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* From AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall…
“Less than a day after the second legislative session of his tenure ended again with no state budget in place, Governor Rauner is back on the campaign trail and exploiting state worksites for his own political purposes.
“This morning Rauner held a news conference at the Alton Mental Health Center where, according to media reports, he attacked Democrats and urged people to vote against them. At midday he held another media event at a state prison in Vienna with Republican state Senate candidate Dale Fowler in tow.
“It is highly unethical for Governor Rauner to use a public psychiatric facility and a correctional center as backdrops for his partisan political attacks and candidate promotion, and quite possibly a violation of the State Ethics Act, which prohibits political activity on state property and state time.
“In addition, it is disingenuous at best for Governor Rauner to pose at these facilities after he has spent more than a year falsely attacking state employees, denigrating their union, and threatening them with disciplinary action merely for criticizing his policies.
“Governor Rauner should focus on his own job—signing a budget without precondition—and leave state employees to do theirs.”
…Adding… The governor’s folks are flatly denying that he made any campaign statements at the facilities and said they invited local mayors to the Vienna event. Fowler is a mayor.
…Adding More… From an administration official…
I don’t know what’s more absurd - AFSCME claiming that elected officials advocating to keep government facilities open constitutes campaigning or the state’s largest employee union rooting for a government shutdown.
…Adding Still More… AFSCME points to this tweet as evidence of campaigning…
Gov. Rauner in Alton: We need to vote for downstate, not Chicago. Tell lawmakers to stand up for southern Illinois, not Madigan's machine.
— Monique Garcia (@moniquegarcia) June 1, 2016
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 3:55 pm
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Illinois Governors are not required to have ethics.
Comment by Say It Ain't So!!! Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 3:58 pm
Valid points if he did make the mistake of getting partisan and electoral in his speech.
Comment by Man with a plan Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 3:59 pm
Given the partisan attacks, I hope today’s travel was paid for with campaign funds.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:01 pm
—signing a budget without precondition—
I think that’s been the norm.
Comment by Birdseed Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:03 pm
Lots and lots and lots of opportunities for Labor and state workers to vote accordingly against Raunerites.
Lots.
Today upsets up?
Pay attention, vote accordingly.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:04 pm
There is a reason he used those facilities as the background to his message.
Is he telling the people in southern IL he will close those state facilities if he doesn’t get what he wants?
Comment by Mama Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:04 pm
Not much of an attack IMHO. However, like Rich points out if he can dish it out, he can take it.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:05 pm
Southern Illinoisans are smarter than he thinks they are.
Comment by Mama Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:08 pm
So, the union folks can’t post a flyer in a state facility to promote an event because the administration deems it too political, but the guv can actually stage political events (by the same definition) at multiple state facilities? Gotcha.
Comment by Louis Capricious Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:14 pm
This is very weak…Aren’t the State Capitol and JRTC state facilities as well? I guess they’ll have to walk out to the sidewalk for every routine press conference now.
Comment by NIU Grad Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:16 pm
Just curious… How DID he travel today? Find it hard to believe it was by road.
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:16 pm
When has ethics ever bothered the Governor?
Comment by DrMark Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:21 pm
Where is the OIG?
Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:22 pm
GET SOME ANDERS!!!!! WOOOOHOOOOO!!. (psst…. Anders… you’ve got a piece of him between your teeth..just there.)
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:24 pm
If this upsets you, then remember it later.
That’s it. You follow? That’s it, there’s no “there” there…
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:24 pm
Oh what, You think you’re the only one who can complain to the EOIG? Dude, we all just had to take the ethics training and test. BTW the Rauner is Wrong poster was not unethical and totally allowed. Tag your it.
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:26 pm
His entire tenure as Governor has been a never ending political campaign. Today was just more of the same. Sadly, he still hasn’t figured out that governing is not the same as campaigning, which (stating the obvious) is a problem because he is in fact our Governor and real people with real problems are suffering the consequences.
Comment by slow down Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:26 pm
Governor opens mouth, campaign rhetoric issues forth.
What’s changed?
Comment by Sir Reel Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:31 pm
We need another Jim Edgar as Governor This Governor does not care about the workers of this state Does he not realize that the workers of this state are also tax payers, does he not realize that thousands of these workers have family members who work in the private sector Does he not realize that the majority of the people of Illinois appreciate state workers and the services they provide to the State?
It is high time that he Republican legislators start telling this Governor that he had better start governing and stop playing his political games when it comes to collective bargaining, etc
Comment by JB Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:32 pm
Fowler being there as a mayor is legit. But what changes the legitimacy of any public event is what the Governor says. If he says vote for Fowler. Vote Republican. That’s campaignin.
Comment by Siriusly Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:33 pm
😂😂😂😂crockadile tears. Maybe the Union can get Madigan to pass a bill sending the question to arbitration
Comment by Sue Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:33 pm
JB- you got it wrong- it’s the employees who don’t care about our Stste
Comment by Sue Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:35 pm
I remember when a former agency director put on the intranet that we all better tell our reps to support quinns’s pension reform or we might be laid off due to lack of funds.
Always been a “do as I say not as I do” attitude when it comes to this stuff.
But the administration is so sensitive when rally flyers go up on protected spaces.
As to the update: So are we now allowed to hold political rallies on state property on state time? Something like “keep facility X open!” Good to know the governor would have our back on that… /s
Comment by steward Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:36 pm
I didn’t think I’d get away with my last attempt.., probably wasn’t the first one, either.
Comment by Triple fat Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:38 pm
It would be difficult for AFSCME to sound more dramatic and desperate in a statement.
Comment by No Use For A Name Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:46 pm
If he was standing outside the facilities in the public way, it’s not a problem. If he was on state property and appearing with a Republican candidate while firing partisan shots, then he definitely crossed the line.
Comment by Boss Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:54 pm
== it’s the employees who don’t care about our State==
Why in the world would you say that?
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:57 pm
As afscme should be aware voting is not always about politics and elections. Lawmakers vote everyday on policy issues like sb580 and bailing out Rahm.
Comment by Quinn's bin Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 4:59 pm
makes ya wonder what the next 12 hours will bring…
(If he was my teenager, I’d have the phone, the car, and the remote, followed by a very clean catbox, refrigerator, garage, porch, and basement. In my house, you can join society when you know how to act.)
This guy has no perception of appropriate boundaries, very little self-control, and ambitious to a destructive level.
This is an adult having a tantrum, triggered because he didn’t get his way yesterday on his Instant Stopgap Budget demand.
“I want it NOWwwwwwww….”
Comment by cdog Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 5:05 pm
Tourin’ and tweetin’. Pointin’ out to labor who to rally against.
Comment by PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 5:11 pm
I think it would be helpful if Rauner spent less time attaching the dem leaders, who he needs to make a deal with, and more time focusing on a budget with some modest/doable reforms.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 5:13 pm
***Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 5:13 pm:
I think it would be helpful if Rauner spent less time attaching the dem leaders, who he needs to make a deal with, and more time focusing on a budget with some modest/doable reforms.***
Very reasonable advise, but being reasonable isn’t the reason he bought the office. Destruction of organized labor in Illinois appears to be one of the main goals.
Comment by Ole' Nelson Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 5:31 pm
This is a portion of my training days.
A. Political Activities
State employees may not engage in political activities while “on State time.” “On State time” does not include authorized vacation time, personal leave, compensatory time or State Holidays. Employees may not intentionally take or use any State property or resources for the benefit of a campaign for elective office or for any political organization. Supervisors cannot require employees to perform political activities as a condition of employment with the State or in consideration for any State compensation or benefit. Below are 15 political activities that the ethics law specifically prohibits state employees from doing on state time.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 5:32 pm
Really?
Senator Fowler wants to cut jobs at a prison in his district?
Comment by John Fowler Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 5:35 pm
Demoralized, you’ll have to ignore him/her. Since Rauner was elected, she/he has shown up here regularly to post gratuitous insults and inappropriate comments directed at state workers, repeatedly debunked falsehoods and drive-by comments. I assume he/she is a Rauner admin official :/
Comment by Lester Holt's Mustache Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 5:43 pm
Anonymous @ 5:32- Ah, but Rauner probably doesn’t think JD should be counted as an employee. After all, he’s not takin’ a salary or pension, and his “rent” at the Mansion is his generous donations toward the leaky roof, doncha know;) ( this is sarcasm BTW)
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 5:51 pm
he, not JD. Bleeping autocorrect!
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 5:52 pm
Kinda sounds like he’s campaigning there….
Comment by Jerry Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 6:00 pm
I never had any desire to be in the same room with BVR but this is a good reason to go to his events and record them.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 6:33 pm
—-It is high time that he Republican legislators start telling this Governor that he had better start governing and stop playing his political games when it comes to collective bargaining, etc—
It is about time the Democrat Legislators start telling this Speaker that he had better start governing…
There. Fixed that for you…
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 7:11 pm
Looks like clear violation of the ethics act based on anon from the book… Whats the penalty?
Comment by illinois manufacturer Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 7:41 pm
It is about time the Democrat Legislators start telling this Speaker that he had better start governing…
-not his job
Comment by PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 7:56 pm
From the Trib’s evening coverage …
=== “We’ve got to get the folks here, in Champaign County and in Sangamon County and throughout the state to stand up and vote for their districts, not for Speaker Madigan and John Cullerton and the Chicago political machine that they are loyal to,” Rauner said at the administrative offices of Mahomet-Seymour Community Unit School District No. 3 in east-central Illinois. ===
Well, that’s just what happened yesterday, particularly in the House where non-Chicago lawmakers derided the Senate ed funding bill as too friendly to Chicago - to the detriment of everybody else.
But, seriously, Rauner knows this too, and he doesn’t care. This is a guy who, just like Rod, is more than happy to say whatever he or his people think is most likely to win over the audience at hand - regardless of how it may relate to reality or whatever it is he said to a different audience just 12 hours previously.
Winning trumps reality, consistency and intellectual honesty.
Comment by Louis Capricious Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 8:05 pm
- Anon - Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 7:11 pm:
—-It is high time that he Republican legislators start telling this Governor that he had better start governing and stop playing his political games when it comes to collective bargaining, etc—
It is about time the Democrat Legislators start telling this Speaker that he had better start governing…
There. Fixed that for you…
Anon…..I’m typing slow so you can keep up.
Governors “govern”;
Legislators (madigan) legislate (make laws)….
There fixed it for you
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 8:28 pm
He invited local mayors?
Did Brandon Phelps and Gary Forby get invites?
I mean, that prison is in their districts and everything.
Comment by efudd Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 9:04 pm
Violations of the Ethics Act may result in disciplinary action up to and including the filing of criminal charges… I think. Or am I misremembering the infamous Friday at 4 o’clock memo?
Comment by Triple fat Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 9:36 pm
Beiser’s opponent was at Alton with Gov.
Comment by Highland IL Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 10:20 pm
Oh brother.
Comment by Shemp Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 11:08 pm
=== “We’ve got to get the folks here, in Champaign County and in Sangamon County and throughout the state to stand up and vote for their districts, not for Speaker Madigan and John Cullerton and the Chicago political machine that they are loyal to,” Rauner said at the administrative offices of Mahomet-Seymour Community Unit School District No. 3 in east-central Illinois. ===
Has Rauner looked at these counties? Champaign County has four representatives (three Republicans and one Democrat) and two senators (one Republican and one Democrat). Sangamon County has four representatives (three Republicans and one Democrat) and three senators (two Republicans and one Democrat.) Why not just call out those four Democrats by name?
In my opinion, it is the Republicans not voting these counties.
Comment by aspects Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 11:13 pm
Actually, Rauner may well cause some seats in those GOP counties to flip D. Going to depend on how good a ground game the unions have.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 12:01 am
Beiser’s opponent just happened to be at the Alton event?
Is he the mayor of Alton?
Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 2:59 am
I’d file an ethics complaint but I don’t think the OIG would take it seriously.., especially when I sign it Triple fat.
Comment by Triple fat Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 7:27 am
Governor Rauner has made it clear he is in an ideological battle with the Democrats and their union supporters. The public sector unions have made it clear that they recognize they are in a fundamental conflict with Governor Rauner. It’s where we are at right now, the Governor is playing the cards he has and so are the unions. There are no innocents in this fight except for some Democrat Senators that seem to think they are above all of this.
Comment by Rod Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 7:27 am
—–Anon…..I’m typing slow so you can keep up.
Governors “govern”;
Legislators (madigan) legislate (make laws)….
There fixed it for you—–
Legislators still pass laws…such as the (balanced) budget…which Madigan didn’t do, and has no interest in doing.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 7:54 am
“Legislators still pass laws…such as the (balanced) budget…which Madigan didn’t do, and has no interest in doing.”
Rauner still has not submitted a balanced budget… do we need to keep repeating this. Check the Constitution.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 8:08 am
Pick your battles, AFSCME. What about Del Giorno passing out lit at your union rally on the Capitol complex? Also, “voting” for downstate could be votes on legislation on the house/Senate floor.
Comment by Cmon Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 8:18 am
Cmon -
Looks like an AFSCME winner to me… Considering The position the Administration took on union activity that is specifically exempted from the Ethics Act. I’ll admit it tamped down the rally’s attendance but we still had over 10,000 folks. Just imagine how many attendees would have been there had the ’supposed’ Ethics Officers acted ethically and not lied to union employees.
Comment by Triple fat Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 8:29 am
Rauner was probably in Alton to get a look inside the facility for a friend, with privatization being the real goal. /s
Comment by cdog Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 8:42 am
Takin’ some bullets for the team.
Comment by Winnin' Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 8:43 am
==Juvenal
Beiser’s opponent just happened to be at the Alton event?
Is he the mayor of Alton? ==
No, and didn’t run in the primary
Comment by Highland, IL Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:01 am
Rod still claims that he is innocent too.
Comment by A Jack Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:27 am