* Finke…
Gov. Bruce Rauner has said several times over the past few weeks that he’s not involved in legislative races. He said it again last week.
“I’m asked that all the time and I do want to emphasize I’m not really involved,” Rauner said after an event in Decatur. “I’m not involved in races per se, predicting races or advising races. I’m not involved in that.”
Yeah, but he’s involved in a way that’s way more important — and probably way more appreciated by the candidates — than giving them advice on how to run their campaigns. That’s giving them money. Big money. You may have heard the reports that the state Republican Party has raised $15 million since March 31, and nearly all of that came from Rauner’s campaign committee, to which he is the biggest contributor. There are similar lopsided contributions to the House Republican Organization.
It’s not illegal. It’s also not uninvolved. Any more than labor unions or business organizations can say they’re uninvolved just because they make campaign contributions.
* The total went up since Doug filed his column…
- Jc19pd2 - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 9:12 am:
I posted this Friday, buy I feel this video says it all right here. https://youtu.be/sse8xtssk6Q
- Juice - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 9:18 am:
He gives $20 million. Not involved.
He encourages “public servants” to help out on campaigns. Still not involved.
His former communications director is working on messaging for the election. Still not involved.
His former chief of staff is working on strategy for the election. Still not involved.
Why? Because he’s not predicting races. At least we know he’s not Nostradamus.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 9:20 am:
The is a great “business decision” by Diana Rauner.
“Democrat” Diana Rauner is funding the ILGOP?
No, that’s actually not true.
The “business decision” is Raunerites are using the ILGOP as a vehicle. That’s what makes Diana Rauner so trivialized.
As long as Diana Rauner is completely fine, a “business decision” to obliterate social services (but get $5 million from the Pritzkers to save face at “work”, lol) with her family monies funding Raunerism through the ILGOP, then I’m sure she sleeps well at night.
Oh, Bruce is driving everyone nuts, and you’re right, it’s a “business decision”, Diana Rauber. You’re exactly right.
- The Captain - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 9:30 am:
I am not among those that thought the Governor was vulnerable to a Republican primary challenge but this makes the prospect even less likely. He’s singlehandedly funding the party at record levels and all that money is being used to take on Madigan and the Democrats, Republican primary voters are going to reward him for this.
- HRC2016 - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 9:34 am:
“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars / But in ourselves, that we are underlings.” (Julius Caesar, Act I, Scene III, L. 140-141).
And as OW has consistently noted, “we have let a stranger into our party”
- Henry Francis - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 9:37 am:
It’s his business model. Use as much leverage and cash as you can and buy it, control it, own it. He already owns a controlling stake in the. ILGOP. Next, he has to increase the stake the ILGOP has in IL state government, so he can control that, own that.
- Anon221 - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 9:41 am:
Welcome, ILGOP, to the world of Raunerfare. Be sure to have your chits and your hat in hand for the next two years.
- Winnin' - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 9:44 am:
No doubt his people in charge are getting incentives and performance bonuses.
“Keep me posted.”
- Chucktownian - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 9:48 am:
Isn’t it a heckuva thing that the GOP’s agenda is so out of touch that no one else will fund them? That Rauner is the only person willing to put money on the line?
And again no matter what they spend they’re going to lose and lose big.
- AC - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 9:51 am:
I’m not sure that treating such a large sum of money as inconsequential will be well received. My questions for the governor would be: is it your vast wealth that causes you to not consider $20 million in contributions as involvement in a political race? How much would you need to contribute before you considered yourself to be involved?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 9:54 am:
===That Rauner is the only person willing to put money on the line?===
No. You’re missing the whole point.
How?
Unions, or Trial Lawyers or Med Society…
Rauner wants the well “dust bowl” dry except for his friends (Griffin, Uihlein, Zell, ?).
The fewer “actors” assisting, the fewer “asks” needed for placation.
Need media? Own the IPI and INN…
Need Oppo hits? Fund and control Proft.
It’s about owning. It’s about control from soup to nuts.
To Rauner, the fewer the better. That’s how warped Raunerism is.
- Flynn's mom - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 9:55 am:
He’s the most involved not involved person I’ve ever heard of.
- My New Handle - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 9:56 am:
This is way, maybe, off topic, but late post on Friday said Andria Winters is moving from DCEO to a private company doing business with DCEO. This seems like very big violation of the state employees ethic act, the part concerning leaving state employment to join a company doing business with the state within a year of leaving the state employment. How did she get away with that?
- Anonymous - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 9:57 am:
The only historical precedent that comes to mind in which one individual purchased a major party outright like this lock-stock-and-barrel was when Winthrop Rockefeller went down to Arkansas, bought the virtually non-existent state GOP and made himself governor by swamping the field with money.
He was looking for a title and something to occupy the days, too.
But that was Rockefeller money in Arkansas back in the day.
Relative to that, Rauner bought the Illinois GOP for a song. Blair Hull must be kicking himself.
- Honeybear - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 10:00 am:
Maybe perfidy has always been there. Maybe it’s only been through the internet that perfidy has been so quickly exposed. I just don’t know. It just disturbs me that deceptive lying, perfidy, is so commonplace now. Am I just getting to the “get off my lawn” stage of life?
- Grand Avenue - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 10:01 am:
Who spends more of their own money? Trump in his run for President or Rauner in his fight against the Supermajorities?
- Chucktownian - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 10:02 am:
===This is way, maybe, off topic, but late post on Friday said Andria Winters is moving from DCEO to a private company doing business with DCEO. This seems like very big violation of the state employees ethic act, the part concerning leaving state employment to join a company doing business with the state within a year of leaving the state employment. How did she get away with that?===
Because GOPers don’t have ethics generally.
- Earnest - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 10:03 am:
It is disquieting that one person has iron control over a political party. To his credit, he is not whining or complaining about how the state is governed. He has put an incredible amount of personal time and effort to become a part of the process and change things.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 10:04 am:
===Because GOPers don’t have ethics generally.===
Really? Rod selling a US Senate seat was, what, a GOP scheme?
Do better. Both sides have issues.
- just sayin' - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 10:15 am:
Basically Rauner and his rich pals are going to blow a ton of cheddar on cookie cutter ads and mailers with the same old stuff about the same old local issues that few are excited about. Millions spent on blaming Madigan for all ills.
GOP no doubt will pick up a few seats in state house and senate and it will all be because of Donald Trump, the same candidate Rauner and his pals won’t lift a finger for. The presidential is the only thing normal people with busy lives and jobs are talking about. Rauner is obviously extremely jealous about it.
- Anonymous - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 10:53 am:
–…. Donald Trump, the same candidate Rauner and his pals won’t lift a finger for. –
Why do you say that? Rauner is the boss and the money of the state GOP, and it’s backing Trump to the hilt. Take them at their words.
Rauner at the Illinois GOP convention: “No way is Hillary Clinton getting elected.” I don’t think he was expressing support for Jill Stein.
Tim Schneider says the Illinois GOP is “in lockstep” with Trump (he probably meant to say “goosestep,” but you get the picture).
https://capitolfax.com/2016/05/23/rauner-no-way-hillary-clinton-is-getting-elected/
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2016/07/18/il-gop-chair-illinois-lockstep-trump
- DuPage Bard - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 11:15 am:
Earnest-Who isn’t whining or complaining?
- Honeybear - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 11:17 am:
I’d like to point out though that 20 million still can’t buy you an effective ground game. I believe you have to have passionate motivated people for that. You can pay college conservative club kids minimum wage to walk precincts but that doesn’t turn the tide like a passionate motivated volunteer whom you know and trust in your neighborhood. Rauner has united labor like no other force in Illinois history. Watch this Saturday as Metro East labor ROARS at their rally. You are going to witness fire in the belly. That spurs ground game, not minimum wage.
- Earnest - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 11:26 am:
>Earnest-Who isn’t whining or complaining?
Point conceded. Good one.
- Publius - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 11:33 am:
There should be a Rauner spending clock across from the Capitol bldg to show the daily increase in his purchasing of the general assembly
- Publius - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 11:36 am:
$20,000,000 could really help children on the autism spectrum but instead Rauner donates that money to elect people that have proven that they will vote to end autism programs.
- Secret Square - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 3:43 pm:
Not surprisingly, he’s continuing to spend money out of state as well:
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Illinois-Governor-Donates-100K-to-Missouri-GOP-Candidate-393991961.html
- DS - Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 2:57 pm:
Spot on Publius