SOTS preview
Wednesday, Jan 25, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the governor’s office…
In the State of the State, the Governor will say that he is optimistic about the future of Illinois and use the opportunity to talk about Illinois’ accomplishments, as well as the work that still lies ahead. He is optimistic because of recent bipartisan agreement that we need to make changes to the system with passing a truly balanced budget
Another element to that optimism comes from a look at what we’ve already accomplished, like ethics reform, record education funding, job creation and making government more efficient. He will also encourage the General Assembly to pass legislation allowing voters to weigh-in on fair maps and term limits. The Governor believes that by working together we can build on these changes and address the problems facing our state.
Additionally, he will be highlighting a family from Clinton as he discusses the Future Energy Jobs Bill in the speech.
Speech Excerpts:
“Clearly we’re excited about the achievements we’ve made and the opportunities left to seize. But we still face significant challenges.”
“Through bipartisan cooperation, Illinois can once again be the economic engine of the Midwest and the home of innovation and prosperity.”
“We – Republicans, Democrats, and everyone in between – have a moral obligation to work together to bring change. We, together, can return Illinois to a place of hope, opportunity, and prosperity.”
- LizPhairTax - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 8:07 am:
So Bruce…
‘How’s that hopey, changey stuff working out?’
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 8:17 am:
Present a balanced budget like the constitution requires. Everything else is just lip service.
- Anon - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 8:19 am:
The Governor will also announce that his favorite movie of the year was “La La Land.”
- Austinman - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 8:25 am:
Will he say the state is sound? Or that the state of the state is good? He needs to get a budget done almost 2 years and counting.
- Give Me A Break - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 8:27 am:
He will announce over a million House Democrats have told him in private they support his agenda.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 8:28 am:
Which would be the better drinking game: “optimistic” or “achievements?”
Quite a change in tone from Gov. Death Spiral, especially when you consider that his strategy over the last two years has led to severe degradation of the state’s fiscal position and fulfillment of core responsibilities, by any and all measures.
And talk of “moral obligation” is a bit nauseating, considering the squeeze-the-beast strategy of reneging on billions in contracts to state vendors, running contracted social service providers out of business and throwing thousands out of work.
The never-ending campaign just kicked it up a notch; time to pivot and fabricate a record to run on for re-election.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 8:38 am:
Ethics reform. Ha ha ha lol. That’s funny. He’s such a kidder that one. Revolving door is worse than it’s ever been. I can think of FOUR agency heads right off the bat that have gone straight to the lobby machine. Girrrrl please!
- Small town taxpayer - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 8:38 am:
I wonder if the speech will include any positive points about the states budget, the states bond rating, or the states financial position?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 8:42 am:
FY2015 Fix
FY2016 Budget
Labor Peace
As Rauner begins his State of the State today, I had three reasonable asks of any governor when they raise their hand and take the oath and recognize the governing issues at hand
Here he is today, and not only did none of those asks happen cleanly, without issue, and with his leadership.
Today? Rauner has one state university on the brink of total collapse, another writing letters to say they can finish an academic year, social service organizations folding due to non-payment on signed agreements, prisons scrambling for necessities…
… and “BossMadigan.Com”… and 24/7/365 campaigning, and refusing to even acknowledge the President while “battling” the mayor of the largest city in the state and the 3rd largest city in America…
… all this, and no constitutionally mandated budget submitted by this governor. This governor’s media vertical integration attacks members of his own party for seeking solutions and to keep others from joining that fight. This governor plans in listening tours that any able governor would know begins and ends with “get a budget”. This governor’s actual governmental staff and crew saying one thing about governing while the “arm’s length” vertical integration giving a stiff arm to any sense of a want of cooperation.
What will this SOTS be? It will be everything that “BossMadigan.Com”, the IPI, the Rauner state party loathes, and the coverage will be that of a governor “workin’ for you”, and if it’s not, the other part of the vertical integration will push that… because it’s more important… to win the day.
I’m hopeful, until I see the negative press releases that fly from this governor’s media networks, even before he’s done speaking.
Today, it’s symbolism on many levels. One level? Rauner’s own words “on display”, while his actions, will they continue to undercut the intent of his words spoken today?
I dunno. I’ll see.
- Anon - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 8:43 am:
“Begin the morning by saying to thyself, I shall meet with the busy-body, the ungrateful, arrogant, deceitful, envious, unsocial. All these things happen to them by reason of their ignorance of what is good and evil.”
-Marcus Aurelius
- Give Me A Break - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 8:44 am:
Will also state his State of State Address is always attended by more members of the GA than PQ ever had attend one of his.
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 8:47 am:
It would be nice hear some honesty. 1. Our state is on the brink of massive failure. 2. We owe far more than we can ever pay. 3. Regardless of whose fault it is, we have the opportunity and responsibility to fix this. 4. This means bringing uncontrolled state costs under control, read future pension obligations. 5. We must close down unneeded state facilities for persons with disabilities so that people can receive better services and redirect money into local communities. 6. We must improve how we handle the business of government and the method by which bills pass through the legislature. 7. We must end gerry-mandering of districts. 8. We must increase the state income tax so that we can meet our obligations. 9. We must stop passing new legislation without a clear method for paying for it. I would love to hear this message of tough love.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 8:57 am:
It’s all a game to IPI-
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/2017-state-of-the-state-bingo/
- illinoised - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 8:58 am:
I will be deeply saddened and insulted if the entire address is as fluffy as these excerpts. Rome is burning.
- Aldyth - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 8:59 am:
When will our Republican governor address the Republican presidents threat to send federal forces into Illinois’ largest city?
- Flynn's mom - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 9:00 am:
Let me first begin with some alternate facts…
- Anon - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 9:01 am:
Any chance the Gov will acknowledge the suffering caused by no budget and take his share of the responsibility for that suffering?
- Steward As Well.... - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 9:01 am:
Wondering how long into his speech before he takes a shot at Afscme? Hmm….
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 9:02 am:
Rauner has stated on his latest Facebook venture that he, “Will never give up.” Add that to his persistence and rascality, I still maintain it will come down to a Go Around of the Turn Around to actually set Illinois back on track.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 9:03 am:
If those excerpts reflect the full speech, it seems like the wrong tactic to me. People are mad at both sides. No one’s going to buy an “all is well” message.
- Winnin' - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 9:06 am:
“If only Madigan would allow me to introduce a balanced budget. Imagine what a wonderful world it could be… “
- Henry Francis - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 9:07 am:
Take a look at what his own website touts as his “accomplishments”. After 2 years this is all he can claim? And over half of them are completely empty (Intersect hasn’t done anything in a year now).
https://www.brucerauner.com/accomplishments/
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 9:09 am:
===have a moral obligation to work together to bring change.===
A moral obligation to reduce wages and lower the standard of living for Illinoisans?
I don’t think he knows the definition of moral. He must be confusing it with morale, as in, “breaking the unions will boost the morale at my club.”
- Bulbous1 - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 9:09 am:
Nothing new to see here…move along. He will cut and paste from every campaign speech. I would suggest a drinking game every time he drops his “g”, but getting drunk at work is frowned upon.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 9:10 am:
===If those excerpts reflect the full speech, it seems like the wrong tactic to me. People are mad at both sides. No one’s going to buy an “all is well” message.===
I agree, 100%… “However…”
Rauner can’t attacks rhetorically without 1) taking partial ownership that people will remind him 2) making a point of his own solutions beyond rhetoric that then Rauner could be held accountable if these spiky rooms seem reasonable.
Right now, it’s about safety and no accountability.
That’s easy to write. You write “all is ‘well’ and it’s going to be great real soon”
You are showing an understanding of the situation, Rauner has the IPI, Proft, “State House Chick”, editorial boards, INN, the State Party… that’s plenty of cover to be “flowery”.
How do I know that?
The last two years tells me it can work.
“Simple”, right “State House Chick”?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 9:12 am:
Rauner has been one of the most divisive Governors Illinois has had. An obstructionist for most every concept other than his own.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 9:15 am:
–No one’s going to buy an “all is well” message.–
Beats the truthful “things have gotten much worse on my watch” message.
He’s the incumbent running for re-election. He can run, but he can’t hide. The inevitable pivot from Gov. Death Spiral to Gov. Optimistic has arrived.
- Clap back - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 9:20 am:
Henry Francis is right. Half the founders of intersect Illinois have fled the for profit company, Cho and Odom
- AlfondoGonz - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 9:22 am:
I’m curious as to the Governor’s thoughts about the impending invasion of Chicago by the Trumpstaffel.
- Handle Bar Mustache - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 9:40 am:
Rahm is dead right about Rauner: he’s made Illinois rudderless.
Revisit the 2015 Rauner SOTS speech:
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150204/NEWS02/150209903/full-text-rauners-state-of-the-state-address
He made a lot of promises, almost none delivered.
A profile in failed promises and governance.
Remember when he used to call Quinn “worst Governor in America”? Just makes me laugh now.
- Big Joe - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 9:40 am:
Anyone think the Gov will mention how he increased school funding? Wonder if he will also mention the funding to higher education. Or to social services agencies. Probably not, eh?
- Flynn's mom - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 9:53 am:
@Anon @9:01am-NO
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 10:00 am:
I’m not sure I agree, OW; I think his Vertical Integration would allow him to attack without accepting any responsibility, or getting specific on his own solutions.
“Madigan caused all your problems!” is crude and inaccurate, but one could argue it’s been working the last 2 years.
- Rabid - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 10:10 am:
There will be a lot for I for the credit and we for the failures
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 10:19 am:
===
I’m not sure I agree,… I think his Vertical Integration would allow him to attack without accepting any responsibility, or getting specific on his own solutions.
“Madigan caused all your problems!” is crude and inaccurate, but one could argue it’s been working the last 2 years.===
- Arsenal -
“Pat Quinn failed”
Skyhook in reverse.
Rauner needs the positive now. Rauner needs to seem in these next 18 months engaged, thoughtful, “fightin’ for us”, and someone that has accomplished… something.
Look at the reconfiguring of all of Rauner’s social media platforms that have official links.
Accomplishments
Listening Tours
Bill Signings
All positive.
Skyhook in reverse. That’s the reason the positive has to go out with the Rauner named and controlled platforms…
… and vertical integration can send all the negative to “State House Chick”, Proft, IPI, and the Rauner state party.
Nice to have options.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:47 am:
With all due respect I think everyone has it wrong.
The real reason for the governor’s new sunny outlook? Think “happy wife, happy life”.
The Mrs. foundation is now in the driver seat to leverage a massive increase in early childhood funding now that it is co-opting the ISBE.
Happy home, happy work. /heavy snark
- Liberty - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 2:17 pm:
Listening to this guy is like dealing with an insurance adjuster.