Gov. Transparency
Friday, May 15, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Gov. Bruce Rauner and secrecy, by the AP…
— Most talks are being held by special working groups, but the meeting times, locations and topics are secret. Lawmakers involved say Rauner’s staff has demanded they don’t reveal what was discussed.
— Rauner has so far refused to let anyone see copies of legislation outlining his desired reforms, though he has publicly assured reporters the legislation exists, and more information is coming soon. On top of that, his legal staff has rejected freedom of information requests seeking the information.
— Rauner’s staff has consistently taken more than one month to provide copies of his non-public schedule in response to requests from The Associated Press. Those documents, once provided, are redacted — making it impossible to see who’s attending “legislative briefings” and other meetings with the governor, and therefore who may be influencing his policy decisions… Responding to AP requests, Rauner’s office has so far provided only the governor’s schedules for January through March. AP is appealing to the attorney general’s public access counselor because the schedules that have been provided have redacted portions that appear to include the names of people with whom Rauner met or spoke.
* The governor’s response…
“I don’t think I could be more transparent,” he said Thursday. “I’ve laid out everything we’re working on and why. I think we couldn’t be more crystal clear from our point of view. … I believe we’ll be able to come forward with a lot of detail in the not too distant future. “
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:31 pm:
If you are going to bully, you don’t want others knowing where or how you do it.
You just want the milk money.
- VanillaMan - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:33 pm:
I think we couldn’t be more crystal clear from our point of view…
Transparency means being crystal clear from OUR point of view - not yours, sir.
- walker - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:33 pm:
==”Crystal clear”== on what we want.
Oogats on how we’re getting there.
- Corporate Thug - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:34 pm:
Rejecting FIOA’s and providing briefs with comments redacted. Wow. You don’t make friends in the media by acting this away. I mean, you don’t make friends with the media anyway, but you can put a larger target on yourself.
- VanillaMan - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:34 pm:
Governor, you work for us. We call the shots regarding transparency, not you.
- 47th Ward - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:34 pm:
I don’t think “transparent” means what Rauner thinks it means.
His quote is classic double-speak too: we’ve been transparent…we’ll be more transparent soon.
- VanillaMan - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:36 pm:
I think we couldn’t be more crystal clear from our point of view…
Everyone else thinks you could be, and that’s a problem for you.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:37 pm:
Every time Rauner says these things, Madigan “loses” another vote, with no “green” lights… to Rauner Agenda items.
The Press Shop is dismal in reeling in the boss.
Then again, Rauner rarely answers questions, hides schedules, and does legislative signings via YouTube, sans Press.
At some point, will the professionals finally replace the “superstars”?
- Scamp640 - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:38 pm:
Its very surprising that the “turn around” agenda is taking so much time to craft. You can just download the ideas from the ALEC website.
It makes me wonder if the “turn around” agenda is a 180 turn or 360 turn. I think this is the spin around agenda.
In further thinking about the idea of “turnaround”, other synonyms for turnaround come to mind including turmoil, cataclysm, disruption, and disaster. Maybe these ideas are what the Governor is planning for us. Otherwise, why is he so secretive?
- VanillaMan - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:38 pm:
Governor, please contact Rod Blagojevich regarding transparency issues in the Mansion. He can be contacted at: 1-800-IMINPRISON.
- Precinct Captain - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:39 pm:
==I believe we’ll be able to come forward with a lot of detail in the not too distant future.==
The detail will come when we’re all in the grave.
- Arsenal - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:39 pm:
At this point, I think it’s just counterproductive to his purposes, too. It’s May 15. If you want a vote on a Worker’s Comp bill, it’s time to release one.
- Arsenal - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:41 pm:
==I believe we’ll be able to come forward with a lot of detail in the not too distant future.==
It’s always just a few more days away…
- How Ironic - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:41 pm:
I think Rauner has scheduled the release of all requested information two weeks after never.
Or perhaps is it 3 days after eternity?
- VanillaMan - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:41 pm:
I believe we’ll be able to come forward with a lot of detail in the not too distant future.
Please explain how that statement compliments your claim of crystal clarity, because it sounds to a lot of us as an admission that you haven’t been.
- Frenchie Mendoza - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:42 pm:
For those items taken off the table in the evolving turnaround agenda — does that mean that the counties and municipalities should schedule a revote?
I mean, just what exactly where they voting on if some — or all — of those things are no longer on the table.
I’m confused. If the process were more legitimately transparent, instead of all this semantic double-talk I might not be so confused. (But if I were a county that voted on something that’s no longer part of the discussion, I’d feel … well … like I’ve been duped.)
- VanillaMan - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:43 pm:
Governor, please contact George Ryan regarding transparency issues in the Mansion. He can be contacted at: 1-800-IWASINPRISON.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:44 pm:
I think if the governor wanted to get something done or transparent, he would on both counts.
This is another choice Rauner and “superstars” are making.
They are choosing.
If you can go further, and you don’t, that’s on them.
- anon - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:45 pm:
Negotiation 101, you don’t show all your cards to your opponents. Sheesh!
- Name Withheld - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:46 pm:
“Transparency” must be one of those ambiguous words - like “shall not be diminished.”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:48 pm:
Welp, the Governor has played a deuce, and an off-suit three…
Rauner’s so far playing out a losing hand
- Arsenal - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:48 pm:
==Negotiation 101, you don’t show all your cards to your opponents.==
The people of the state are not Rauner’s opponents.
- A Jack - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:49 pm:
Mr Governor, I think you have the words ‘transparent’ and ‘opaque’ confused again.
- former southerner - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:50 pm:
As far as the Gov is concerned he owns the carnival and except for a few uber wealthy friends everyone else is a rube. And since he still has a lot of public support via a decently staged marketing campaign AND the major media is mostly giving him a free pass I believe his view is correct.
- CharlieKratos - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:50 pm:
OW, at what point does the ILGOP realize that BVR not only doesn’t have their back, he doesn’t have a clue? At what point do they realize that the $400k not only said that they could be bought, it also slapped a price tag on them?
They need to realize that, if they choose to throw their lot in with someone, they need to first make sure that someone is competent.
I hope that Raymond Poe leads the line walking away from this guy. I think that, long term, that’s the only way the ILGOP will come out of this mess with any credibility (aside from the owl, he’s lost).
- How Ironic - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:51 pm:
@Anon - 2:45
Chess 101. Don’t show up to the game with checker pieces in your hand. Rauner missed that memo, as it relates to his entire 100+ days in office so far.
One misstep after another, all equally preventable, but all self inflicted.
He’s a fish out of water, and hopefully out of time.
- anon - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:52 pm:
Wonder if the AP has yet written anything about the “most transparent” president ever????
The media these days is pretty amazing.
- anon - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:54 pm:
How Ironic, negotiating versus chess?? C’mon, you can provide a better analogy that that one. 100+ days in office, what are your thoughts on Obama’s 6+ YEARS in office?
- zonz - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:54 pm:
I wanna know what is really going on, and welcome opinions.
In your view, which of these explanations (or others of your own authorship) are *correct*?
===> Is Rauner just, really and truly, not a bright bulb?
===> Is Rauner just, really and truly, going thru the motions? If so, WHY?
===> Is Rauner part of a scheme where the first wave of attackers die quickly on the battlefield — to make opponents overconfident?
===> Is Rauner just positioning for a prominent role in his party’s national silly-fest?
===> Is Rauner trying to demonstrate why experienced, savvy politicians are valuable and novices are dangerous — because he REALLY wants to undermine the adoption of term limits?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:56 pm:
Rauner owns the ILGOP, giving additional monies lately, seeming like a payroll cover of days gone by.
- CharlieKratos -, it’s over. The Republican Party in Illinois is Rauner’s.
The flip side, Thompson, Edgar, Ryan, they all controlled the Party apparatus. It’s the Illinois GOP model.
The difference is, Rauner sized up the GOP GA, and got both of them too, for the additional $20 million.
The ILGOP is over. Ironically by the model Thompson, Edgar, and even Ryan ran it.
Elections matter. In this case, a whole party lost, or was swallowed up, because it could be.
- Jocko - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:57 pm:
This whole time, Bruce was being literal when he spoke of his Turnaround Agenda, shielding it from public view.
- Arsenal - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:58 pm:
zonz- Governor Rauner seems like a perfectly intelligent guy. But he’s mistaken on what policies will help Illinois (he’s conflating his narrow experience with what the state broadly needs), and he has the wrong training to push his agenda through the Illinois political process. I also think he’s uninterested in learning how to do that, for both personal and political reasons.
- How Ironic - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 3:01 pm:
@Anon - 2:54
I wasn’t aware Obama was the Gov of Illinois. But, I must ask what are your thoughts of Rauners performance so far?
The legislative session is over May 31. Rauner (who’s responsible for the budget) hasn’t even presented any bills.
And now his ‘turnaround’ agenda is being dismantled in votes that even the GOP house won’t vote for.
Seems like a pretty poor start.
- VanillaMan - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 3:01 pm:
Wonder if the AP has yet written anything about the “most transparent” president ever?
You must be new to this blog because we don’t do trolling here. You need to focus on Illinois issues solely and not toss the current president into it, just to prove you don’t like him.
Please move on if that is all you can do.
- ah HA - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 3:02 pm:
isn’t there a law about Open meetings act?
- Are Ya Kiddin' Me? - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 3:03 pm:
The governor’s response…
“I don’t think I could be more transparent,” he said Thursday. “I’ve laid out everything we’re working on and why. I think we couldn’t be more crystal clear from our point of view. … I believe we’ll be able to come forward with a lot of detail in the not too distant future. “
If you believe that you “couldn’t be more crystal clear”, then why do you believe that “we’ll be able to come forward with a lot of detail in the not too distant future. “
Hmm political 2x talk from the outsider?
- anon - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 3:04 pm:
zonz, what don’t you tell all of us your academic background and your life achievemnets and income so we can compare you to Bruce.
- Tommydanger - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 3:05 pm:
Governor: Saying so doesn’t make it so.
You are starting to sound more like Vladimir Rauner; We have no troops in Ukraine.
- Nearly Normal - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 3:05 pm:
anon–we are discussing Illinois here not the federal. You have a problem with Obama, etc., please find another blog.
- Name Withheld - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 3:05 pm:
==isn’t there a law about Open meetings act?==
If the Constitutional provisions isn’t going to deter him, why should a pesky law like the Open Meetings Act get in his way.
- Keyser Soze - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 3:08 pm:
The AP’s concern is puzzling. Internal strategy sessions and or negotiations should be confidential; they always have been. This isn’t novel, or new to government.
- BlameBruceRauner - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 3:16 pm:
Transparency….?Isn’t that one of those things they use with overhead projectors.
Im crystal clear……When I’m referring to crystal Im speaking of smoky quartz.
Cloudy, and veiled.
- Earnest - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 3:20 pm:
>> “…I believe we’ll be able to come forward with a lot of detail in the not too distant future. “
Wow, we’ve been hearing this line for such a long time. Makes me want to get a chicken costume with a Chicken Little t-shirt and show up at his press conferences–whoops, I mean “no press availability” events.
Still, I’m rooting for Governor Rauner to negotiate his way to a responsible budget with real numbers.
- Ghost - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 3:30 pm:
Asked about transparency, the Govenor provided a pixalated respons delivered behind a screen covered by a blackout curtain…..
- DPGumby - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 3:30 pm:
Most interesting Brucie’s not transparent, but we can see right thru him!
- Taxman - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 3:35 pm:
Giving him to much credit for being able to play checkers. He appears to be a one person game of tic tac toe kinda guy. Which would explain the “I never lose” mentality.
- Demoralized - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 3:38 pm:
==more information is coming soon==
He’s been saying that since the campaign. “Soon” is going to come soon right? I mean, you’ve been Governor for 4 months now and session is scheduled to end in 15 days. You might want to get off the dime and give us that info “soon.”
- Pacman - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 3:39 pm:
Earnest I too am rooting for the Governor because if he fails we all fail.
- DuPage - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 3:52 pm:
Mr. Rauner seems to liken transparency to a 2-way mirrors. He can see out, but the public can not see in.
- zonz - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 3:59 pm:
anon
1. congrats on the fine work you are doing here as a commenter; I can see you are making lots of friends
2. one slight suggestion: before attacking another commenter, try reading his/her post that you intend to respond to
———————
- zonz - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:54 pm:
I wanna know what is really going on, and welcome opinions.
In your view, which of these explanations (or others of your own authorship) are *correct*?
. . .
…………………………………….
- anon - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 3:04 pm:
zonz, what don’t you tell all of us your academic background and your life achievemnets and income so we can compare you to Bruce.
- anon - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:03 pm:
Still waiting zonz. Care to answer the question? Its easy to sit in the cheap seats and hurl insults. Just wondering how you stack up to Bruce.
- ~pfft - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:03 pm:
Doesn’t the $400k doled out violate the holy ethics act on several counts… not just for the gov but GA as well? Just did the annual ethics training, and there were several slides that squared up perfectly. Time to call the OEIG 800#.
- Demoralized - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:05 pm:
anon
Go away.
Thanks,
Everyone
- ABC Lawyer - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:06 pm:
Fair attack on the Governor. However, how transparent has the Speaker been with all of his dealing? How about Local 150 with it’s diversity in training, members and leadership?
When Madigan and the Trade Unions (the ones that feed off of prevailing rate money) do things in secret, they are praised for their political prowess. But we know with whom some on this blog stand 7 days a week with.
- SouthernILGirl - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:07 pm:
GENERAL PROVISIONS
(5 ILCS 120/) Open Meetings Act.
(5 ILCS 120/1) (from Ch. 102, par. 41)
Sec. 1. Policy. It is the public policy of this State that public bodies exist to aid in the conduct of the people’s business and that the people have a right to be informed as to the conduct of their business. In order that the people shall be informed, the General Assembly finds and declares that it is the intent of this Act to ensure that the actions of public bodies be taken openly and that their deliberations be conducted openly.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:11 pm:
- ABC Lawyer -,
If you’ve been a Republican long enough, Local 150 has crossed your path a time or two, and they are loyal as the day is long, to Democrats, and Republicans, if the issues align themselves.
That’s why I’m with them. They’re loyal. They support/supported Republicans time and time again.
If loyalty and friendship and diversity in your politics is lost on you, I can’t help you.
- Demoralized - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:14 pm:
I would add, OW, that Local 150 isn’t the government. Not exactly and apples to oranges comparison.
- Demoralized - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:15 pm:
Sorry. “it’s an apples to oranges comparison”
Time to start the weekend . . .
- Huh? - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:16 pm:
As much as we would like to have the OMA apply, you have to look in the definitions of a “public body” for the General Assembly and committees or commissions thereof exemption. 5 ILCS 120/1.02
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:16 pm:
- Demoralized -,
I followed you, and with respect, your point is very important and very valid.
Glad you made it.
- A guy - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:22 pm:
Demo, I got it the first time too, but….
Why you got apples on the brain so much???
What did you have for lunch and who cut it up for you?
lol
Have a good weekend pal!
- ABC Lawyer - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:29 pm:
Local 150 feeds off the prevailing rate (tax dollars) in this state. The reasons they dump hundreds of thousands of dollars to politicians is because they expect a return. 4% to 5% dues checkoff on money earned off of government contracts makes them a special interest in bed with the politicians that vote for their interests.
The only loyalty as a Republican that I am interested in is to the tax payer.
How transparent has the Speaker been in his dealings? Closed door meeting with Local 150 to shape a response to Rauner are of interest. That is a public concern. Maybe we can check the Speaker’s cell phone records to find out who he has been talking with? NOT
- JackD - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:30 pm:
P.1, the Trib this a.m.: “Gov.Bruce Rauner on Thursday admitted he’s not sure his plan to cut government worker costs is legal and suggested legislators ma need to pass a bunch of laws to see what sticks.” There’s a finely honed plan: throw it all up there and see if anything sticks. Good to have a doer on the job.
- zonz - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:30 pm:
Suggestion - SouthernILGirl
read at least 7.3 through 7.9 (pages 7-4 through 7-9) here
https://www.iicle.com/links/FIOMA13-Redlingshafer.pdf
- Demoralized - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:31 pm:
Would you prefer a limes to lemons comparison.
Have a good one guys.
- Demoralized - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:33 pm:
==makes them a special interest in bed with the politicians that vote for their interests==
You mean like that $400K the Governor dropped this week?
==Local 150 feeds off the prevailing rate (tax dollars) in this state==
You work for the Governor don’t you.
==How transparent has the Speaker been in his dealings?==
The argument of a 3 year old.
- Bruce Rushton - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:35 pm:
In my admittedly limited experience, if his staff doesn’t like a question, they just blow it off and don’t get back to you. I’ve asked a couple and not received any response. The latest was on April 9, when the governor left a Holocaust remembrance ceremony early. I asked Ms. Kelly of the governor’s communication staff, via email, whether the governor had another engagement and, if so, what was it. I never heard back. This, arguably, could be construed as a FOIA request under the law, and now that I think about it, I think that I will turn it into one.
The thing is, you cannot just blow off reasonable records questions from the media and expect that the media will simply go away. In this case, I’d argue that a lawsuit against Rauner for failure to produce appointment calendars would be more effective than an opinion from the AG. A judge has more power than Madigan, and an adverse ruling from the bench might just make the governor pay attention to the law as written instead of the law as he wishes it was.
- Qui Tam - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:40 pm:
Great to hear from you Mr. Rushton. I have been a fan for a while.
- ABC Lawyer - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:41 pm:
Thanks for the 3 year old remark Demoralized! Self employment doesn’t count as a government job.
The point is that the article and points made by Rich are valid, but before Democrats and members of “My Party” go into a tizzy of anti-Rauner ramblings they should look in the mirror. Their hero Speaker Madigan is not transparent in any of his dealings.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:43 pm:
===Local 150 feeds off the prevailing rate (tax dollars) in this state.===
So, they make too much money? That’s your argument? Seriously?
===The reasons they dump hundreds of thousands of dollars to politicians is because they expect a return. 4% to 5% dues checkoff on money earned off of government contracts makes them a special interest in bed with the politicians that vote for their interests.===
You mean “Fair Share”, what is this box you speak?
Rauner paid $400K, or as - 47th Ward - reminded me days ago, Rauner left it on the HGOP nightstand.
===The only loyalty as a Republican that I am interested in is to the tax payer.===
I have no clue how Local 150 and this idea you have about the taxpayer comes into play. Do you know what an operating engineer does? What exactly is your point, except a talking point?
You don’t even know your point.
===How transparent has the Speaker been in his dealings? Closed door meeting with Local 150 to shape a response to Rauner are of interest.===
There were days 150 met with Republicans, not even long ago, to strategize, even work for the betterment of Illinois, members of 150, and the GOP. Use the Google.
===Maybe we can check the Speaker’s cell phone records to find out who he has been talking with? NOT===
That was fun. Thanks.
- Demoralized - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:44 pm:
ABC
The Governor has been the one making transparency a huge deal. If you do that, and then act like this, you are going to get stung.
And, it is juvenile to counter an argument with an argument of “yeah, but, somebody else is doing it too.”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:48 pm:
Madigan is someone to to respect and understand and respect how he goes about his business, outside the politics at play.
Adult concepts.
- Norseman - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:51 pm:
There’s a difference in laying out all your cards and not laying out any cards.
No real surprise here. We saw his hypocrisy during the campaign.
- Anon - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:52 pm:
Well, at least some dogs are being helped this weekend. We’ve got that going for us, right?
- SouthernILGirl - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 5:06 pm:
Thanks zonz. Illuminating, I was making noob assumptions. Lots of loops to slip through, so while the name OMA implies transparency the reality is it’s pretty tightly construed. Wow. Now I’m even more disillusioned. Thanks?
- crazybleedingheart - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 5:25 pm:
God bless John O’Connor.
That last “key point” BURNS
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/foia-law-on-rauner-s-refusal-to-reveal-reform-legislation/article_443fe861-8637-5bb7-97c7-222dd57506ec.html
- Arsenal - Saturday, May 16, 15 @ 7:54 am:
==Local 150 feeds off the prevailing rate (tax dollars) in this state.==
No, its members get paid for the work they do.
Honestly, I’m used to unions being the only people in the democratic process that aren’t allowed to advocate for their self-interests, but now they’re the only people in the capitalist economy that can’t make money? That’s ridiculous. And for a lawyer- I know you get no small amount of side-eye for how you make money, too, even though it’s totally legit- to pile on? Yuck.