Rauner attempts crime pivot
Wednesday, Sep 24, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
One week after Bruce Rauner said he wouldn’t have signed a bill supporting medical marijuana in Illinois, the Republican gubernatorial candidate on Tuesday said he was “open to the discussion” of decriminalizing small amounts of the substance statewide.
When asked about Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s proposal to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana and reducing to a misdemeanor the penalty for possession of one gram or less of any controlled substance, Rauner said: “I think we can and should talk about ways we can creatively deal with non-violent offenders. We should have that discussion…We have a massive failure by Pat Quinn to deal with violent criminals.”
Did that mean he could be for it?
“I’m open to the discussion,” he said. “What we’ve got to focus on is the violent crime that’s occurring in our communities. That’s what we’ve got to focus on, we’ve got to prevent it.”
* From the Chicago Reader…
“The fact is that as governor, two of your most important tasks are to try to create an economic environment in your state where jobs can grow and flourish, and second, to try to protect the public safety of your state,” [NJ Gov. Chris Christie] said. “Unfortunately for the people of Illinois, Governor Quinn has failed at both of those tasks.” […]
“Pat Quinn has failed on violent crime,” Rauner said. “He’s created an environment where it can thrive. And then, through his ineptitude, he has released violent criminals early.”
* Tribune…
“[Gov. Pat Quinn] ran a secret program releasing violent criminals early and just today it was discussed further in the media (that) a violent criminal was let out early under Pat Quinn (and) murdered a 9-year-old boy. We cannot allow this to continue to occur,” Rauner said.
Allmon was among four reputed gang members charged last week in the Grand Crossing shooting. Allmon had been on parole after being released from prison for possession of a firearm by a gang member.
Shaer later confirmed that Allmon received 17 “tickets” while in prison, including one for a “brief, mutual fight where no one was injured.” Allmon was transferred from a minimum security prison to a medium security facility after verbally threatening a guard. Shaer said that Allmon did not physically harm anyone or pose a significant threat and added that corrections officers have cracked down on minor offenses in recent years to prevent more serious incidents. Allmon was on parole that included home electronic monitoring except for certain times when he was allowed to look for work.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 11:25 am:
The wheels are falling off now in a serious way. You can’t flip-flop like this, this late, when you already have a history of flip-flopping. Can’t wait to see the “will the real Rauner please stand up” ad.
- Illinoise - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 11:25 am:
Rauner is against medical marijuana, then he supports decriminalization. He is against union bosses, then he supports unions. He wants to eliminate the minimum wage, then he wants to raise it. Make up your mind, man.
- walker - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 11:26 am:
He will have a plan, shortly.
- MrJM - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 11:28 am:
“Pat Quinn has failed on violent crime. He’s created an environment where it can thrive.”
Demonstrably false.
The rates of reported violent crime (per 100,000 residents) in the midwestern states and the U.S. as a whole since 1960: http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/crime-graph.png
Midwestern states’ violent crime rates in relation to the overall national average (1.0 means that a state’s violence level is equal to that of the nation as a whole): http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/violent-crime-compared-to-national.png
– MrJM
- Slow Down - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 11:31 am:
Rauner’s throwing anything and everything he can against the wall, other than an actual message of why people should believe he would make a good Governor. Governor Quinn is an inept, corrupt, criminal enabler/shake up Springfield is a woefully inadequate argument for the office.
- MrJM - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 11:35 am:
Another flip-flop-flip-stumble-fall from Bruce Rauner.
To paraphrase Jerry Seinfeld, “And you want to be my governor…”
– MrJM
- Illannoyed - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 11:45 am:
Rauner’s opposition to the medical marijuana bill was based on concerns with the way the permits are awarded. He wants them subject to an open bidding process. One can have issues with the process established within a bill (lack of transparency) while being supportive of the purpose behind the legislation. No real contradiction here.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 11:51 am:
The job in a Rauner Administration I would love to be a fly on a wall and watch it being done?
Legislative Liaison
“No, the Governor meant THAT, Senator, just not THIS…Tell the Speaker the Governor is for it, but call back after lunch and see… ”
Governing is hard enough without knowing what you stand for in policy. Then try to engineer the passage of that policy into law, or transform a policy to change the law.
Rauner is not up to that part of the challenge.
Maybe his LLs are up to it, but at what cost to their word and reputation?
- G'Kar - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 12:00 pm:
I have a feeling that if it was Quinn that suggested decriminalizing small amounts and not Rahm, then Rauner would adamantly oppose it.
- Frank B. - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 12:04 pm:
I’m not sure if Rich has linked to it, but for more of Bruce’s flip-flopping and dodging, check out Greg Hinz’s blog’s coverage of Rauner’s meeting with the Crain’s editorial board. His lack of specificity is breathtaking.
- Bill White - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 12:06 pm:
Maybe Bruce Rauner’s campaign team told him he needed to pivot, but he mistakenly heard the word pirouette instead.
- Louis G Atsaves - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 12:18 pm:
The IDOC explanation yesterday was that Allmon was a model prisoner who earned his good time behavior period. Today we find out he had 17 tickets, a mutual fight and was sent from a minimum security to medium security after threatening a guard.
Where is the truth here? Other than this guy admitted to executing a 9 year old kid he called a “shorty” by pumping 6 bullets into him?
- Illannoyed - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 12:22 pm:
It’s a political campaign. There’s no truth…just competing narratives!
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 1:27 pm:
Rauner was clearly against decriminalizing during the primary.
http://barrington.suntimes.com/news/government/marijuana-BCR-01232014:article
All other candidates for governor and lieutenant governor told AP that legalized recreational use of marijuana shouldn’t be allowed.
Bruce Rauner and state Treasurer Dan Rutherford, both Republicans, simply wrote “No” when asked, “Should marijuana be legalized generally?”
Republican state Sens. Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard, who both voted against the medical marijuana legislation, explained themselves a little more. Dillard said he listens to law enforcement on the issue; a sheriff’s association opposed the medical marijuana bill over concerns of motorists driving under the influence of marijuana.
Brady said the medical marijuana bill opens the door to legalization of recreational use.
Perhaps Rauner no longer supports bringing back the death penalty too?
That would be welcome news.
- Roadiepig - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 1:48 pm:
Maybe if Bruce had talked to his close friend Rahm before he filled out his questionnaire he would have wrote down he was for decriminalization in the first place?
Or was he forgot to check and see which way the wind was blowing that day?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 2:05 pm:
Again, I understand Christie is head of the RGA and brings money with him when he comes to town.
But why is he talking? And why is he in the shot with Rauner? The last WSJ/NBC national poll had him at a 17% positive and a 37% negative.
Who, exactly, does he help Rauner with? It’s like when Mitt used to trot out John Sununu as a surrogate.
The idea is to get someone who people like to campaign for you.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 3:24 pm:
Wordslinger:
To help Chris Christie.
yDD
- sal-says - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 7:53 pm:
Typical. Just another commit nothing responses.
Says nothing, tells us nothing. As usual.