If you believe all the rhetoric about corrupt politicians, corrupt courts, bad actors in government, bad actors influencing government, how do you see cooperation outside twisting arms?
Your FY2015 fiscal fix, at first, seemed like a great blueprint for cooperation, but now it seems to be a glaring example of how fragile agreements are, that are based on trust.
If you were truthful as your staff says you were, why didn’t you give warning to legislators to the Good Friday Cuts, and why did you try to bury them?
Many republicans support workers rights, especially in downstate Illinois. Considering that a Democratic Majority exists in the House and Senate, and the Supreme Court is indicating a somewhat pro labor perspective, how do you explain your push for “right to work zones” to those union republicans that supported you during the campaign?
Do you think, now as governor, the co-equal ideal of governing is just wishful thinking, and as governor your role is larger in turning things around, or should co-equal partners look for common ground?
Why are you filling the ranks of middle management in State agencies with young, inexperienced former political interns? Or in some cases the inexperienced spouse of a political hack or child of a campaign donor. I thought you were committed to meritocracy like the private sector? What happened to that campaign promise?
With little or no Bills of substance out there as your Legislstive agenda, time is running short, will we see a legislative agenda this Spring session, or should the Budget Bills speak to that agenda for us?
How do you truly expect cooperation from the legislative leaders that you insulted continuously during your campaign by calling them corrupt for over 100 years total?
What’s up with DCEO? Have we added jobs? Do they even exist anymore? How are they improving our economic condition? We hear nothing from them. (sorry about the snark on the last post. It’s hard to do when snark is such a part of this blog)
If you’re worried about judicial overreach in governing, why sue over, say, fair share, and allow the courts to possibly weigh in as a political actor, as you seem to suggest?
Why do you bring highly paid “experts” to fill in administrative posts when their work histories do not suggest that they are capable of helping IL? In fact, they have left their previous employers in far worse situations than when they arrived.
What have you actually done in 100 days? Have you accomplished anything yet?
- Not quite a majority - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:31 am:
Could you please tell us one example of your record as a successful businessman that is shaping how you want to advance your ‘turnaround’ agenda? Just one.
- One day at a time - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:32 am:
Two things begin with the letter A…; which has more standing in your budget and legaslative considerations:
Autism or A.B.A.T.E. ?
How much would it cost Illinois to refinance the pension budget for the next thirty years and would you be open to using a retirement income tax to help pay for it since it would be supporting pensioners benefitting from it?
How would you compare campaign donations by unions with campaign donations by corporations or PACs? Is there a really a difference in their attempts to drive public policy, by influencing salaries or tax incentives?
Governor, you said your goal is to make Illinois the most compassionate state in the Union. In what sense is it consistent with that goal to eliminate the Autism program and the Emergency Food program, and to cut funding for kids on ventilators?
People, I’m really busy preparing for a speech and I’m tired of deleting snarky answers. I’m just gonna start banning folks. You’ve been warned. Stop it.
- Senator Clay Davis - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 10:05 am:
Do you support bailing out profitable companies that made bad business decisions? Exelon would like to know.
If you don’t consider voters capable of selecting qualified and talented Judges, why are they any more capable in selecting qualified and talented Legislators and, by extension, Governors?
Are the lines of communications with the leaders, specifically the Speaker and Senate President direct enough to predict finishing session on time or shortly thereafter?
How “big tent” should the Illinois Republican Party be? When individual legislators disagree with your stance in labor issues, should they switch sides, when the rest of their ideology is more aligned with the Republican party?
1) How important is personal credibility to a successful negotiation?
2) What negotiation strategies do you recommend when you believe the OTHER PARTY is fundamentally dishonest?
3) What negotiation strategies do you recommend when the other party believes that YOU are fundamentally dishonest?
4) How should one adjust one’s negotiation strategies if a party used to negotiating from a position of strength finds himself in negotiations with a co-equal party?
5) How should one adjust one’s negotiation strategies if a party is negotiating with a co-equal party who has both more information and more experience?
* How would you say you’re doing having switched from the corporate world to the government world?
* What do you think the key differences are between operating a corporate agenda versus a governance agenda.
Since you said during the campaign that your goal was to reduce the 5% income tax rate over four years in office…and you supported a sales tax on services, will you support these or other sources of revenue enhancement for FY16?
Two questions: 1) Because of your cuts, the Springfield Branch of The Autism Program cut non-clinical services, such as training for parents. Can you explain to us why parents might need those service?
2. Given that the services have been abolished, how should, hypothetically, a parent who works at Target receive the services, if at all?
Note that the bottom line here is that I’m not convinced many even understand how necessary those training services are. Even when your child’s problems are minor, that training for the parents remains necessary to help the child progress when the doctors are not there. I just don’t believe that many understand how necessary those services are. It is easy to cut something when you don’t understand it is importance. I would really like to know if Gov. Rauner understand what is being cut.
Thanks for the suggestions all; caught some of them in time, but others not (and of course had plenty of my own ideas). So many questions to ask, so little time (literally ten minutes), o alas many remain unanswered. Kudos to Gov. Rauner for granting many press interviews over the past couple of weeks (making the rounds at editorial boards, various TV reporters last week and this week radio’s turn). Here’s hoping for more such opportunities.
After tightening ethics regulations for state employees, and in this painful time of cutting non-essential services, how do you justify hiring a $100,000 per year Chief of Staff for your wife? In her unofficial capacity as your spouse, what essential services has your wife rendered to the state to date that require this level of support? Would it be ethical for another state administrator, say a university department head, to divert state funds to provide similar support to her spouse? Wouldn’t that be cause for termination and a much more serious offense than accepting a minor trinket from a vendor doing business with the state –– an offense you felt moved to ban by executive order?
This is some pretty hateful stuff. To lighten the mood Amanda, try these:
How are the dogs adapting to the mansion?
Are you enjoying downstate?
Do you have a favorite Springfield restaurant?
one of your financial consultants was involved in government in Kansas. that state has taken an extreme turn for the worse financially. How will your approach to finances be the same as and different from the financial approach in Kansas?
Just got on this thread - all excellent questions - for the most part! Any question I might add would only be repeating a variation of previous comments.
Can’t wait to get his response or answers to these questions and comments.
What is one reality of governing and making decisions everyday as the state’s chief executive that makes you wish you would have used different, less critical or harsh, rhetoric on the campaign trail?
In the Special Oversight Committee meeting this morning, Rep. Bradley requested a list of where the other 900 million dollars for the FY15 fix went. Will you/your office honor this request?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:02 am:
Where exactly DO you get your news?
- Big Joe - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:03 am:
Rich,
I don’t think I can come up with anything to say to BVR without snark. Sorry.
- Arnold Ziffle - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:04 am:
What are your family’s sacrifices?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:05 am:
Who do you turn to to get a contrarian voice?
- Stones - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:07 am:
How do you expect to perform as Governor of the 5th largest state without ever having held public office? Is that a realistic expectation?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:07 am:
If you believe all the rhetoric about corrupt politicians, corrupt courts, bad actors in government, bad actors influencing government, how do you see cooperation outside twisting arms?
- Henry - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:08 am:
If the thought of unions buying influence with legislators makes you uncomfortable, do you have any plans to overhaul lobbying in general?
- Wordslinger - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:08 am:
Why are you giving tax credits to profitable corporations at the same time you’re cutting services to at-risk citizens?
- And I Approved This Message - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:08 am:
How much trouble do you have sleeping at night?
- Casual Observer - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:10 am:
Many State employees are afraid you will force a strike or lockout this summer. Can you aleve their fears?
- Wordslinger - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:11 am:
Were you honest with citizens during the campaign when you said right-to-work legislation was “not a priority?”
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:11 am:
Your FY2015 fiscal fix, at first, seemed like a great blueprint for cooperation, but now it seems to be a glaring example of how fragile agreements are, that are based on trust.
If you were truthful as your staff says you were, why didn’t you give warning to legislators to the Good Friday Cuts, and why did you try to bury them?
- Obamas Puppy - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:11 am:
How does eliminating fair share dues help the Illinois economy? Should individuals be able to get a service like contract bargaining for free?
- John A Logan - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:11 am:
Many republicans support workers rights, especially in downstate Illinois. Considering that a Democratic Majority exists in the House and Senate, and the Supreme Court is indicating a somewhat pro labor perspective, how do you explain your push for “right to work zones” to those union republicans that supported you during the campaign?
- Angry Republican - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:12 am:
How much additional revenue (aka tax increase, aka broading base) would you be willing to trade for state wide right to work?
- Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:13 am:
How in the world could you fund free motorcycle lessons while cutting millions in autism treatment?
- Ray del Camino - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:14 am:
When is someone going to file one of your bills?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:15 am:
Do you think, now as governor, the co-equal ideal of governing is just wishful thinking, and as governor your role is larger in turning things around, or should co-equal partners look for common ground?
- Aldyth - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:17 am:
Will you answer my question under oath?
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:21 am:
Why are you filling the ranks of middle management in State agencies with young, inexperienced former political interns? Or in some cases the inexperienced spouse of a political hack or child of a campaign donor. I thought you were committed to meritocracy like the private sector? What happened to that campaign promise?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:22 am:
With little or no Bills of substance out there as your Legislstive agenda, time is running short, will we see a legislative agenda this Spring session, or should the Budget Bills speak to that agenda for us?
- Big Joe - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:22 am:
How do you truly expect cooperation from the legislative leaders that you insulted continuously during your campaign by calling them corrupt for over 100 years total?
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:27 am:
What’s up with DCEO? Have we added jobs? Do they even exist anymore? How are they improving our economic condition? We hear nothing from them. (sorry about the snark on the last post. It’s hard to do when snark is such a part of this blog)
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:27 am:
If you’re worried about judicial overreach in governing, why sue over, say, fair share, and allow the courts to possibly weigh in as a political actor, as you seem to suggest?
- Big Joe - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:27 am:
Why do you bring highly paid “experts” to fill in administrative posts when their work histories do not suggest that they are capable of helping IL? In fact, they have left their previous employers in far worse situations than when they arrived.
- crazybleedingheart - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:27 am:
During the campaign, you said you’d cut waste. Tim Nuding just testified that there actually wasn’t much waste to cut. Who lied?
- Northsider - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:28 am:
Business and industries lobby state government. Labor lobbies state government.
What is the fundamental difference, and why?
- Carhartt Representative - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:31 am:
What have you actually done in 100 days? Have you accomplished anything yet?
- Not quite a majority - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:31 am:
Could you please tell us one example of your record as a successful businessman that is shaping how you want to advance your ‘turnaround’ agenda? Just one.
- One day at a time - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:32 am:
Two things begin with the letter A…; which has more standing in your budget and legaslative considerations:
Autism or A.B.A.T.E. ?
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:33 am:
How much would it cost Illinois to refinance the pension budget for the next thirty years and would you be open to using a retirement income tax to help pay for it since it would be supporting pensioners benefitting from it?
- AC - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:35 am:
How would you compare campaign donations by unions with campaign donations by corporations or PACs? Is there a really a difference in their attempts to drive public policy, by influencing salaries or tax incentives?
- Motambe - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:35 am:
Do you enjoy making Speaker Madigan appear to be the mature, seasoned, and thoughtful statesman of Illinois state government?
- Sunshine - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:43 am:
What are your three highest priorities?
Is your unannounced plan working?
When will we see a return on our investment in you?
- Norseman - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:47 am:
Name one budget decision or cut recommended by Arduin?
- DCSouth - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:48 am:
Are you contemplating a early out? If so, when? Say 5 and 5. You could hire in at Tier 2. I am sure you would have plenty of room for new blood.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:49 am:
The people’s mandate to tax millionaires in the budget?
- Earnest - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:54 am:
What are five great reasons for a business to locate in Illinois?
- nona - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:56 am:
Governor, you said your goal is to make Illinois the most compassionate state in the Union. In what sense is it consistent with that goal to eliminate the Autism program and the Emergency Food program, and to cut funding for kids on ventilators?
- Anon - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:59 am:
Colorado has seen a massive increase in revenue since legalizing marijuana. Would you support this in Illinois?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 10:03 am:
People, I’m really busy preparing for a speech and I’m tired of deleting snarky answers. I’m just gonna start banning folks. You’ve been warned. Stop it.
- Senator Clay Davis - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 10:05 am:
Do you support bailing out profitable companies that made bad business decisions? Exelon would like to know.
- Arnold Ziffle - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 10:12 am:
If you don’t consider voters capable of selecting qualified and talented Judges, why are they any more capable in selecting qualified and talented Legislators and, by extension, Governors?
- A guy - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 10:13 am:
Are the lines of communications with the leaders, specifically the Speaker and Senate President direct enough to predict finishing session on time or shortly thereafter?
- AC - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 10:18 am:
How “big tent” should the Illinois Republican Party be? When individual legislators disagree with your stance in labor issues, should they switch sides, when the rest of their ideology is more aligned with the Republican party?
- Casual Observer - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 10:20 am:
Negotiations have begun with your administration and AFSCME over a new contract. What are your “must haves” in the new contract?
- MrJM - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 10:24 am:
1) How important is personal credibility to a successful negotiation?
2) What negotiation strategies do you recommend when you believe the OTHER PARTY is fundamentally dishonest?
3) What negotiation strategies do you recommend when the other party believes that YOU are fundamentally dishonest?
4) How should one adjust one’s negotiation strategies if a party used to negotiating from a position of strength finds himself in negotiations with a co-equal party?
5) How should one adjust one’s negotiation strategies if a party is negotiating with a co-equal party who has both more information and more experience?
I’ll hang up and take my answers off the air…
– MrJM
- AC - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 10:24 am:
How would you contrast judicial overreach and decisions you disagree with? Can you discuss an example of each?
- Cheswick - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 10:28 am:
* How would you say you’re doing having switched from the corporate world to the government world?
* What do you think the key differences are between operating a corporate agenda versus a governance agenda.
- Mister Whipple - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 10:31 am:
Since you said during the campaign that your goal was to reduce the 5% income tax rate over four years in office…and you supported a sales tax on services, will you support these or other sources of revenue enhancement for FY16?
- jerry 101 - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 10:33 am:
Are you really this stupid?
Not kidding.
- walker - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 10:50 am:
Will you fully pay the pension funding in fiscal 2016? If so, how?
- Gooner - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 11:20 am:
Two questions: 1) Because of your cuts, the Springfield Branch of The Autism Program cut non-clinical services, such as training for parents. Can you explain to us why parents might need those service?
2. Given that the services have been abolished, how should, hypothetically, a parent who works at Target receive the services, if at all?
Note that the bottom line here is that I’m not convinced many even understand how necessary those training services are. Even when your child’s problems are minor, that training for the parents remains necessary to help the child progress when the doctors are not there. I just don’t believe that many understand how necessary those services are. It is easy to cut something when you don’t understand it is importance. I would really like to know if Gov. Rauner understand what is being cut.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 11:28 am:
Do you believe that Illinoisans receiving state aid are freeloaders with other options available to help them similarly, or better?
- DuPage - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 11:36 am:
Why should we believe you?
- Amanda Vinicky - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 11:51 am:
Thanks for the suggestions all; caught some of them in time, but others not (and of course had plenty of my own ideas). So many questions to ask, so little time (literally ten minutes), o alas many remain unanswered. Kudos to Gov. Rauner for granting many press interviews over the past couple of weeks (making the rounds at editorial boards, various TV reporters last week and this week radio’s turn). Here’s hoping for more such opportunities.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 11:57 am:
- Amanda Vinicky -,
Can’t wait for your interview and insight.
OW
- Carl Nyberg - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 11:59 am:
What waste did you cut from the State of Illinois budget?
How much expenses have you transferred to county & local government?
What is the total dollar value of the programs cut so far?
How many of these programs could have been saved if the tax increase was extended?
Have you had second thoughts about asking for the tax increase not to be extended?
- X-prof - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 12:11 pm:
After tightening ethics regulations for state employees, and in this painful time of cutting non-essential services, how do you justify hiring a $100,000 per year Chief of Staff for your wife? In her unofficial capacity as your spouse, what essential services has your wife rendered to the state to date that require this level of support? Would it be ethical for another state administrator, say a university department head, to divert state funds to provide similar support to her spouse? Wouldn’t that be cause for termination and a much more serious offense than accepting a minor trinket from a vendor doing business with the state –– an offense you felt moved to ban by executive order?
- X-prof - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 12:13 pm:
Oops, too late I see. Maybe next time.
- Keyser Soze - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 12:16 pm:
This is some pretty hateful stuff. To lighten the mood Amanda, try these:
How are the dogs adapting to the mansion?
Are you enjoying downstate?
Do you have a favorite Springfield restaurant?
- Amalia - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 12:48 pm:
one of your financial consultants was involved in government in Kansas. that state has taken an extreme turn for the worse financially. How will your approach to finances be the same as and different from the financial approach in Kansas?
- illini - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 12:52 pm:
Just got on this thread - all excellent questions - for the most part! Any question I might add would only be repeating a variation of previous comments.
Can’t wait to get his response or answers to these questions and comments.
- AJ_yooper - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 1:04 pm:
Where’s the beef?
- Wow - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 1:15 pm:
looking back what has been your biggest setback since your confirmation?
- Streator Curmudgeon - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 1:30 pm:
If your Turnaround initiative is successful, will you run for a second term?
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 2:59 pm:
What does success look like Governor? What do you need to accomplish in order to declare victory?
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 3:15 pm:
What is one reality of governing and making decisions everyday as the state’s chief executive that makes you wish you would have used different, less critical or harsh, rhetoric on the campaign trail?
- Mama - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 4:03 pm:
Who is the real governor of IL?
- Minnow - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 5:00 pm:
In the Special Oversight Committee meeting this morning, Rep. Bradley requested a list of where the other 900 million dollars for the FY15 fix went. Will you/your office honor this request?