52 Comments - LizPhairTax - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 10:42 am: The Great Carharttio! Pick a card! Any card! - Been There - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 10:44 am: ===I’ve worked here for 25 years and I’ve never seen a governor,’ === I’ll give him some credit for reaching out to employees and the legislators. Its a good thing. But I will be surprised if these employees ever see him again. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 10:46 am: Hopefully with all those selfies, we won’t see them in six months posted again with… “This is me with Gov. Rauner 5 months ago. Now that I’m no longer with the state, it isn’t as cool of a shot of us anymore. #ImOutOfThePicture” - RJ - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 10:46 am: Were they still cheering after he told them their salaries are too high? - Because I said so.... - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 10:47 am: He shows up at agencies to say hello but continues to slam state workers every chance he gets. Standing ovations, yeah right. - LizPhairTax - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 10:51 am: Also, ovation? Pictures or it didn’t happen, Bruce. Get out of here with your “greeted as liberators” delusions. You’re sounding like you-know-who without the dedication to coiffeur and cardio. - walker - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 10:52 am: No quibbles here. This was the right thing for a new leader to do. - Anon. - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 10:59 am: ==Also, ovation? Pictures or it didn’t happen, Bruce.== It happened at Revenue. - Wordslinger - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:02 am: Brian Williams writing talking points now? It’s a good gesture, but don’t oversell it. - OneMan - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:04 am: More surprised every governor doesn’t do this… - Skeptic - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:04 am: Is this in Chicago or Springfield? If it’s the latter, then many of those ovating (I don’t care if it’s a word or not, I’m using it) voted for him because (a) He’s an R, and (b) he’s not Pat Quinn. - illlinifan - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:07 am: Wait, during prior terms many people had seen the prior governors…at fund raising events etc. I remember the attempts to force political hires on me at my office. The worse one was during the interview the candidate for hire kept talking about how often he saw the governor. - Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:08 am: Could this guy be more full of himself? - AC - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:10 am: I think he’s confusing respect for the office, and for having the boss visit people where they work, with a standing ovation. It’s not a good sign that he can’t tell the difference. - shaken - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:10 am: Yes, Jim Edgar should’ve showed up at state agencies, shook some hands and smiled for the employees like Bruce did. Is that what he’s remembered for? Of course not. Bruce is getting as much media attention for his window dressing moves as he can. We get it. Can we move on to things that matter? - LizPhairTax - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:12 am: @Anon 10:59 Were you there? Did you take a picture? And please take a half second to come up with a nickname. It makes following the posts easier for everyone… Thanks - Norseman - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:12 am: No governor ever visited my agency for a general meet and greet. But I’m not buying the jubilant welcome bit. Given his penchant for retribution no smart employee is going to give the gov any guff. - Anonymous - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:13 am: He should learn the name of his agencies. Did he visit the Department of Human Services, or the Department of Healthcare and Family Services? Or is this his way of saying he plans to consolidate and rename them?? - Westward - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:14 am: “…continues to slam state workers…” He’s not personally slamming workers. Don’t let the facts get in the way of your emotional post. - HeavyB - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:22 am: You had to stand, they didn’t put out chairs. You applaud because it’s the nice thing to do. - Mama - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:24 am: ==“I’ve gone into the Department of Revenue, Department of Health and Human Services, IDOT — people are giving me standing ovations and are like, ‘Governors never come see us. . . . I’ve worked here for 25 years and I’ve never seen a governor,’ ” he said.== Only a mentally ill person would want to see the people he plans to kill. When you cut a person’s job, you kill a part of the person and their means to support their family. - Demoralized - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:25 am: ==He’s not personally slamming workers. Don’t let the facts get in the way of your emotional post.== Ummm, what would you call it? - Just Sayin .... - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:26 am: The Governor coming out to IDOT within days of him taking office was a nice touch and meaningful to the employees at IDOT. He was very gracious in staying to take pictures with anyone that wanted - me included. It really helped boost the morale. Having said that … I got my pink slip the following week. But, I still don’t think you should take away the Governor’s wanting to visit with state employees. At least he’s trying. By the way, the Governor has also been to several area Springfield and rural bball games. Nice personal touch. - One day at a time - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:28 am: Blago visited IDOT early on in his first term, glad hanandign and promising to get things moving with a new team….we know where that went. Purges, cronyism and lawsuits… - How Ironic - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:28 am: @Westward: “He’s not personally slamming workers. Don’t let the facts get in the way of your emotional post.” Well, it would be a long speech if he were to personally name each state worker. So he just consolidates the list to “State Workers” in his little chats. Don’t let your defense of Rauner get in the way of his intent. - Skeptic - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:32 am: “He should learn the name of his agencies” I wonder if he’s planning on any trips to Lincoln county? - Westward - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:33 am: Demoralized - unions and inflated salaries. - Anotheretiree - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:43 am: @Liz ==Were you there? Did you take a picture?== Taking a photo inside Revenue is a firing offense…. I doubt they will be applauding when the health care changes take effect July 1 - Anonymous - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:44 am: - Westward - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:33 am: Demoralized - unions and inflated salaries. Westward has no facts just jealousy and hatred of State Workers. - Westward - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:51 am: Or maybe I’m a well paid state worker who sympathizes with non-Union employees and Rauner’s position that many job title salaries are out of whack with reality. It really isn’t so difficult to sort out my position. Being jealous gets you nowhere. That right there is a fact. See what I did there? - zatoichi - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:53 am: Has he filled the Secretary spot for the Illinois Department of Health and Human Services? Must be very intense search process. - Bobby Hill - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 11:55 am: They are not booing, they are “Bruuuuuuuuccccce”ing - The Unknown Poster - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 12:03 pm: Ha! Standing ovation my foot. We were all standing during his talk because there was nowhere to sit. That being said he did receive what I would call polite applause after his remarks but hardly a thunderous response. - Archiesmom - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 12:04 pm: The agency employees I’ve talked to are scared to death. Not just for their jobs, but for their ability to do those jobs. The uncertainty is killing them. And these are folks who really care about doing athe best they can to help people and carry out a given mission. They may be standing and applauding, but those legs are shaking. - LizPhairTax - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 12:05 pm: Thanks Anotheretiree. Interesting that’s the spot where this irrefutable standing ovation took place. Just Sayin, sorry to hear about the pink slip. Better times ahead. But since cameras were out, any chance you’ve got a picture of a standing o? Haven’t heard back from Anon. yet. - Anotheretiree - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 12:09 pm: I’m guessing the standing O at Rev was because they were all standing when he came in. Mild applauding could be stretched to be called a standing ovation. - Westward - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 12:11 pm: Man, after every election, I hear this “employees are scared” stuff. So much rhetoric. Union employees shouldn’t be worried about anything. They aren’t going anywhere. Just something else to complain about. - #5 - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 12:12 pm: Have a snickers Westward. - foster brooks - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 12:13 pm: To all raunerbots working for the state of Illinois, when he says your salaries and benefits are too generous what do you think he means by that? Ya you got your selfie with him in return he’s going to make you pay 12 grand a year for health insurance. Nice trade off - 2 cents... - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 12:35 pm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl_NpdAy3WY Sally Field - “I can’t deny the fact that you like me” Jeesh! - Rusty618 - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 12:41 pm: ==They are not booing, they are “Bruuuuuuuuccccce”ing== That would be Bruuuuucccin’ !! - nadia - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 12:47 pm: All comes down to hard bargaining this summer. Will the workforce be ready, organized, and supportive of whatever it may take to sustain what they have, get what they want, or bend only as far as they are willing to. And will the Governor be willing to do what is necessary (like allowing portions of state government and agencies shutdown under a strike or lockout)to get what they deem sufficient. This summer’s bargaining will be worth watching and should be educational. But most of all let’s hope it is productive with both sides walking away unhappy, which usually means something was accomplished. - Precinct Captain - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 1:07 pm: All Hail The Great Leader! Brucey Boy is developing quite the cult of personality inside the gray matter. - hakuna matata - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 1:11 pm: Pretty sure those standing ovations (if they ever really happened) were before the pink slips started to go out. - Demoralized - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 1:19 pm: ==Union employees shouldn’t be worried about anything. They aren’t going anywhere. == And you think that because? You think he’s closing a $6 billion budget hole without any layoffs? Man, you got this all figured out don’t you. He’s not attacking workers (never mind he says their overpaid, which is an attack) and employees ain’t got nothing to worry about (never mind that there are going to be massive cuts). Like you fantasy land do you? - Todd Gak - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 1:21 pm: ==They are not booing, they are “Bruuuuuuuuccccce”ing== Z, are they booing me? Uh, no. They’re saying Boo-RUCE, Boo-RUCE! (Turns to IDOT crowd) Excuse me, are you saying Boo or Boo-ruce? Boooooooooo!!! (spox, to himself) I was saying Boo-ruce. - Anon. - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 1:31 pm: LizPhairTax @ 12:05 ==Haven’t heard back from Anon. yet.== Revenue employees were told it was ok to take photos of the governor in public areas, and a number of selfies of employees with the governor have appeared on Facebook. The applause was pretty loud. I was not one of the people applauding or posing for selfies with the governor, but I wasn’t surprised. The prior administration’s treatment of employees did not earn it any friends, even among the unionized workers. - Millie K. - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 1:34 pm: Why on earth would people complain when the Governor comes to visit? Southern Illinois waited for Quinn to visit….instead when he actually did he hid in cornfields! - Voice of Reason - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 1:59 pm: He wants to cut my pay, cut my pension, destroy my union, but By Golly, he came to say “hi” to me! What a swell guy. - LizPhairTax - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 2:43 pm: Thanks Anon. Without proof, Bruce Rauner’s standing ovations are a lot like Kim Jong-Il’s golf scores. - Former State Employee 2 - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 4:00 pm: JRT, JE and GHR all came to the agencies I worked at. DCCA, IDOT. IDPH. It was Blago that never did. I’m glad Rauner is reaching out to rank and file. Look at them, while you stab them. - Norseman - Monday, Feb 9, 15 @ 4:11 pm: === JRT, JE and GHR all came to the agencies I worked at. DCCA, IDOT. IDPH. === I was at one of these agencies for all three govs and they never came for a general get together for employees. They came for dog and pony shows for some issue. To me there is a difference. 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