRC2016 - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 7:30 pm:
TERM LIMITS… TERM LIMITS… TERM LIMITS..
So will all the GOP Reps and Senators pull out of the current race or take a vow to not run after this election?
How ’bout it Durkin, Radogno, Rezin, Connelly, McAuliffe, Ives…… and all the rest of the GOP that has served more than 2 terms?
- JackD - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 8:25 pm:
Rauner’s frenzied chanting of “corrupt machine. . . corrupt machine!” sounded like Trump.
- Cheryl 44 - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 8:47 pm:
If Bruce isn’t voted out next time I am leaving.
- State Worker THX 1138 - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 8:48 pm:
It’s around 8:45 pm. Do I dare post a comment? /s Anyway, perhaps the dems could get the rights to “Welcome to the Machine” since now I can’t get that song out of my head.
- Illinoian - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 9:40 pm:
Who cares what Bruce the goose says. The only power in this state is Madigan. Don’t believe me? Read Bruce the hapless goose many press interviews ., the man is a hypocrite why do we fine him any say in the matter. Time to tune him out
- burbanite - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 6:56 am:
Money equals votes? Two words, Jeb Bush.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 7:47 am:
“Let’s Fix Illinois”
Worst kept secret, the definition of “Fix” that they are using -
Fix: (verb) To spay or neuter
- Chucktownian - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 8:51 am:
There are few guarantees in politics but the fact the GOP won’t gain a single seat in either house this election is one of them. And with Drumpf at the top of the ticket losing by 20 points, they will lose a few they normally would win.
- Delimma - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 8:54 am:
Every single one of them supports Trump unless they actively say they don’t. Don’t let them fool you.
When Rauner says “we” will match them, he means, “I.”
- Just Passin' Through - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 9:01 am:
I saw the comment about the backdrop and expecting the speech from Patton; now, all I can envision is Rauner standing there and saying, “We’re going to run through my money like **** through a goose!”