90 Comments - OneMan - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 9:44 am: Fair amount of truth there… You can “beat” Madigan without making look like Madigan has been beaten. - Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 9:46 am: Yes. Yes. And Yes. The most infuriating thing about this governor is that he could have chosen to be competent, but decided not to. He could have done so many things. Now, even if he somehow gets it together and looks like a professional running the 5th largest state, I doubt he will get anything done. - Delimma - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 9:46 am: Great advice. End the hyperbole and disputes about personality, and propose solutions that are supported by more than just adjectives, but good evidence, solid math, and advocates who can sell the ideas to the media. Solve problems, even little problems, and the perception will change. - Delimma - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 9:47 am: Oh, and do the doable. - Norseman - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 9:48 am: Great advice and I concur wholeheartedly. Of course, it will be totally ignored by Rauner and Raunerworld. If the identity of the person provided the advice was known, I’m sure IPI would be more than happy to run attack pieces on their propaganda tools. - Politix - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 9:51 am: A public face of professionalism, civility and compassion go a long way. Rauner’s blown it. He’ll go down as an incompetent buffoon. - Formerly Known as Frenchie M - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 9:51 am: I don’t know this, of course, but I suspect — especially now — that Rauner specifically did not run for — or become — governor to govern. He ran to push an agenda — a very specific, ideological agenda. I suspect, too, that Rauner the businessman had — and continues to have — no desire to function on a short-term, daily basis. His desire is not to solve specific — or, in Rauner-speak, “small” — problems. He’s a big picture guy. Most business folks think of themselves as “big picture” people. That’s why they love to delegate the small, hard to explain, difficult stuff to minions. It’s the mythical “staff” that business people love to crow about. “I’ll have my staff fix that.” My world is the world of IT. I write code, manage coders. My world is always reinventing itself, so I’m always forced to abandon what took me weeks to learn six months ago for something else — that will, again, take me six weeks to learn — and then abandon in four. But I once had a coder I “managed” tell me that one of the reasons she respected me was that I actually coded — and worked on projects. In other words, I didn’t delegate stuff I didn’t know how to do or didn’t care to do.I break projects down into chunks, give the chunks to my “staff” and — key point — give myself a big chunk, too. Then we put all the chunks together and move on. And if a chunk stinks — if my chunk stinks — we’re all the first to pounce and say, “Okay, this stinks. But let’s fix it.” Rauner hasn’t done that. He is, as I say, a “big picture” guy. He can’t be bothered with the small stuff. He’s not an analytical mind or a problem solver. He’s just a guy that thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room … for no good reason. What, because he made a billion bucks? That’s it. That’s his “I’m smart” experience. I made a bunch of money — and you didn’t. Ergo, I’m the smart one — and you’re not. Meh. - Gooner - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 9:51 am: Exactly. Gov. Rauner has spent two years in the dirt, and nothing has gotten done. It is not working. It is time for the governor to show that he can govern. Take a project and do something. If he can’t get something done, then both Democrats and Republicans need to look for alternatives. On a related note, Democrats have made the same mistake. The $7 billion deficit budget was a massive blunder. They tried to shove it to the Governor asking him to do something with it. That’s terrible on many levels. First, they should know he wasn’t going to get it done. Second, they were going to get the blame for it. Democrats need to figure out where they have the override votes. If they are not there, then sit on their hands. Endless debate is a waste of time. Doing something or be smart enough to do nothing. - City Zen - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 9:52 am: Well said. I want problem-solvers, not finger-pointers. If you can’t solve the problem, step aside and let someone else. - Formerly Known as Frenchie M - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 9:52 am: BTW — if there’s anything — literally *anything* — Rauner can and should bring to the forefront it’s his criminal justice reform. When’s the last time he crowed about that? Or even talked about the progress? *crickets* - GlimmerGirl - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 9:54 am: Great advice, Rich, spot on. But Ruiner is all about breaking things apart, about winning, and he continues to be in perpetual campaign mode. The November elections are the only hope for a change in course. - And I Approved This Message - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 9:55 am: Excellent advice. But if that kind of competent management is going on in the bitter environment of four months of campaign ads and rhetoric that rip the opposition to shreds and rail against Mike Madigan and the (fill in the blanks) that he controls, one wonders what good it would do. The governor has a pattern of behavior that would be difficult for him to alter. - From the 'Dale to HP - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:02 am: Great advice. But I have no faith that anyone in the Governor’s office will listen judging by the past 18 months. - SAP - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:07 am: Excellent advice. The Governor should hire this guy. - Rhino Slider - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:07 am: Everything mentioned at some level is reactionary to Madigan. Blame the Governors if it makes you feel better, but don’t fool yourself. One man pulls all the strings and he holds them closely because he doesn’t truly have a firm grasp of complete control. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:09 am: ===Blame the Governors if it makes you feel better, but don’t fool yourself. One man pulls all the strings and he holds them closely because he doesn’t truly have a firm grasp of complete control.=== I have zero idea what this means of how in the context of this Post it makes any sense. At all. - Anonymous - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:10 am: Agreed, but I don’t think his ‘big picture’ is even as big as some others. His single picture is - hostility to public employee unions. When he sought to get involved Cook County government 5 years ago, it was also the only issue he wanted to talk about. All the other parts of the turnaround agenda are window dressing for his corporate cronies. Crushing public employee unions is his holy grail. - RNUG - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:10 am: - Rhino Slider - Yes, one man does hold that kind of power: Gov Rauner. Illinois Governors are extremely powerful when they actually pull the reins they hold and exercise the broad latitude they are given. He can do a lot for this state IF he chooses to ACTUALLY govern instead of campaign. - Jack Kemp - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:13 am: The Zika Virus? That’s a joke, right? Boy howdy, yeah, let’s get the Governor on the issues that really matter, huh. - AnonymousOne - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:13 am: Here’s where thinking has gone wrong. Knowing how to enrich your own pockets has absolutely zero to do with leadership (unless connivary is leadership) or serving others. Last time I checked, the governor position was supposed to be both of those. An investor mentality has nothing to do with service. They are opposites. So look what we elected. And now we’re surprised? - Captain Illini - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:13 am: In the face of withering debate that devolves into sniping, I often ask, “don’t tell me what you can’t do, tell me what you can do.” From here many times a list of issues create the basis for agreement or consensus. This is different from the Governor as he maintains an agenda which was never legitimized by those whom put him in office - a false narrative foisted upon those he is suppose to govern. He ponders now about his message as to think that if he says the same thing differently it will be better understood…but having someone politely steal my wallet doesn’t make it better. Pivoting to other issues - hard topics necessary to employ tough decisions regardless of politics would give this governor a chance to show his private business acumen…but it might also expose dirty secretes of his ascendance - limited to cronyism, collusion or the elite dance of glad-handed inside information. Sometimes it takes an epiphany to break the mold of stubborn ignorance and change what you’re doing since what you’ve done hasn’t worked. Let’s hope he can see the light sooner than November, cause by then the light he sees might just say “Exit.” - PublicServant - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:14 am: ===start showing people that you are a great governor (unless you aren’t and can’t). Sheesh.=== Rich, Your advice to him is to become a public servant, like I was, but he doesn’t want to become part of what he considers to be the source of pretty much all evil in the world today, that being public, well, anything. He’s a free marketer after all. You’re asking him to become part of the collective. That. Ain’t. Gonna. Happen…Just sayin. - Thoughts Matter - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:16 am: To the post: yes- every day and twice on Sunday. Formerly known as:+1 Nothing Rauner is doing is geared toward solving anything. He gives speeches, insults people, and appoints superstars. Who leave because they don’t want to solve problems either. I don’t see any of this changing in the next 24 months. Then we will get an election in which all voters care about is who gives the best sound bites and would the guy be a fun guy to have a beer with. - Grandson of Man - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:16 am: I agree with this and would like to mention that Rauner can probably get more workers comp reform. I remember Madigan saying he would consider more reform than what was in the legislation. It’s far from enough, for Rauner. The same could be said for a property tax freeze. Rauner won’t pass it without anti-bargaining provisions. - Aldyth - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:16 am: The Voice of Sweet Reason has spoken. Is anybody in Rauner’s circle listening? - Demoralized - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:20 am: ==Boy howdy, yeah, let’s get the Governor on the issues that really matter, huh.== You missed the point, but that doesn’t surprise me. The point was that the Governor should work on stuff he can actually accomplish. Spend a little more time governing and a little less time whining. - Scamp640 - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:23 am: This seems like sage advice. And doing something relevant and doable would also address Rauner’s complaints mentioned yesterday that the media is not helping him spread his message. If his message was relevant and doable, the media might just pay heed. - Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:24 am: ===The Zika Virus? That’s a joke, right?=== No, it’s merely a single example. One that the writer is somewhat familiar with. Grow up. - illinoised - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:24 am: Governing requires focusing on all issues. Rauner seems incabable/unwilling to handle any issue which is not related to his personal agenda. We deserve better. - BumblesBounce - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:28 am: Formerly Known as Frenchie M ..good post. I think they refer to that as TEAMWORK! - Huh? - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:29 am: I was reminded of something that I stuck in my files years ago about doing business like the mafia. Bernardo Provenzano became the leader of the Italian mafia and revitalized its fortunes through a series of letters. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/apr/09/internationalcrime.italy - Handle Bar Mustache - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:32 am: The advice is nice, but it is being practiced. Rauner and all of his predecessors have a time-honored publicity formula: “do/plan something, publicize it, repeat” . Governors will always try to take credit for solving “key issues or problems”. The fact is, state government is a huge, complicated animal with thousands of (important but mostly mundane) moving parts every day. Only a small fraction of them ever see the light of a headline. Even with the “strong executive” authority in Illinois, the parts of state government that Governors directly control is in practice, small. What really matters is how they prioritize, and whose problems they champion with their limited personal time. Good for Rauner on justice reform. He’s trying to do something positive for people with very little power. Say what you will about Quinn, he valued the poor and the powerless - consistently. All of the weird turnaround agenda stuff from Rauner seems sincerely felt, but it reflects a loyalty to the Ayn Rand “anti-collectivist” philosophy. Unless Rauner loses faith in the Ayn Rand worldview, he’ll never become the “Great Governor” he wants to be. - Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:32 am: I think the Governor has identified way more than 5 problems but the Democrats don’t seem to agree these are problems The highest property taxes in America are a huge problem The highest unemployment rate in America is a huge problem More units of local government than any state on America is a huge problem One of the highest workers comp rates in the country is a huge problem Having legislators pick their voters instead of the other way around is a huge problem and insulates the legislators from taking tough votes Having the same legislators stay in office decades stifles change and fresh ideas and is a huge problem Our unfunded pension liability is a huge problem Our outward migration is a huge problem Why does the legislature continue to ignore these issues? - Montrose - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:33 am: Completely agree om this advice. I do question whether media outlets would cover it. Headlines about competent, administrative work don’t grab clicks like battles between Rauner & Madigan. - Another Stare Employee - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:33 am: Yes, great advice. Rauner has made no significant changes at the agency I work for. BTW, the agency is still run by a Blagojevich appointe (titular head notwithstanding). The governor is a partner, apparently with people he can’t work with. He has a solo role in the executive branch. I’d suggest he start with university reform. - Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:33 am: LP, you completely missed the point. Get outside of your tiny partisan box and re-read it. - Demoralized - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:37 am: Lucky Pierre: Thanks once again for your drive by press release commentary. Perhaps just one time you might actually address what was said instead of spouting off the same thing over and over and over and over and over. You have completely and utterly failed to address the point of this comment which is this - the Governor should work on things he can actually accomplish. You, like he, continue to whine about what he can’t do. Perhaps he should figure out what governing is and work on something he can do. He wastes inordinate amounts of time whining and telling us all why he can’t do his job. If that’s what he wants his term to be - whining to anyone and everyone who will listen - then that’s his choice. I would prefer he actually govern. He has been a complete and total failure in that regard. - wordslinger - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:38 am: I think it’s a fundamental mistake to think that the governor is not accomplishing some of his primary goals with squeeze the beast. His rhetoric doesn’t match his actions, but his actions certainly have been clear and highly effective to that end. - Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:38 am: I re read it Rich and I guess your democratic friend thinks we should just ignore the huge problems in this state and the Governor should do what he can to solve the small issues with his executive authority. Sorry I think the big issues are much more pressing. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:38 am: To the Post, First, to the writer, I tip my hat. Well said, and to the words, I concur. For me? It’s always been about doing the doable. It boils down to counting, have a competent Legislative Crew and Press Shop that this governor will listen to… to do the doable. If you are in either the Legislative Shop or the Press Shop, understand, you have been either enabling the governor while disagreeing, but enabling none the less… or you are a believer in chaos and destruction, and you also, like the governor, refuse to see doing the doable. After 16 months, those are the camps a Staff fall into with this governor. If this governor is so strong willed his mind can’t be changed, and you continue to enable this governor because “you’re being loyal”, then you bare Rauner’s hurtful choices too. If you as a member of the Legislative Shop and Press Shop agree with Ron Sandack that Ron Sandack and Gov. Rauner bare no part of the responsibility, and you all continue to push for doing the undoable, then you are failing yourself, the governor, and Illinois… just like Ron Sandack. Great post, Rich, thanks to you and the writer for sharing. It’s up to the Governor to do the doable, it’s up to the Governor’s Crew to make that the priority too. Oswego Willy - Demoralized - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:40 am: ==I guess your democratic friend thinks we should just ignore the huge problems == Ahh. The absolutism shines through. You can focus on those issue while at the same thing getting other things done. You’ve got a low bar for governing if what you want from your Governor is whining about why he can’t do his job. - Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:43 am: ===we should just ignore the huge problems=== Um, no. Are you a bot? - Montrose - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:43 am: LP- I want to believe the Governor can walk and chew gum at the same time. Putting energy into smaller, doable things does not mean abandoning his broader agenda. It means he can show he knows how to govern and get things done. It will help him accomplish his broader agenda. If he and his administration can’t handle working on both, god help us all. - Crispy - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:44 am: This stellar advice; would that the governor would follow it. However, based on the evidence of the last 18 months, it will take an epiphany–a real “road to Damascus” experience–to persuade him to change course. Can’t imagine what that might be at this point (most leaders would already have relented after witnessing the devastation to the state so far), but where there’s life, there’s hope, I guess. Especially excellent points by FKA Frenchie M @ 9:51, AnonymousOne @10:13, and CaptainIllini @ 10:13. - Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:46 am: Demoralized it is the Governor’s job to change the trajectory of the state by as you say “whining” or as I pressuring legislators to compromise. That is what the elections are about. I guess you think he should just cave to Madigan. That hasn’t worked out to well for the past few decaides don’t you agree? - Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:48 am: ===ressuring legislators to compromise. That is what the elections are about. I guess you think he should just cave to Madigan.=== Can. You. Read?!? It’s about finding common ground and doing what can be achieved. Not caving, not winning, not losing, but also about actually governing! Are you a bot? - Maximus - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:49 am: Lucky Pierre at 10:32 That’s way too many issues with way too much complexity to try and tackle all at once. I agree with the list but it’s unrealistic to try and shove all that through the current legislative body. Rauner needs to pick his battles and do some give and take. Complicating this is the whole budget issue which forces everyone to try and deal with the money problems that arent going to go away just because he wants a balanced budget. Illinois hasn’t had a balanced budget in 20 years, I think it’s unreasonable to expect one. The next budget could be less out-of-balance (that would be ideal) but I’m not sure it’s possible to fix a 7 billion(?) dollar hole in 1 year. - Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:51 am: Yes I can read Willy and ai have not seen any movement from the legislature allowing a compromise. What you are saying is that what is doable is complete capitulation to the Speaker as some have said the stop gap was - NSideLady - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:53 am: I completely agree with the sentiment behind the post. However, I firmly believe that Rauner has identified key issues and is actively working on solving them. We can see the results of this work if we take a look at the battle with the unions, the decimation of higher ed, or the elimination of “wasteful” social service programs. We need to wake up and understand that Rauner is actually philosophically opposed to values that many Illinoisans hold dear (e.g. collective bargaining, helping those less fortunate maintain a decent standard of living). It’s hard for people (especially those who actually voted for him) to admit that they were lied to and are the victims of a bait and switch. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:53 am: ===What you are saying is that what is doable is complete capitulation to the Speaker as some have said the stop gap was=== Ugh. Yeah, Rauner is so “capitulating”, Rauner is touring the state … touting… the stopgap. You are not clueless, this is willful ignorance on your part, like a bot. - Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:55 am: What is doable compromise Willy? I am sure you can’t write it on the back of a postage stamp. - Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:57 am: ===what is doable is complete capitulation to the Speaker=== Dude. Seriously. Did you miss this part?… ===Governor’s shouldn’t need to run to the General Assembly to solve every problem=== This is about using the office itself to solve problems without the GA. Without Madigan. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 10:58 am: ===What is doable compromise Willy? I am sure you can’t write it on the back of a postage stamp.=== Do you, again, want me to pull up your comment of what you agreed, in Rich’s suggested doable things you agreed with? I can… Your act is tiring. - Scamp640 - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 11:02 am: @ Lucky Pierre. Many of the issues you identify are in fact legitimate concerns. But many of them are either not legitimate or not doable. You know it. The Governor knows it. Why did the governor spend so much time pursuing local right to work laws? A complete failure. Why does he continue to pursue pension reform? The state supreme court has ruled on this issue — twice. Why can’t he focus on issues that research shows will have a tangible, positive impact on Illinois? Union-busting does not have measurable, net-positive impact on a state. Right-to-work states, by some measures, have higher economic growth rates. But they also have higher poverty rates, lower wages, lower educational attainment, and lower life expectancies (e.g. AL, MS, LA, SC, KY, TN). - Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 11:02 am: The governor is NOT a passive passenger. The Office of the Governor can do so many things for a better Illinois, on its own, then quibble and be a victim to the GA and Speaker Madigan. It’s arguably one of the strongest constitutionally elected Executives in America. - noone important - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 11:06 am: Amen Rich - wordslinger - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 11:10 am: LP, you couldn’t get a small business loan for a lemonade stand with a “business plan” like the one you and the other bots provide for the turnaround agenda. You’re either doing a bit or just really don’t have a clue about grown-up-land. Either way, it’s embarrassing at this point. Chanting unsupported assertions over and over wouldn’t cut it with the loan officer. You’d need to provide, in writing, assumptions, data and projections that would justify the risk of the investment. Eighteen months in — I don’t think we’re ever going to see those. Do you? - Jack Kemp - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 11:12 am: OW @ 11:02 Yeah. Like the Governor can release a pamphlet about the Zika virus. And all will be well again and everyone will sleep better at night. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 11:14 am: ===Yeah. Like the Governor can release a pamphlet about the Zika virus. And all will be well again and everyone will sleep better at night.=== Do you have any clue what the Office of the Governor can do? Your interpretation of Illinois’ Executive is printing pamphlets. This blog might be too deep of water for you. - Grandson of Man - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 11:15 am: Sorry I missed the point also. Rauner could and should expand MMJ on his own by approving more illnesses. - Blue dog dem - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 11:17 am: Ok. If I had one wish that I would like our legislators and governor to find common ground on would be. TERM LIMITS. - Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 11:31 am: “Do you have any clue what the Office of the Governor can do?” Exactly. - Demoralized - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 11:34 am: ==Yeah. Like the Governor can release a pamphlet about the Zika virus. And all will be well again and everyone will sleep better at night.== As soon as you have something to offer on the actual topic of the comment let us know. - Demoralized - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 11:36 am: ==What you are saying is that what is doable is complete capitulation to the Speaker== You ever going to stop playing the victim Lucky? You the one giving the Governor advice that whining is the way to go? It would be lovely if you would actually comment on the POINT of the post instead of continuing your tiresome partisan drumbeat. - James Knell - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 11:39 am: You are a better man than me, Rich Miller. Keep on hoping and believing. All I see is a second gilded age dominated by libertarian oligarchs with an authoritarian bent. It’s hard not to feel that way when you have ties to Wisconsin and are then confronted with Rauner, Proft, Griffin, Oberweis, etc. etc. - Anon - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 11:41 am: I’m with Lucky Pierre on this one. The role of government shouldn’t be to solve everyone’s problems. It should only be there to maintain order enough so that private citizens can solve problems. Governor Rauner was elected by people who want the government to get our of their way! - Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 11:45 am: - Anon - So, you’re comment is… Rauner should ignore the powers of the Executive, the power to get things done without any interference, and just be a seat warmer, and try to stay out of people’s way? I dunno if you read what I read in that note Rich received. - pundent - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 11:47 am: =Governor Rauner was elected by people who want the government to get our of their way!= So you elected a governor because you wanted someone that wouldn’t govern? Boy that’s twisted. - Henry Francis - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 11:54 am: The Guv is no dummie. He knows what he is doing. He is focusing on what he wants to focus on. He is working towards what he wants to work towards. In many people’s opinion, It’s a perverted view of the role of a governor. But as we have heard many times here, elections have consequences. - RNUG - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 12:01 pm: == The highest property taxes in America are a huge problem == Why are the property taxes high? Because the state fails at funding the majority of the cost. Why does the state fail to properly fund the schools? Because of insufficient revenue. == Our unfunded pension liability is a huge problem == Why do we have this unfunded liability? Because the state fail to pay into the pension systems when they should have. Why did the state not properly pay into the pension systems? Because of insufficient revenue. == More units of local government than any state on America is a huge problem == Why do we have this many units of government? Because they apparently were created by the voters to do something the state was failing to do. Why was the state failing to do whatever? Because of either insufficient revenue or insufficient state-wide voter support. Seems to be an obvious pattern here … - Anon - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 12:01 pm: Wow. So comments that don’t jive with Rich’s liberal narrative get deleted. - Mama - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 12:04 pm: 1. IL needs more Good Paying Jobs for all citizens - Governor, your Union busting Right to Work TA will only make things worse for Illinoisans. IL needs better paying jobs not less pay/benefits. Plus he needs to bring factory jobs, etc. back to this country - back to Illinois. 2. IL needs good Mental Health Treatments to be more accessible; 3. IL needs a drug program with a proven record to make sure drug addicts can and will stay clean once they are out of prison. 4. The Governor needs to find a way via Social Services/Churches to defuse gangs, and racism. 5. More training for police officers whom find themselves in a stress situation. Teach the police how to defuse any stressful situation without killing people. 6. Get the churches to help the young children living in the gang areas of Chicago & other areas of IL to live a better life, etc.. 7. Help the children from poor families to get a good education/paying job by funding MAP Grants in IL. Sorry Rich, I had a couple extras. - Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 12:05 pm: ===So comments that don’t jive with Rich’s liberal narrative get deleted=== lol Nope. Just from morons. - Anon - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 12:07 pm: So Illinois citizens who support individual liberty and want less government are “morons”. You just proved my point. - Mama - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 12:08 pm: Ask our Illinois universities think tanks to come up with solutions to help solve IL problems listed above. Governor, first you have to be willing to implement their recommendations. - Mama - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 12:11 pm: “It means he can show he knows how to govern and get things done.” Most CEOs or Venture Capitalist do not know how to run a government. - Ghost - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 12:15 pm: wow great idea, well spoken. Another example i would suggest is the state fair and fair grounds. he floated the idea of a semi private orga ization that would rebuild the grounds and help use it year round to generate rev. Great idea build that out. give progress updates and highlite it when its done. - Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 12:16 pm: ===So Illinois citizens who support individual liberty and want less government are “morons”=== No, not at all. Just you. - Mama - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 12:28 pm: - RNUG - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 12:01 pm:- +2 , RNUG, You are right on the money! The voters need to be educated as to why they need to pay more taxes in order to use the services they require. The Dems & the Rs need to do a better job of educating the public without a political agenda. Why? Because people have no clue how much the things they need from the government cost. (Such as roads, schools, police protection, clean air, water, soil and safe food to name a few.) - Arthur Andersen - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 12:32 pm: Good advice here. From what I can see from a distance, there are some solid agency heads out there who might have some things for the Governor to tout if….there was some measure of fiscal stability that allowed them to focus on strategies beyond keeping the lights on. Until Rauner can put that on the board, real success anywhere in State Government will be elusive. - Mama - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 12:35 pm: ==Anon Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 11:41 am - “It should only be there to maintain order enough so that private citizens can solve problems. Governor Rauner was elected by people who want the government to get our of their way!” == Do you like free public schools to educate your children, good road and safe bridges to drive on, clean air to breath and clean water to drink and police protection? The list goes on and on… - Groucho - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 12:39 pm: There’s battle lines being drawn Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong I Me Mine, I me Mine , I me mine - Mama - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 12:42 pm: - Ghost - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 12:15 pm: “wow great idea, well spoken. Another example i would suggest is the state fair and fair grounds. he floated the idea of a semi private orga ization that would rebuild the grounds and help use it year round to generate rev. Great idea build that out. give progress updates and highlite it when its done.” Ghost, the state fair grounds in Springfield is used year around and has been for more years than I can count, and I’ve been around a long time. - Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 12:49 pm: ===used year around=== Not nearly enough. It ought to be more like Grant Park and host several multi-day music/art/etc. festivals every year. - RNUG - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 12:53 pm: == the state fair grounds in Springfield is used year around and has been for more years than I can count, and I’ve been around a long time. == Yes, and they charge for said use. In some cases, the fairgrounds has priced themselves right out of the market for smaller organizations. - Mama - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 12:54 pm: ==- Arthur Andersen - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 12:32 pm: “Good advice here. From what I can see from a distance, there are some solid agency heads out there who might have some things for the Governor to tout if….there was some measure of fiscal stability that allowed them to focus on strategies beyond keeping the lights on.” AA, if there are any agency heads not appointed by the governor or A-heads not afraid to speak out for fear of loosing their jobs, that would be a great idea. However, I don’t think you will find any who are willing to buck the Gov.. A.A., What about using retired agency heads or staff? I think that would be a better way to go as long as they have not been gone from their government jobs more than 3- 6 years. Most would understand the problems facing state government for their agency and some will know how to fix those problems. - Mama - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 12:56 pm: “Not nearly enough. It ought to be more like Grant Park and host several multi-day music/art/etc. festivals every year. ” I agree, but who will pay for these festivals? - Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 12:59 pm: ===who will pay for these festivals? === The people who attend. - burbanite - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 1:00 pm: This… https://capitolfax.com/2016/07/07/what-would-rauner-have-done-differently/ Is why I wouldn’t hold my breath. - Mama - Friday, Jul 8, 16 @ 1:00 pm: What about Springfield City Hall and their fests??? Do their festivals make money? Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.