Rauner on patronage: Zero if elected
Monday, Sep 22, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Do you think he can make this promise stick?…
The people helping Rauner try to win the election – county chairmen and other party organization bigwigs who’ve been out in the cold for 12 years in terms of state government being a job opportunity for party supporters – can expect nothing in return, Rauner said, in terms of jobs for anyone they might recommend.
“We are going to bring in people who are in the government for the right reasons, who are highly qualified for their positions, and if someone is not qualified, the answer is a clear no. And I want Michael Shakman and his federal hiring monitor right in there with me to make sure every department of government follows through,” he said. […]
Rauner says the people who help his campaign shouldn’t be doing it because they think they’ll be rewarded if he wins, and he wants Republican officials to hear this and believe it.
- truthteller - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 9:35 am:
Given Rauner’s track record on clouting his daughter into Payton High, I wouldn’t take him at his word.
- MrJM - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 9:36 am:
“Do you think he can make this promise stick?”
Sorry, I reject the premise that he’d even try.
– MrJM
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 9:40 am:
Well, at least Rauner and his Crew won’t spend the last week measuring drapes and picking appointees…
…
Right?
“Exactly right.”
- Try-4-Truth - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 9:41 am:
See, here’s my problem. You need a certain amount of “Patronage Hiring” or the state doesn’t operate the way the Chief Executive wants it to. This is a silly promise. It’s marketing. It might work, and he might pick up votes because of it, but it’s marketing none the less.
- Anon - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 9:42 am:
== Do you think he can make this promise stick ==
A whole lot of a Republican party regulars are sure hoping he doesn’t keep that promise.
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 9:43 am:
What truthteller said, all the way. Rauner benefited from to government connections, coming and going.
- Come on man! - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 9:44 am:
If a bunch of rich hedge fund managers take their Dept head spots free of a salary, I guess, in theory that would not be a patronage hire.
- Anon - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 9:44 am:
On the other hand, Rauner can reward valuable party workers with cash instead of state jobs.
Making this promise ensures that a Rauner administration will be carefully monitored to see if he complies. Or whether Rauner would end up with a bunch of Quinncidences too.
- Corporate Thug - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 9:47 am:
Come’on now, Bruce. I don’t know this for a fact, but I’m willing to put good money down that his gravy train will be a big one.
- facts are stubborn things - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 9:50 am:
Patronage Hiring in and of itself is not bad. It is when you don’t put qualified people into positions and when you expand patronage beyond the scope it was designed for that you have a bad system. Gov. Edgar used patronage properly by placing people he wanted (had helped him etc.) into positions, but he put(for the most part)qualified people into those positions.
- Down Here - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 9:51 am:
This promise, along with BR’s moderate social positions, should really excite those downstate GOP county chairmen and precinct committee people.
- wordslinger - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 9:52 am:
Sure. Only disinterested strangers will be hired and get contracts.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 9:53 am:
“Always, never, must, only”
“Zero”
You speak in extremes, there is an exception to the rules…always.
BTW, great column Rich. Enjoyed it very much.
- Skeptic - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 9:56 am:
“there is an exception to the rules…always” Then obviously you change the rules! It’s not a tax, it’s a user fee. It’s not patronage hiring it’s…well I’m sure there’s a euphonism in there somewhere.
- G'Kar - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 9:56 am:
How is this going to inspire the county chairs, et al, to work hard to GOTV?
- Cheryl44 - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 9:57 am:
Do we all finally get our ponies too?
- low level - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:01 am:
Bozo Bruce entertains us again…
- Cassandra - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:07 am:
Why not say it. Maybe folks will believe it. Will he be monitoring promotions too? Lots of those every year, not all on the up and up, although probably legal. Cronyism, favoritism, politics, it’s a swamp.
I like the Shakman part, although the prospect might bring more Democrats out to vote. It’s been an awfully good run for the Democrats in Illinois state government over the Blago/Quinn decade. And a lot to lose.
- MrJM - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:11 am:
“We are going to bring in people who are in the government for the right reasons”
Will those “right reasons” be the same ones that lead Bruce Rauner to hire convicted political fixer Stuart Levine as a “consultant” for $25,000 a month? http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20130309/ISSUE05/303099981/rauners-gtcr-investments-raise-questions-about-political-connections
– MrJM
- Loop Lady - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:12 am:
Yeah Cass, Quinn and Blago invented patronage hiring.
There wasn’t any under Ryan and Edgar…
Patronage is a fact of life in politics as anyone
Who under stands the business should know.
Get real!
- Carl Nyberg - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:13 am:
Can Bruce Rauner define patronage in a legalistic way so this commitment can be implemented as policy?
Where is the line between hiring your people b/c you know and trust them and hiring patronage as a payback to one’s political supporters?
If Bruce Rauner hasn’t put serious thought into the minimum wage, I seriously doubt he’s put serious thought into insulating government hiring from political considerations.
But I’m open to Bruce Rauner giving a long interview on the subject of eliminating patronage in state government. Maybe I’m underestimating Rauner. Maybe he has something insightful to say.
Is Bruce Rauner willing to give an in-depth interview to a political reporter on his plans to end patronage in state government?
Or is Bruce Rauner only willing to discuss patronage in press releases?
- Mcleaniac - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:14 am:
These are the kind of things one says to get elected. That’s all.
- bottom rung. - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:20 am:
No one in Illinois is sadder than the Quinnochio guy now.
- Bemused - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:23 am:
Sure
I also believe in Unicorns and the little Irish Guy with the pot of gold on the Lucky Charms box.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:25 am:
You people, for crying out loud.
Patronage has been such a big point of the game here in Illinois, you haven’t kept up over the past twelve years, have you?
IDOT was really the last place for patronage refuge. That is why it was filled with folks from the Blagojevich/Ryan years.
It isn’t 1984 folks.
If Rauner is elected, his hands are pretty much tied for over 96% of the job positions in state government. He won’t be expanding government, so anyone working for Rauner for a plum job, better be working hard because there won’t be much.
AFSCME and the Teamsters aren’t going to let him do whatever he wants either. Campaign workers aren’t going to be rewarded.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:30 am:
===You people, for crying out loud.===
Extra self-righteous this morning, eh VanillaMan? What’s your secret? Is it clean living or the moral superiority that comes from leaving comments behind a pseudonym?
Your lectures bore me.
- Amalia - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:34 am:
oh but corporations hiring family members is never defined as patronage. it’s just the country club way.
- zatoichi - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:34 am:
So I worked hard to get you elected and what do I get…a sincere thank you? Really?
- Norseman - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:34 am:
bottom rung for best comment of the thread.
- Toure's Latte - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:35 am:
The private schools Rauner is all in on are the fertile ground for patronage. Potentially thousands of management jobs to be created and filled. Go with the growth opportunity that has very limited oversight and transparency.
- Percival - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:35 am:
Every Republican apparatchik in the state is fully expecting the Gubernatorial Gravy Train to make some sort of stop at their station.
- Living in Machiaville - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:36 am:
Political Puffery.
- Big Joe - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:37 am:
If anybody believes that drivel about no patronage hirings, I am sure there are some people with swamp land for sale that can be reached quite easily. Does anyone think Bruce wants total strangers helping him run the state? C’Mon Man!!
- Carl Nyberg - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:37 am:
Is Rauner willing to give the in-depth interview on distinguishing between hiring his people b/c they can work with him and hiring his political supporter’s people b/c he owes favors?
- Bill White - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:39 am:
V Man posts:
== You people, for crying out loud. *** If Rauner is elected, his hands are pretty much tied for over 96% of the job positions in state government. ==
In other words Rauner is making an empty pledge
- A guy... - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:40 am:
It has been the subject that Quinn is very vulnerable on, has it not? No one wants to de-institutionalize corruption as much as I do, but I know it’s a long and arduous process. I hope it can be done. I know it can be immensely improved. If Rauner wins, it will be because he connected with people on some things that really tick them off. This is one of them. For him, it’s a “voters race”, not a “party race”.
- Ghost - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:44 am:
These are not mutually exlsuvie. What Rauner said is… “who are highly qualified for their positions…” You can have qualified patronage hires. I never understood why people assume a patronage hire by definition is unqualified.
- Frenchie Mendoza - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:45 am:
Let me get this straight.
Rauner clouted his daughter into a school she wasn’t qualified for.
Rauner happily accepts vast amounts of cash from one of the richest men in the country.
Rauner’s earned billions of dollars from allegedly busting out businesses, sucking them dry, and then closing them down — nevermind the collateral damage.
Rauner rabidly embraces the idea of “running the state like a business.”
Rauner wants to help legislators make “hard choices” when voting.
Rauner has been accused of offering money for votes.
Rauner “sets goals first” and then expects his sycophants to successfully “execute” the goals.
All these things and he expects voters to believe that he’s immune from patronage?
Come on, Bruce. Seriously, dude. You’re silly now.
- walker - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:49 am:
How’s he going to bring in all the “experts” from his “business associates” without recommending them, or easing the path?
Rauner has made a lot of empty pledges, that resonate with the general voters: Term limits by petition, no property tax increases, no income tax increase — none of which are or were remotely achievable by him.
I like the sound of this one, however, because even if Rauner impacts only 1% of jobs, he sent a signal.
- Del Clinkton - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:51 am:
“Rauner on patronage: Zero if elected”
Is this a headline from The Onion? I spit out my coffee I was laughing so hard.
Downstate Prison Workers are the Republican Patronage Army for the State of Illinois.
Its obvious Bruce just needs to remain a “home day trader” and get out of public life.
- Percival - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:54 am:
It’s hard to reconcile this pledge with the husband of a certain Cook County Commissioner bragging that he and she would be controlling the local jobs in the Rauner Administration. A blowhard, perhaps?
- Makandadawg - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:54 am:
What -Ghost @ 10:44 am- said. Rauner is just saying much of the same stuff using different words.
- DuPage - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:03 am:
Maybe Rauner would reward his supporters with jobs in his private companies. Nursing homes always have a ton of entry level jobs open. Serve the meals, wash dishes, laundry, bedpans, clean the floors, etc., all for minimum wage.
- RNUG - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:22 am:
Rich, your QOTD needs to be politically correct euphemisms for Patronage.
To start it off, I’ll suggest …
Cooperative Community Governance
Country Club Cronies
Cash Connected CEO’s
- AFSCME Steward - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:24 am:
VanillaMan
“It isn’t 1984 folks.”
Congratulations. You passed the first test. Now if you can tell us what year it is we’ll know that the meds are working.
- Formerly Known As... - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:25 am:
When you take office, you bring in people you trust to do a good job and make you “look good”.
He mostly knows and trusts people from the business world.
This just might be completely true. Or he might just think we’re suckers. There’s only one way we could ever find out for sure, but at least someone is saying it.
- Rufus - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:40 am:
So after the election, he does do patronage hires and states they are qualified for the position. What are you going to do about it?
- Mister M - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:58 am:
= Ghost - “You can have qualified patronage hires.” =
You apparently haven’t been involved with the hack-ery so prevalent in our state, especially in Greater Chicagoland. Patronage in violation of the Rutan-generated constraints makes for a big problem. When Chicago and Cook County hacks get placed in positions, consideration of real qualifications for work go out the window - towing the party line, having the connections, is what counts. And when those hacks gain control of the personnel process, kiss the rules goodbye.
- Dirty Red - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 12:01 pm:
Remember where you were when you first read this article.
- jim - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 12:15 pm:
what’s the matter with merit hiring? why is the idea so alien to the commenters on this staff.
besides, it’s what the law requires.
top-level appointees can have political connections, and nothing stops those with political interests from being hired on merit.
what people here seem to be saying is that as soon as Rauner gets elected, he or his reps intend to participate in a conspiracy to violate the law AND staff hiring rules. I don’t think so.
- Anonymous - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 12:34 pm:
–IDOT was really the last place for patronage refuge–
You can’t be serious. How does make that statement and believe he has a clue?
Patronage is alive and well in many places and forms.
Aren’t you the one railing about NRI all the time?
Ever heard of bond business? Consulting contracts? Pinstripe patronage?
As far as jobs go, IDOT is it? That’s beyond laughable.
You think Scott Fawell and Juan Ochoa got the nod to run Mac Place back in the day for their goo-goo cred? Ever heard of the Illinois Tollway Authority? The Department of Corrections? “Temporary” hires?
Could go on and on and on…..
- VanillaMan - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 1:10 pm:
Rauner can make this promise because it is out of his hands.
- D.P.Gumby - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 1:47 pm:
Brucie hiring all his friends and cronies isn’t patronage, it’s bidness…
- walker - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 3:24 pm:
Wait a minute!
Did we just hear Rauner openly offer a government contract to Michael Shakman or his firm?
That’s one way to handle a potential critic.
Has Shakman agreed to that commitment? Is that “patronage” or just smart politics?
- Bemused - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 3:34 pm:
Patronage hiring when done well is very subtle and hard to prove. Some administrations have done it well, some not so much. Like some other vices in society, it isn’t going away.
- Amalia - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 7:48 pm:
@ Percival, who? EDG?
- foster brooks - Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 8:46 pm:
first he has to fire all those illegal idot employees