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* Probably not a surprise…
Newly appointed state Sen. Chuck Weaver said he backs fellow Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner on his Turnaround Agenda, as he prepares for his first day of session next week.
Rauner’s agenda has been a sticking point in the budget stalemate, which has lasted more than 100 days. He’s calling for tort reform, changes to the way unions and the state negotiate contracts and a property tax freeze. Weaver, R-Peoria, called the items on the agenda “critical.”
“If Gov. Rauner wasn’t in Springfield, I would have never touched this job,” Weaver said. “I think we all want to do things that impact our community, but you’re not very smart if you try to do it in a way that can’t be effective. If he wasn’t there I don’t believe my job would be effective.”
I say this isn’t a surprise because Sen. Weaver comes from one of the wealthiest families in the Peoria area, so his pro-business bonafides are impeccable. Weaver’s late father built up a very large and thriving business, which included everything from one of the top angus beef operations in the world to a large string of KFC restaurants. The family farm has also hosted at least one US President.
* But this is a bit of a surprise…
Though he agrees with the governor’s proposed reforms, Weaver thinks Rauner should spread his efforts out over a few years instead of asking for everything at once.
“I’ve never heard the governor say this, but if he could just get one or two of the items on his agenda every year, it’s going to take three to four years to get them, and we’re going to see big change in our state over the next five to six years as a result of that,” he said.
Seems practical to me.
The Senator should probably expect a snarky phone call from Richard Goldberg in three… two…
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 1:34 pm
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RG: “When we want your opinion, we’ll tell you what it is.”
Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 1:38 pm
“Senator, Senator, Senator. You don’t think for you. We think for you. K? K.” - Unnamed Rauner Superstar, not anyone from SGOP…
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 1:38 pm
“he is calling for changes to the way we negotiate”…. no, he is calling for the elimination of negotiations by removing everything from negotiation. its not negotiating anymore….
if you cant describe the goal without watering it down then you appear aftaid to stand up for it
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 1:41 pm
I wish that Word and Willy’s comments were more snark than truth. The Rauner purchased GOP caucuses doesn’t encourage individual thought.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 1:47 pm
It is shameful that Illinois’ awful business climate has prevented the Weaver family businesses from thriving.
Comment by chi Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 1:52 pm
That “suggestion” is on point. Executives - be they Presidents or Governors - are better off implementing policies and changes over the course of an entire term. Build coalitions first and then go for the gold.
Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 2:02 pm
The only thing this guy did in his Peoria City Council Seat was look for ways to weaken local regulation on his home construction business. He just recently resigned from a city committee on public infrastructure due to his conflicts of interest. Now he is going to try the same game at the state level. Love politics.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 2:13 pm
Wordslinger, Willy and Norseman ( and in that order ) to the point and to the truth!
Comment by illini Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 2:22 pm
Isn’t that part of the fear? Rauner holds the budget hostage and gets concessions this year, so we get a repeat every year until he eventually gets everything he wants? Is Weaver’s folly in openly suggesting this?
Comment by Demise Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 2:33 pm
“…Weaver thinks Rauner should spread his efforts out over a few years instead of asking for everything at once.”
Good point, assuming Rauner’s Act II isn’t bigger and badder than Act I, a/k/a Turnaround Agenda.
Comment by Cheswick Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 2:38 pm
Agree with Anon. Peoria is better off without him. Contacted him once for help with an issue with local services, and he sent me a condescending email in which he didn’t even respond to my query. His “work” on the city council displayed only partial attention to constituents. He’ll fit well with the Gov’s staff.
Comment by Gmma Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 2:42 pm
What some may be missing though is that Chuck and his thriving businesses all dealt with unions, especially trade unions - successfully. Since Chuck doesn’t need money, maybe he could actually vote and speak his mind.
Comment by Captain Illini Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 3:28 pm
Governor and his team probably should start worrying more about CPS/SUPES/Chicago Public Education Fund than what a member of the General Assembly says about the turnaround agenda.
Comment by From the 'Dale to HP Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 3:32 pm
Each and every item in Rauner’s agenda is a false claim and won’t make Illinois better.
The tort reform proposal is a Karl Rove sham. Watch the documentary Hot Coffee and you will see what tort reform is really about.
The workers comp reform Rauner desires exists today in North Dakota.
One reporter wrote it cheaper to pay worker death claims than keep the workers safe in the oil fields of North Dakota.
Working in the oil fields of North Dakota is the most dangerous job, America’s killing fields.
Rauner wants a change in the way unions and the State would negotiate a contract.
Rauner’s proposal would not allow a union to negotiate salaries, work place rules, safety, benefits, or virtually anything else a union would normally negotiate.
Rauner’s property tax freeze proposal comes after Rauner cut revenue sharing with the towns, counties and other agencies. Rauner’s proposal also comes with elimination of prevailing wage laws which several University studies have shown will have a negative impact on the State’s economy and will save the State no money while costing the State tax dollars.
If Rauner spreads these myopic punitive agenda items over 4 years, we will only have 4 more years of Rauner holding the State budget and it’s citizens hostage.
I see no praticality to this suggestion.
These items were already voted on last spring and received not one yes vote.
Not one vote and Rauner is still refusing to do his job and present a balanced budget to the general assembly for approval.
Comment by Chicago 20 Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 4:11 pm
Rauner figures he has one and only one hostage of value: the income tax hike.
Once that hostage is released, he figures he will have no influence, let alone leverage.
He is wrong of course, but his team just hasn’t figured out where all of the levers and buttons are and how they work.
Madigan’s fear with cutting a deal now on one or two items is that he will figure it out eventually.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 5:34 pm
===He is wrong of course, but his team just hasn’t figured out where all of the levers and buttons are and how they work.
Madigan’s fear with cutting a deal now on one or two items is that he will figure it out eventually.===
Great stuff right there.
True on both counts.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:49 pm
Chicago 20-exactly, on every point!
Comment by Twice baked Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 2:49 pm