53 Comments - nixit71 - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 12:50 pm: Running down that which was run over. - OneMan - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 12:52 pm: Yeah, not at all like surprising the tech industry you say you love with a cloud-tax… - Liberty - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 12:53 pm: Rauner was elected by running down the state. - Gutandreplace - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 12:55 pm: The Mayor finally said something I agree with. If Gov. Rauner keeps telling people Illinois sucks someone might actually believe him! - A guy - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 12:55 pm: Someone explain how you can “run up” the state’s business climate. Everything bad about it was government caused over a long period of time. It survives at all because of the resilience of Illinoisans and the benefit of geography. - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 12:55 pm: While I don’t believe Rauner can run down a business climate just by slamming it, I find it disingenuous for people like Rauner, who made millions of dollars while living in and doing business in Illinois, to be dissing the state’s business climate. Let’s see how those who are behind the “Illinois is terrible” narrative did economically. - Tournaround Agenda - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 12:56 pm: It’s always nice reading the IDES reports on unemployment numbers going down being portrayed in the most negative way possible. - Not Rich - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 12:58 pm: love the cloud tax comment.. et tu..but hey Gov, “how’s that triangulating the Speaker going”? - Wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 12:58 pm: When Rauner was at World Business Chicago and Choose Chicago all those years, he claimed the city and state were the best places in the world to do business. It wasn’t until he was a candidate that he discovered that the state was in a “death spiral” and needed a messiah. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 1:00 pm: Sounds like the triangulation has evolved into circling the wagons to teach the Governor that talking negative as Candidate Rauner is far, far different than a sitting Governor of the state of Illinois giving the “impression” the state he/she is the Executive of is a bad place, and it’s major city can be even worse. These signals are getting so blatent, all that’s left is the “private” part of this education going public, lol - Former Hoosier - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 1:00 pm: Tell it like it is Rahm! I agree-the Gov’s constant criticism of Illilnois might have played well for him as a candidate but, it’s really getting old and is not the way to promote the State. Yea, I know, in his eyes and the eyes of Raunerites, there is nothing to promote…but they’re wrong. - Tony - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 1:00 pm: I’m fairly confident the majority of citizens of this State also have an agenda. One that starts with health and nutrition before profit and dividends. - Michael Westen - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 1:03 pm: I think Rahm just got kicked out of the wine club. - Joe M - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 1:03 pm: The mayor is right. Rauner seems to spend more time bashing Illinois than he does promoting it. For example, he ignored that Illinois recently ranked No. 2 among states where businesses are being created the fastest, according to numbers released yesterday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://capitolfax.com/2015/06/19/who-woulda-thunk-it/ And another example, he also ignored the positive annual report from his own Worker’s Compensation Board. https://capitolfax.com/2015/06/24/good-news-on-workers-comp/ There are also a lot of other good reports and statistics he could be using to promote Illinois. - Judgment Day - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 1:04 pm: It’s hard to take Rahm seriously when the City of Chicago is being reduced to potentially proposing use of Capital Appreciation Bonds to finance City services. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-31/chicago-mulls-borrowing-that-puerto-rico-rejected-as-too-risky Here’s a definition of how these things work: http://www.msrb.org/glossary/definition/capital-appreciation-bond-_cab_.aspx If you are in a financial situation where you even have to consider using these CAB’s as part of your financing, you have got some serious financial issues. The Governor is not the problem here. - Southern Illinois Hoopdee - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 1:07 pm: Mayor Cloud Tax shouldn’t be attacking the tech industry, the most progressive industry I can think of off the top of my head. Maybe it’s things like this that make people downstate (Rauner’s base) think Chicago is bad. Ask yourselves why a state with supposedly progressive leadership in the Assembly and in Chicago has a decidedly regressive tax system. Like what Oswego WIlly says, look at what politicians do, not what they say. Governance is about priorities. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 1:13 pm: ===When Rauner was at World Business Chicago and Choose Chicago all those years, he claimed the city and state were the best places in the world to do business. It wasn’t until he was a candidate that he discovered that the state was in a “death spiral” and needed a messiah.=== I just thought this was worth repeating. Over and over. - Soccermom - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 1:15 pm: Exactly. ===When Rauner was at World Business Chicago and Choose Chicago all those years, he claimed the city and state were the best places in the world to do business. It wasn’t until he was a candidate that he discovered that the state was in a “death spiral” and needed a messiah.=== - Wensicia - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 1:16 pm: Emanuel could direct that same advice to the Tribune editorial board; their criticism has been non-stop for years. It’s as if Rauner is quoting them every time he makes a negative comment. - Demoralized - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 1:25 pm: You see lots of people who supposedly “love” Illinois run it down all the time. We have a few of them on this comment board. It’s just in some people’s nature to be hateful and negative. - Anon - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 1:27 pm: To Rauner & his allies, IL business climate will be “bad” until they get 100% of what they want, 100% of the time. They know what is good for us plebs. - walker - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 1:33 pm: Yes. World Business Chicago has been markedly successful in selling us as a place to do business around the world. Multinational business leaders speak much more highly of us than many of us do. Rauner has them as a model to follow and still chooses not to do so. This is a major reason he should transition out of campaign mode into state leadership role. Past overdue. - walker - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 1:37 pm: Wordslinger’s comment is the quotable of the day. - VanillaMan - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 1:37 pm: Governors should never run down their state. Ever. But who believes Bruce Rauner has a clue about being a governor? We see repeatedly and daily, that he does not. Nor does it seem that he even wants to be governor. So, even if he really knew what governors do - I guess his definition of “shaking up Springfield” means not governing and driving Illinois over a cliff. Death spiral - isn’t that what Thelma and Louise’s Thunderbird did at the end of their jump? - Louis G. Atsaves - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 1:39 pm: Ah, “The City That Works!” Sounds so nice. Works better than “Chiraq.” - D.P.Gumby - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 1:44 pm: If Brucie runs it down enough he might convince someone the state needs turning around. Maybe that’s what shaking up is all about??? - Southern Illinois Hoopdee - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 1:48 pm: –But who believes Bruce Rauner has a clue about being a governor? We see repeatedly and daily, that he does not. Nor does it seem that he even wants to be governor. So, even if he really knew what governors do - I guess his definition of “shaking up Springfield” means not governing and driving Illinois over a cliff.– Because what was done before was working so well, am I right? - Tired - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 1:51 pm: This seems to debunk the idea that raising taxes causes an exodus to nearby states. http://www.cbpp.org/research/state-budget-and-tax/fact-sheet-debunking-the-myth-that-raising-taxes-on-the-rich-will-harm Interesting - Put the fun in unfunded - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 2:03 pm: As Merle Haggard says: If you don’t love it, leave it: Let this song I’m singin’ be a warnin’. If you’re runnin’ down my city/state, man, You’re walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me. - Southern Illinois Hoopdee - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 2:04 pm: Tired, partially true. IL has a regressive tax system and bad business regulations, especially on issues like workers’s compensation. Even the Speaker has acknowledged that worker’s comp is a problem. A better roadmap would be along the lines of what Governor Dayton did in Minnesota, a state with a progressive tax system and better business regulations, that has also not shrunk back on pension obligations and capital investment. - anon - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 2:06 pm: Rauner just wants to repeat over and over that business is bad in Illinois, so he can point to his “solution” - the turnaround agenda. Same message, different day with this guy. Everything he does goes back to the turn-around agenda. - Downstate - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 2:07 pm: Pretty tough to recruit new businesses, when the Democrats continue to scream “RAISE TAXES”. Executives looking at the Mitsubishi plant know that their managers will pay a higher income tax rate (if Democrats get their way)simply to pay off the sins of the past. - Joe M - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 2:08 pm: ==This seems to debunk the idea that raising taxes causes an exodus to nearby states. == Just look at the top income tax rates in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and even Missouri and Kentucky for additional evidence that higher taxes don’t cause an exodus to nearby states. If they did, in theory rich folks from all of those states would be moving to Illinois with its very low 3.75% tax rate! - Southern Illinois Hoopdee - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 2:12 pm: Downstate, IL has a tax rate that is low and regressive, with the rich paying a very small share of the taxes. Why aren’t businesses flocking to Illinois then? Perhaps, there’s more to it than the tax system. - Tournaround Agenda - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 2:16 pm: Downstate, Rauner is going to raise taxes. Not an if, but when. The only thing in contention is how much of Rauner’s turnaround agenda is going to be passed before a budget is. Of course, neither side wants to take responsibility for raising taxes. - Norseman - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 2:22 pm: There are plenty of positives to tout for Illinois. The problem is that promoting the positives doesn’t fit their political agenda. - Nick Danger - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 2:23 pm: Those who think speaking honestly about the state of Illinois’ economy is “running it down” need to check the mirror to see if their clothes are on. And since we all like to say how crappy of a state Indiana is, I’ll skip a comparison. But one does not have to look very far to see that OUR state has enormous problems in comparison to nearly every other state. Numbers? Look at new construction, manufacturing, tech sector growth and you will see by the numbers that Illinois does not lead nor is anywhere near the top in any of these. Anything short of BOLD action will garner nothing more but the same. And the same ain’t cutin’it folks. SI Hoopdee is on the right track. - is it just me? - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 2:24 pm: This is why it “sounds trite” for him to declare his love for the state. (or the state employees for that matter) - Wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 2:33 pm: ND, you’ve sold me with all your specifics and facts. Now, walk me through how gutting prevailing wage and collective bargaining for public employees will fuel economic growth. How much growth are we talking? Certainly, there must be some applied economics backing the theory. Otherwise, it would just be a corruption of a sham masking an effort by the governor and the legislators he controls to bust unions for partisan political reasons. - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 2:33 pm: “tech sector growth” Chicago has a growing tech sector. The Chicago metro area was ranked number one the last two years in a row for corporate real estate deals. I believe Illinois was recently ranked number two for business start-ups. Illinois median household/per capita incomes are much higher than some of our neighbors. Etc. - Wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 3:23 pm: – Someone explain how you can ‘run up’ the state’s business climate.– See Rauner, Bruce, chairman of Choose Chicago, board member, World Business Chicago. - Demoralized - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 3:25 pm: ==when the Democrats continue to scream “RAISE TAXES”.== Umm, the Governor has said he would agree to do that too. Can you make a comment that just once isn’t a partisan rant? - Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 3:25 pm: ==- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 1:13 pm:== “I would like to say thank you to our leaders. Thank you to Mayor Daley, thank you to Governor Quinn, thank you to our legislative leaders in Springfield, Speaker Madigan, President Cullerton.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKw4joWoNKo - Demoralized - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 3:27 pm: ==Executives looking at the Mitsubishi plant know that their managers will pay a higher income tax rate == How the heck do you know that? Do you just make this stuff up as you go along? What “executives” are you talking about exactly that you seem to know they’ll be paying higher taxes. Again, enough with the partisan talking points. More facts and less talking points please. - Rod - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 3:39 pm: Jorge Ramirez, of the Chicago AFL-CIO and Mayor Emanuel actually did a joint interview with Charles Thomas at the World Business Chicago event yesterday sitting side by side. Both taking turns beating up on Governor Rauner. The Mayor’s sharp comments are not indicative of someone who believes the Governor is going to help bail out CPS via SB 318 as amended which President Cullerton is still trying to pass today or tomorrow. Given the fiscal problems of CPS and the City itself one would expect Mayor Emanuel to play nice with Rauner until the bill is passed both houses and signed if he believed that was still possible. My guess is SB 318 is dead and no bail out deal tied to the property tax freeze without the anti-labor provisions will be agreed to by Governor Rauner. But we shall find out shortly. - Downstate - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 3:52 pm: Businesses are not flocking to Illinois for the same reason that they aren’t flocking to other states (and countries) with huge budget deficits and unsustainable debt. Why should they have to pay for the past sins of the state? I’m seeing the “business unfriendly” attitude play itself out in the minds of many businesses that are already located in Illinois, and those that are considering it. It is naïve to believe that businesses simply chase the lowest wages. If that were the case, then Puerto Rico and Greece would be high on the list of companies. They are not…..see the first paragraph above. Failing to consider any of the turnaround agenda items is a “head in the sand approach”. As I’ve mentioned before, Chicago faces the same crisis. The only ideas generated on this board for Chicago to address their problem was “raise taxes, reduce spending”. If you believe that will solve our problems, then you don’t realize how big our problems truly are. We need to make a statement that Illinois is open for business. But saying RTW is a “non negotiable” (even for a rural county to allow) says everything most businesses need to know about the future business attitude in the state. - Ahoy! - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 3:56 pm: –At another point during the interview, the mayor said the governor was “running down” Illinois with his constant criticism of the state’s business climate.– Businesses already know this, it’s like this is a new development that the governor is just shinning a light on. It would be more helpful if Rahmbo would be a little more helpful in fixing the climate instead of playing the party line. Chicago has the most to gain from a better Illinois business climate. - Downstate - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 4:03 pm: Ahoy, I kid you not, I just received an email for the Department of Department of Economic Development & Commerce of……wait for it…..Puerto Rico. I thought it was a joke. It was not. You can spin good news as much as you want, but deteriorating credit ratings and HUGE deficits speak volumes when compared to all the pleasant platitudes one might muster. - Mama - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 4:30 pm: The governor will continue to talk negative about IL until his “Turnaround” thing is passed. After he gets what he wants, he will want people to think IL is better now due to the changes he made. At that point, he will start talking about how great IL is since I saved it. - Southern Illinois Hoopdee - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 5:16 pm: –Now, walk me through how gutting prevailing wage and collective bargaining for public employees will fuel economic growth.– Wordslinger, maybe I missed something, but I don’t think that Nick Danger was arguing for any of those things. I’m for the Minnesota Blueprint coming to Illinois. It beats the Wisconsin Blueprint (which does’t work). - Clodhopper - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 5:55 pm: I have disliked and never understood why Rauner has constantly run down the very State that he is the governor of. It is very offensive to me just the average everyday Illinois citizen. I understand that it is part of his sales pitch to get people to buy his bag of tricks he is selling. It is not working. Perhaps some of his superstars could and should suggest another approach. He just might be surprised if he could actually muster up a genuine positive comment about the State of Illinois. Someone might actually take him seriously and start to listen. Yea, I know, not going to happen. Taking off my rose colored glasses now. - RNUG - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 10:11 pm: == Wordslinger’s comment is the quotable of the day. == I agree … - Demoralized - Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 10:23 pm: =But saying RTW is a “non negotiable”== You’re still harping on RTW? It ain’t going to happen. Period. Stop whining about it and work on something that can happen. Some of you can’t get it through your thick head what is possible and what isn’t possible. If you can’t even grasp such basic concepts of political realities then your contributions to the conversation are worthless. == “raise taxes, reduce spending”. If you believe that will solve our problems, then you don’t realize how big our problems truly are== It’s a start. And you are clueless when it comes to political realities. You prefer to whine constantly about what you want instead of living in the real world with the rest of us and working on things that are actually possible. If whining helps you sleep, by all means continue. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.