* As we’ve discussed before, Gov. Rauner gave lawmakers a detailed road map last year when he used his amendatory veto powers on the marijuana decriminalization bill. Legislators followed his directions and yet he still won’t embrace the legislation…
“I’ve been a little distracted with economic issues, and frankly more important issues,” Rauner said last week. “We in Illinois tend to get — we get caught up in what our state pie’s going to be and how much marijuana is going to get sold. You know, it’s lovely topics. We got a budget crisis. We need more jobs. We need higher wages. We need more money for our schools. Let’s focus on what matters.”
That was not a unique comment. Rauner said much the same thing Monday afternoon in his Statehouse news conference: “You’re going to see a lot of votes and a lot of bills pop out this week. I hope they relate to what matters. We don’t need band aids. We don’t need to declare another state pie. We don’t need to declare another state vegetable. We don’t need to declare another illegal substance that we should expand. We need to focus on what matters.”
There you have it: The governor is comparing a bipartisan change in criminal justice policy to naming the state pie — pumpkin, by the way, sponsored by a Republican and signed into law by … Gov. Rauner.
It’s a striking comment from a politician who’s been widely praised for saying he’s willing to take on the inefficiencies and inequities of our criminal justice system. Rauner has called for significantly reducing the number of people sent to prison in Illinois. Now, it’s true that decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana will not make much of a dent in that — very few people are sent to prison for small time pot busts, especially for a first offense. And yet, advocates say it’s a worthwhile step in the right direction.
Not only that, but he could expand job opportunities in this state by expanding the medical marijuana program or even legalizing it. If jobs were solely based on workers’ comp costs and property tax costs, we wouldn’t have any jobs here. There are other ways to do things that don’t involve his Turnaround Agenda. Innovation is a big one, and strangling our research universities certainly isn’t helping.
* Also, too, the pumpkin pie bill is an easy target, but Illinois is the national center of pumpkin production…
Prairie State farmers grow more ornamental and canning-type pumpkins than any other state. In fact, Illinois produced more than twice as many pumpkins in 2012 as second-ranked to California. […]
The state’s farms harvested a record 16,200 acres of pumpkins in 2012, according to the Illinois Agricultural Statistics Service (IASS). Most of those were processing pumpkins, the best type for canning and cooking. More than 90 percent of the nation’s canning pumpkins grow in Illinois, says Mohammad Babadoost, a plant pathologist and professor at the University of Illinois.
We also process those pumpkins here.
So, stop dumping on a vital home-grown industry already.
* Meanwhile…
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that Champaign is among the nation’s faster-growing cities.
The (Champaign) News-Gazette reports that the city is the only one in Illinois to reach that distinction. Of the others, 74 are in California, 47 are in Texas, and 17 are in the Carolinas.
From July 2014 to July 2015, the Census found Champaign grew by 1.5 percent, to just over 86,900. It’s now the 380th-largest city nationally and No. 10 in Illinois.
Champaign is rapidly becoming my favorite small city. So, learn some lessons from that town and help others do some of the same sorts of things. Not everything can be duplicated, of course, but this ain’t rocket science.
- Sir Reel - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 9:12 am:
What’s important to me is that he amendatorily vetoed the bill, the General Assembly responded and now he’s reneging. More evidence that he can’t be trusted.
And for all his saying there’s more important stuff to address, what is he actually doing beyond visiting high schools, holding press conferences and attending the rare leader’s meeting?
Obviously can’t do 2 things at 1 time.
- Anon - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 9:14 am:
===So, stop dumping on a vital home-grown industry already.===
Making the state pie a pumpkin pie was one of the first Republican sponsored bills I have found myself having zero opposition to.
It really doesn’t hurt anything.
===we get caught up in what our state pie’s going to be===
At first I thought the Governor was making a reference to the budget and then I realized he was complaining about a bill he signed.
- Stones - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 9:15 am:
Governor, you refer to the marijuana bill as though it’s something to placate potheads. It’s medical marijuana and it’s used to relieve the pain that cancer, glaucoma and persons with other ailments need to ease their pain and suffering. To those people certain things are more important than budgets, jobs & wages. They just want to stay alive and pain free.
- PublicServant - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 9:16 am:
If Rauner is successful in destroying higher education, expect Champaign to become the next Buford, Wy.
- Huh? - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 9:17 am:
The dismissive quote from 1.4% has been repeated a couple of times and always misses the parting shot at the GA that goes something along the lines of “The Legislature has to get its head on straight…”
- noname - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 9:18 am:
RE: Marijuana Legalization. I’m a firm believer that it could very well solve a good portion of IL financial woes. I spent some time in CO earlier this year and contributed to its green economy. In reviewing the receipt and seeing where the tax went I just stood there and became a believer then and there.
- PublicServant - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 9:18 am:
I meant public higher education, sorry. Dartmouth is safe for now..
- Brian Johnson - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 9:23 am:
Honestly, I’m a little distracted by economic issues too. The cost (short-term) and long-term of Marijuana Prohibition. The Governor says he is a successful businessman, so I’m assuming that he closed under-performing nursing homes. You’d think with his self proclaimed business acumen this would be a no-brainer. And he could claim success, too.
This showcases the difference between politicians and business executives who run for office. This would be an incremental win for him, something that Hilary Clinton understands.
Best,
Brian
- AC - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 9:23 am:
Is bipartisanship the stuff of nightmares for this Governor? The only reason I can think of to throw cold water on the marijuana decriminalization bill is because it was an example of both parties working together to solve an important problem. Things could get out of hand, and they could start tackling other issues too. If that happened, they might end the crisis. As for pumpkin pie, the Governor should be a salesman for the state and what it offers.
- Dome Gnome - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 9:23 am:
The frost is on the pumpkin . . .
- illinoised - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 9:25 am:
Excellent post, Rich. Beginning with his first day in office, Rauner has seemed disinterested in any part of governing that does not pertain to his pet peeve issues. Some aspects of my job do not interest me, but I signed off on fulfilling all job duties. I wish Rauner would do the same.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 9:26 am:
Maybe he saw the new study reported yesterday that marijuana alters human DNA and literally causes ‘mutations’ which can be passed on? That freaked me out a little bit too.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 9:26 am:
–“I’ve been a little distracted with economic issues, and frankly more important issues,” Rauner said last week.–
For example? Specifically?
Based on his own public comments, the governor has not been engaged at all in any of the discussions going on among legislators and his budget director.
He hears “rumors,” he says.
Geez, you’d think when your business is “saving the soul of the state,” you might pack a lunch and make it an all-day job. Seems pretty important, when you put it that way.
Rauner and his acolytes have maintained that the governor can pick and choose what issues he wishes to be engaged in and at what level, like the job is a hobby or something.
That certainly is counter-intuitive to the previous expectations for the gig.
- northsider (the original) - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 9:28 am:
There is something wrong with him.
I have no other explanation. He’s too well educated to be so clueless.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 9:31 am:
–Maybe he saw the new study reported yesterday that marijuana alters human DNA and literally causes ‘mutations’ which can be passed on? –
I haven’t seen anything weird about my kids Magneto, Dr. X and Mystique.
You are aware that marijuana has been consumed in one way or another by us mutants for thousands of year?
- Jocko - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 9:34 am:
==”I’ve been a little distracted with economic issues, and frankly more important issues.”==
That wasn’t the answer he gave to the student at Lakes HS who suffers from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
- Saluki - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 9:42 am:
Still not buying Med Mar as a legit enterprise. It’s been a march toward legalization all along, which I do not support. Once we get the recreational use legal, what is gonna be the point of all the dispensaries and grow plants? The whole thing is a house built on sand.
- Square Pegs - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 9:48 am:
I find this so frustrating:
“You’re going to see a lot of votes and a lot of bills pop out this week. I hope they relate to what matters. We don’t need band aids. We don’t need to declare another state pie. We don’t need to declare another state vegetable. We don’t need to declare another illegal substance that we should expand. We need to focus on what matters.”
I mean, really? Colorado is booming, literally, because of the steps they have taken to decriminalize, support medical and then legalize marijuana.
This is not some radical hippie notion. it is revenue generating for large and small towns. It is job-creating across education levels from trades to skilled labor to architects to scientists to agriculture to electricians to real estate to retail to the tax base from increased population to the state, and the needs to build and maintain grow houses.
Colorado was hardly hit by the recession as a result of this policy change. John Hickenlooper, former Mayor of Denver, current Governor (pretty sure) was opposed to it initially, and now praises the benefits.
Illinois would also be a first mover in the midwest, grabbing a huge piece of the pie before the market stabalizes. There are economic benefits for being a first mover. (See: Facebook). You write the rules, your own the power. It would drive tourism to the state from the surrounding areas.
Also to note - crime has gone down in Colorado. Gangs own this traffic now. Mexican drug cartels (http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/October-2013/Sinaloa-Cartel/) move product through the state and city by way of our road and rail and airport systems. To take away their monopoly would dilute a huge portfolio that feeds their power.
In terms of job creation, revenue solutions, modernizing our state, reducing crime, diversifying our own portfolio for economic stability, I cannot think of a better solution.
We are not living in a time or place where there is a next new income generating innovation like tech, bio / tech, etc. This is the current opportunity.
Gov Rauner needs to check his biases related to this. Look at the data and make an informed decision, not an emotional one.
it is highly inconsistent with his rhetoric, and even his own purported political philosophy.
I hope the legislature take this seriously and gets the right talking points to move this forward, fast. THIS is what matters.
- Simple Simon - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 9:57 am:
10 bucks says Rauner has no idea that pumpkins go into pumpkin pie. He probably thinks it is just a flavor, like “red” Chuckles.
- Simple Simon - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 10:00 am:
I’ll go one step further and invite Rauner over to bake one, starting from a pumpkin or a can, his choice. Add Madigan for a “pie summit”?
- A guy - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 10:00 am:
My guess, and my hope, is that he’ll sign this. Just like he signed the pumpkin legislation.
- Brian Johnson - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 10:06 am:
@square pegs
Agreed. If there were some new technology for nursing homes, that increased his profit, Bruce would adopt it.
Well, unless it increased wages. Then he wouldnt.
- Homer J. Quinn - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 10:11 am:
we’ve all heard the economic arguments for legalization and now we’ve seen the proof in colorado. but this is a plant that encourages creative thinking, and we’re a state that’s withering from a lack of new ideas. maybe the benefits that have nothing to do with money could do just as much to help solve our problems.
- Mama - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 10:19 am:
- Stones @ 9:15 am: -
+1
- Mama - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 10:26 am:
- Square Pegs @ 9:48 am -
+1
- chief - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 10:27 am:
what about Urbana?
- Delimma - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 10:27 am:
I don’t think anyone disputes that a budget is an important part of governing, but I get so tired of people saying they can’t, or won’t do the other things that are also important. Frankly, I would be impressed by a governor who was able to work on vital (or even non-vital) issues while also dealing with critical issues. It would show an ability to multi-task and use his/her time for the benefit of the state. Not doing anything while waiting on one thing is a waste of time.
- 32nd Ward Roscoe Village - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 10:36 am:
I agree about Champaign. I just was there last week giving a speech–it is very convenient to take the Saluki Amtrak train from Chicago, and there is a great little tea shop across from the train station.
- Payback - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 10:43 am:
From Sen. Heather Steans website re. her SB2228 marijuana decriminalization bill:
“Under Steans’ proposal, possession of up to 10 grams would be a civil violation punishable by a fine of between $100 and $200. The state’s local governments, more than 100 of which have already passed ordinances removing at least some criminal penalties for cannabis possession, would be able to assess additional fines and conditions, such as a requirement that the violator enter a drug treatment program, but could not impose criminal penalties. Records of cannabis-related civil violations would be automatically expunged each year.”
So potheads won’t be arrested, but can now be forced to attend (expensive) drug treatment programs? Which of the small town Good Old Boy Reps. slipped this language into Sen. Steans bill?
- molly maguire - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 10:52 am:
Always loved Champaign-Urbana. Went to school there, and at the time could see myself living there. However, went to New York City and DC, and wanted Big. Was just back in C-U a few weeks ago to visit an organic goat farm started by two former UI profs, and to visit our old haunts. Everything was looking good except for the miasma of fast food and cookie cutter commerce on Green Street. The town has grown through having a great university, and all that attracts, so this higher ed funding stall is not helping.
- Earnest - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 11:06 am:
More distraction from the intentional destruction of the higher education an human service system.
- Way Way Down Here - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 11:20 am:
I have been going to the Esquire since 1979 when it was just a shotgun bar in a part of town nobody visited. The city has done an amazing job revitalizing that part of town. Still miss Deluxe Billiards though.
- Qui Tam - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 11:27 am:
It appears his dissing of the pumpkin industry is more evidence that his agenda is ideological and economic.
- Vole - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 11:28 am:
Simple Simon,
For your pumpkin summit, I’ll go one step further and demand that the primary ingredient, this prairie field squash, be infused. I mean somethings got to turn Rauner’s turn around brain on to a higher plain, and open the door to perception. I mean he has to read the Burma Shave signs sometimes.
On the short/long list for felony conviction here. Rauner has that hold now on me.
Infuse the man.
- A Parent - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 11:38 am:
Another thought about marijuana…discussing increased revenues from legalizing it seems more relevant to a budget discussion than local collective bargaining.
- Siyotanka - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 11:51 am:
Since we are #1 in pumpkin land…maybe we could grow some budget pumpkins…??
- Dale Cooper - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 12:00 pm:
Rauner wants to defer it to the “dem majority”. Then if it actually passes “the dems don’t care about “important” issues”. It’s all political football to him. Whatever he says the dems are doing, he is actually doing. He’s like a child with all the toys in the world.
- Norseman - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 12:50 pm:
Can I get med marijuana if Rauner’s baloney makes me ill?
- johnny - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 2:31 pm:
—>Maybe he saw the new study reported yesterday that marijuana alters human DNA and literally causes ‘mutations’ which can be passed on? That freaked me out a little bit too.
- molly maguire - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 4:24 pm:
right you are, “Way Way”, about Deluxe. That and Mabels were my faves. Try the Prairie Fruit and Farms goat farm on a weekend.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 5:33 pm:
‘Member this???
https://capitolfax.com/2015/10/27/question-of-the-day-2142/
- jibba - Wednesday, May 25, 16 @ 5:50 pm:
Urbana is not growing anywhere as fast as Champaign. I don’t want to engage in any cross-town rivalry, but the difference in results might be illustrating. My view is that Champaign has achieved critical mass downtown, partly due to getting more residents living downtown. Urbana has not had the same success. There may be other reasons as well.
- Lynn S. - Thursday, May 26, 16 @ 1:32 am:
Urbana property taxes are much, much higher than Champaign. Urbana is perceived as less welcoming to new development. And then there’s that whole issue of how Carle Hospital keeps manuevering to avoid paying property taxes.