50 Comments - PublicServant - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 9:52 am: But wait, we just had a massive tax increase, and, AFAIK, Madigan still controls this state, and the governor is helpless to do anything about it. So, thanks Mike for bring in those jobs. - Saluki - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 9:56 am: Wondering when all the Ribbons will be cut in downstate Illinois…perhaps the Murphysboro IDOC facility could be opened as promised, or maybe the Hardin County facility, or maybe anything. The hollowing out continues south of 64, but if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound…. - SAP - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 9:56 am: That General Mills release doesn’t say anything about how Illinois’ taxes and workers’ comp costs are too high and that Illinois is generally a lousy place to do business. Are we missing part of the press release or did the Governor hire new writers? - illini - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 10:01 am: This is always good news and I would never belittle any investment in Illinois. And it will always be appropriate for dignitaries to participate in these photo ops and make a few remarks. In all likelihood the decisions made by General Mills to locate and make this investment was done prior to Rauners election. - Lefteye Lou - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 10:05 am: Politicians bending the truth and using numbers to distort reality. I’m stunned. That’s standard operating procedure in these parts. - Frequently Blocked By Rich - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 10:07 am: Did the Governor remember to thank Mike Madigan during the ribbon cutting? - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 10:12 am: Is Rauner touting this as a success while bad-mouthing Illinois, or what exactly is the governor saying? This is good because we’re the worst state? “Thank you, Mike Madigan”… you got this company here and the accompanying jobs. It’s comfusing as to what purpose Rauner serves bring there as Rauner and other governors feel the need to say Illinois is failing… on Rauner’s watch. - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 10:14 am: “As a business person, I can see why General Mills has chosen our central location, our unmatched transportation systems and, most important, our pool of highly skilled Illinois workers. Seeing this facility open is testimony to our state’s central role in the distribution of goods to every part of the nation.” Such a [expletive] phony. He’s paying for other governors to trash Illinois about jobs, and out of the other side of his mouth comes this. Of course Illinois is great for business, for the very reasons Rauner cites—problems notwithstanding. We can and should do better, but we don’t need RtW zones, severe curtailing of collective bargaining, protracted and intentional labor battles and ending fair share fees for all public employees. It’s something like that with Trump, Republicans and tax cuts. We’re told we need to cut taxes to spur job creation and growth, but the economy is adding jobs and had a recent good GDP report. So that leaves cutting taxes and union attacks as goals to enrich the already-wealthy and give certain ones of them permanent political and economic advantages—not for economic growth and job creation, like they’re sold. - Shake - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 10:23 am: J.B.s Tight With General Mills. Thanks J.B. - City Zen - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 10:25 am: ==But wait, we just had a massive tax increase…== So the industrial site broke ground on July 1 and opened a few months later? - flea - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 10:52 am: Way to go Larry Walsh! He had as much to do about this as any - PublicServant - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 10:56 am: ===So the industrial site broke ground on July 1 and opened a few months later?=== Actually, the first client, Michelin, broke ground when state taxes were even higher. Thanks for reminding me. - Ken_in_Aurora - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 10:59 am: So, we’re supposed to be happy that General Mills will be offering 150 fairly low paying logistics job in trade for the 200 better paying manufacturing jobs that were lost when they closed West Chicago? - City Zen - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 11:06 am: ==Actually, the first client, Michelin, broke ground when state taxes were even higher. Thanks for reminding me.== That’s true. Michelin broke ground knowing the tax hike was set to expire per statute in less than a year. Thanks for reminding me. - PublicServant - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 11:11 am: ===Michelin broke ground knowing the tax hike was set to expire per statute in less than a year.=== And they’re still there today with new tenants moving in regularly. Oops. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 11:19 am: Looks like the Rauner pivot is finally here. - City Zen - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 11:39 am: ==And they’re still there today with new tenants moving in regularly. Oops.== Correct, Michelin is still located in that special taxing district which gives them tax credits, property tax abatements, sales tax exemptions, and training funds worth $2.5 million. - PublicServant - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 11:44 am: ===As a business person, I can see why General Mills has chosen our central location, our unmatched transportation systems and, most important, our pool of highly skilled Illinois workers. Seeing this facility open is testimony to our state’s central role in the distribution of goods to every part of the nation.=== Funny CZ, the governor doesn’t mention those things that you purport to be the reason tenants are flocking there. Try again. - Annonin' - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 12:09 pm: The Lorenzo Road exit is one the worst on the northern end of I55. Guessin’ GovJunk will shell out millions to rebuild the ramps. Too bad he won’t do the same for Weber Road and Rte 53. - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 12:28 pm: Why don’t Democrats acknowledge their role as to why Illinois has a reputation for being ‘bad for business”. Trial lawyers and unions have veto power over every single piece of legislation in the House and Senate. Perhaps they could acknowledge our problems and their role in perpetuating them instead of resisting every single attempt to reform Illinois. They are pretending all Illinois needed was a permanent 32% income tax increase to fix our problems. - Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 12:30 pm: Anonnin’ that exit is about as old as we are. Doesn’t meet Interstate standards. About time we fixed it dontcha think? - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 12:33 pm: ===They are pretending all Illinois needed was a permanent 32% income tax increase to fix our problems=== Rauner vetoed that. Rauner also vetoed funding for all of higher education, paying social services, funding his state agencies, Rauner vetoed everything but the “Chicago Bailout” now called school funding reform. In reality, Rauner can attend these events, but any event that has its funding from his overridden vetoes, Rauner vetoed that, so Rauner can’t go. How is not having a signed, full fiscal year budget as governor helping Illinois? Bruce Rauner failed. - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 12:40 pm: Rauner does not have a positive economic record to which he could pivot. All he has is blaming Madigan. That’s weak. I hope Illinoisans hold Rauner accountable. - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 12:41 pm: Why didn’t democrats pass a budget for the first 2 1/2 years of Rauner’s term? Because they were eager to resolve the many problems they created through their decades of unbalanced budgets and political cronyism? They pledged to get to work solving illinois problems now that they passed their 32% tax increase. How is that going so far this veto session? Seems like a lot of CYA going on, not whole lot of reforming. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 12:54 pm: ===Why didn’t democrats pass a budget for the first 2 1/2 years of Rauner’s term?=== I play along so if this is ever looked up, it’s here.., Rauner vetoed budgets, and used the likes of Ken Dunkim to purposely hurt as Rauner wanted so that a crisis could bring changes to collective bargaining and prevailing wage. There was never 71 Dems willing to override since Dunkin was committed to hurting Illinois, like Rauner. Dunkin lost, but the House then only had 67 Dems, 66 and Drury, really, which is why, in a bipartisan manner both chambers overrode Rauner this fiscal year, having seen the damage, some permanent, Bruce Rauner required. The Ounce, the social service organization Diana Rauner even asked that Bruce be overridden, even as Diana Rauner felt the crippling Bruce was doing to the likes of The Ounce was just a business decision all chose. We have a budget in Illinois because lawmakers that Rauner owned had enough too. The Brave 15, The Perfect 10 saves Illinois this year from Bruce Rauner By nearly every measure, Illinois is worse off since Bruce Rauner became governor… … Rauner’s purposeful hurting of Illinois needed to end… ===Seems like a lot of CYA going on, not whole lot of reforming=== Then Rauner should own, proudly… The higher education veto. The state agency funding veto. The veto paying social services. Enjoy those vetoes…. enjoy those vetoes and the tax increase veto too… Rauner owns all his vetos… same as it ever was. Embrace those vetoes - Lucky Pierre - - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 12:55 pm: “Seems like a lot of CYA going on, not whole lot of reforming.” Some reforms could have passed if Rauner supported them, but he didn’t. All that damage done to the state…for nothing but ideological zealotry. Now instead of Rauner running on a record of accomplishments and good will, he’s still trashing and attacking Madigan. I thought the buck stops with CEO’s. - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 1:49 pm: Some reforms could have passed if Rauner supported them? Why is that? Isn’t the co equal legislative branch responsible for anything? The permanent tax increase passed without his support, but the lack of reforms is all on Rauner? Sorry that is not logical. All that damage for ideological zealotry? Restoring citizens faith in state government (which ranks 50th in the nation) is ideological zealotry? Term limits, fair maps, property tax reform, pension reform and workers comp are supported by bipartisan majorities but the ideological zealots on the Democratic sides are blocking them. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 1:59 pm: ===Term limits, fair maps, property tax reform, pension reform and workers comp are supported by bipartisan majorities but the ideological zealots on the Democratic sides are blocking them.=== Rauner should get 60/71 and 30/36 on the stairs this Beto session and get this passed. Why won’t Rauner? Rauner is a poor leader and can’t get anything done. Ask four governors. They know. Rauner is ineffective. They say so. ===Why is that? Isn’t the co equal legislative branch responsible for anything? The permanent tax increase passed without his support, but the lack of reforms is all on Rauner? Sorry that is not logical.=== It’s logical if you can count to 60/71 and 30/36. If you can’t, then I guess it would be “not logical”, lol ===Some reforms could have passed if Rauner supported them?=== The were called “sham” votes, but in reality, they were votes for reforms, less damaging labor, and damaging labor was more important than the reforms. ===All that damage for ideological zealotry? Restoring citizens faith in state government (which ranks 50th in the nation) is ideological zealotry?=== BAIER: So what would be different in a second term? Hmm… - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 2:22 pm: Pretending its all about prevailing wage and collective bargaining is what I call a sham. It might surprise you Willy but there is a lot more to this state than just pleases unions and trial lawyers. Why do their demands supercede all others? What would be different in a second term? Well it appears there will be a lot less reps from both parties who voted for the permanent income tax with no reforms. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 2:28 pm: ===Pretending its all about prevailing wage and collective bargaining is what I call a sham=== … and yet, I can if you’d like, pull up Capitol Fax, post after post Rich had about these votes and what was different… Labor demands by Rauner. ===It might surprise you Willy but there is a lot more to this state than just pleases unions and trial lawyers. Why do their demands supercede all others?=== Rauner can’t get 60/71 and 30/36. Rauner is failing. Rauner needs to get the votes to get things passed… like every governor before him. Same… as it ever was. So, Rauner failed. ===What would be different in a second term? Well it appears there will be a lot less reps from both parties who voted for the permanent income tax with no reforms.=== So when Rauner laughed, having no answer himself, your response is fewer members of the GA returning? Proft may own those votes come January 2019. That’s fun. lol - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 2:32 pm: “Term limits, fair maps, property tax reform, pension reform and workers comp are supported by bipartisan majorities but the ideological zealots on the Democratic sides are blocking them.” There was a proposal or bill for legislative leader term limits, but would have Rauner supported it? There’s no indication he would have. Plus, term limits do jack squat for what ails us now. There’s zero reason to prioritize those when budgets need to be passed. Rauner called the two-year property tax freeze proposal phony, as did he other reform proposals, if I recall correctly. He did this very recently, at a press conference, sometime around the end of this year’s spring GA session. He was powerful enough to stop bipartisan passage of bills, until junk status was almost upon us, when he quickly vetoed the budget and tax revenue bills for quick overrides. Rauner gave zero indication he’d support Democratic workers comp proposals. They didn’t go far enough. So yes, Rauner is an ideological zealot who wasn’t satisfied with anything. He could have had some reforms if he was willing to work with the majority party. But he was trashing Madigan in ads when he should have been working in good faith with the GA. Look at Rauner’s AFSCME debacle. He could have worked with the union and had a contract by now, but this zealot is clever by half. He could have saved the taxpayers money through modest healthcare increases that the union and state employees would have probably accepted. But no, he still wants to fight and is demanding huge concessions—doubling or more of healthcare costs, free rein to privatize, grossly unfair merit pay system, anti-fair share language, loss of layoff bumping rights and attacks on seniority, terrible proposal for retiree healthcare, etc. On top of that, he said the most important thing is weakening unions through the courts, not anything state government does. That’s a zealot, and he’s hurt the state immensely. - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 3:02 pm: Can you let us know when the Speaker starts working in good faith with the minority party in the House? I would add the Democratic Senate to another group he doesn’t work cooperatively with. The Speaker is the ideological zealot in “reasonable and moderate”’oversized khakis. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 3:15 pm: ===Can you let us know when the Speaker starts working in good faith with the minority party in the House? I would add the Democratic Senate to another group he doesn’t work cooperatively with.=== The veto overrides that gave Illinois a budget and the tax increase was bipartisan, LOL… Keep up. Both chambers, bipartisan. Rauner is the problem. The overrides say so. ===The Speaker is the ideological zealot in “reasonable and moderate”’oversized khakis.=== Yet, Rauner has no signed budgets, but a bipartisan budget that the GA passed without him. Rauner continually fails. - gdubya - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 3:23 pm: Why would anyone want Scott Walker on your TV ad? He’s such a goober. He looks like an actual weasel. - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 3:34 pm: “Can you let us know when the Speaker starts working in good faith with the minority party in the House?” No question that Madigan has a huge role in our problems over the many years. The problem is the so-called status quo. Rauner is governor now, and just like he slams others, he’s responsible for his governance. Illinois has become much worse under this governor. He needs to own his share, which I’d argue that per capita—almost three years of his term—he’s one of the worst if not the worst governor in state history. But to the post again, Rauner plays both sides of the state economic climate issue—praising the state to look good, like he did when Illinois was third in corporate real estate deals, and trashing the state to attack opponents and push his agenda. But no one will know when the tree fell in the forest if DPI messaging, which is nonexistent, won’t attack the governor on this. - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 3:55 pm: Yes there were bipartisan votes on the override of the veto and the permanent tax increase, but not on reform of our state government or business environment. Now 1/3 of the General Assembly will be gone by the time the next Governor is sworn in. Do you think a lot of legislators are afraid to run for reelection after a total failure to enact reforms during a 4 year term? http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-durkin-illinois-general-assembly-turnover-met-0920-20170919-story.html - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 4:01 pm: === Do you think a lot of legislators are afraid to run for reelection after a total failure to enact reforms during a 4 year term?=== Rauner sits with 30%… that 3-0… approval. Rauner can’t run on his record… even Bret Baier knows that… BAIER: So what would be different in a second term? Rauner can spend plenty of time retired with those others. The voters feel, like Baier, that Rauner is a failure, and what would be different other than Rauner continuing to fail? - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 4:37 pm: 30% according to the DGA. That is the Democratic Governor’s Association. I am stunned to is that high given the source. Only trailing Senator Durbin by 7% is huge. Take that to the bank OW along with the Nate Silver FiveThirtyEight polls that said Brady and Quinn would win. What will be different in Speaker Madigan’s 24th term in office? - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 4:45 pm: ===What will be different in Speaker Madigan’s 24th term in office?=== Rauner won’t be governor? ===30% according to the DGA. That is the Democratic Governor’s Association. I am stunned to is that high given the source=== Where are your numbers? Rich asked if you had them recently… You have nothing. Rauner is upside down… and failed. - Lefty Louie - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 4:57 pm: Take a breath OW. The repeated Brett Baier references once again. Given the oft quoted poll numbers, why get all worked up in a lather. You know that constantly repeating yourself is a sign of Alzheimers don’t you. In a state where Trump was hammered by the great Hillary, with a long time leader such as Mike Madigan and such an outstanding candidate as JB, does Rauner have any chance at all. You obviously don’t think so. We get it. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 5:06 pm: Oh - Lefty Louie -, LOL You can always skip my comments. Making it about me isn’t making an argument. That you can’t… that’s on you. Try to add to the discussion. Good luck. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 5:11 pm: ===…sign of Alzheimers…=== You lack of personal character is noted. Good luck. - cc - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 5:45 pm: “Sickness” of Illinois government blame game. Madigan, emesis times 10. Rauner, emesis times 100 - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 6:43 pm: OW is offended by a personal attack while throwing brickbats all day from the only 10,000 square foot glass house in Oswego Priceless - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 7:09 pm: ===…throwing brickbats…=== Hmm…. You go with that, lol Always the victim. - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 8:52 pm: I don’t think I ever questioned your personal character for not addressing the issues. Somehow ripping me for not voting for a non -existent Republican candidate for Mayor of Chicago is a mortal sin in your book. As a good Madigan “Republican” will you be voting for Ives or Governor Rauner in the primary? - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 9:04 pm: ===As a good Madigan “Republican” will you be voting for Ives or Governor Rauner in the primary?=== I won’t be voting in that race. You can vote for Biss, JB, or Kennedy, since you don’t pull Republican ballots. lol ===I don’t think I ever questioned your personal character for not addressing the issues.=== You brought up to don’t vote Republican, how you think not voting Republican in primaries makes you the logical voice to support Rauner is comical… You don’t vote in GOP primaries and you voted for Rahm this last election, for the line of Pete, you voted for more Dems then actual… Dems, lol - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 9:38 pm: Hmm… === ===…sign of Alzheimers…=== You lack of personal character is noted. Good luck.=== I questioned - Lefty Louie - Are you “Lefty Louie” … - Lucky Pierre - - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 9:51 pm: Making it about me isn’t making an argument OW Apparently you are ripping on me for something you are not doing yourself. Consistency is not your strong suit. I don’t think it is comical I don’t vote in Republican primaries in Chicago with so few candidates on the ballot and local issues which do affect the community on the Democratic ballot. I am hardly alone here, Democrats got 8 times as many votes in the - 708,000 vs. 88,000 in the last primary. In the general, Hillary got 890,000 votes and Trump received only 132,000, only over 6 times as many. Try to practice what you preach, especially in the same thread - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 9:59 pm: ===Apparently you are ripping on me for something you are not doing yourself. Consistency is not your strong suit.=== I will pull a Republican ballot. You will not. Voting for Ives helps Rauner see where he needs help in November. I won’t help Rauner with that task. You don’t vote Republican, not unlike Rauner when he voted for Democrats with the same ignorant excuse. The reality is you aren’t a Republican, but an opportunist, someone parties don’t build around. ===I am hardly alone here, Democrats got 8 times as many votes in the - 708,000 vs. 88,000 in the last primary. In the general, Hillary got 890,000 votes and Trump received only 132,000, only over 6 times as many.=== I can’t help you don’t stand for anything, and are but a sheep. Like Rauner, your phony Republican thinking, as you vote for Rahm… that’s embarrassingly comical as Rau er goes after Rahm. I’m consistent, thanks. Keep pulling Dem ballots, be consistent, LOL ===Try to practice what you preach, especially in the same thread=== Is this “Lucky Pierre” or “Lefty Louie”? Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.