* Gov. Rauner talked to reporters today about his recent trade mission to Israel…
“Their focus has been on California and New York,” said Rauner. “Many of them weren’t aware of Illinois. I spent a great deal of time educating them on the attractiveness of Illinois.”
The governor has remained a persistent critic of an Illinois tax and regulatory structure he contends hold the state back in competition for jobs. Even as Rauner toured Israel, his re-election campaign aired an ad featuring governors of surrounding states thanking Illinois for driving jobs across the border.
“We have the people, we have the workforce, the location, the transportation network and the education system. On fundamentals, we should be the fastest growing state in America,” said Rauner. “We have a very hostile regulatory environment in Illinois. Many companies are leaving because of our regulations and our taxes.”
Rauner said he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed pro-business reforms won by Netanyahu, including reducing regulations, cutting taxes and balancing the budget. The Israeli economy is booming as a result, said Rauner.
“He made Israel much more pro-growth and pro-free enterprise,” said Rauner. “He understands what we’re dealing with here in Illinois.”
The full teleconference is here. Rauner told reporters he met with Netanyahu for about an hour and a half. Do you think he could go on and on about Illinois’ “attractiveness” for that long?
…Adding… He tweeted about the teleconference as well…
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 2:30 pm:
So Rauner didn’t show the Ad he paid for with other governors trashing Illinois?
So, tell Illinoisans we as a state are horrible but hope outsiders don’t hear about that?
Rauner is such a phony.
- Anon221 - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 2:30 pm:
As the great Yogi Berra would have said about Rauner (who learned it from that frog he pursued on his immigrant Swedish grandfather’s farm)..
“He hits from both sides of the plate. He’s amphibious.”
- Lt Guv - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 2:34 pm:
The man is constitutionally incapable of promoting Illinois.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 2:36 pm:
–Need to follow Israel’s model. Unleash Illinois’ spirit of innovation.–
They’re fixing to let their farmers grow weed and export it to the world.
Is that what the governor is talking about?
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-to-begin-exporting-marijuana-soon-minister/
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 2:36 pm:
As GovJunk struggles to get out from under the mountain of mistakes he has made his steps only go further downhill.
Most would prefer he just stay home
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 2:50 pm:
Competitiveness is relative and Illinois is competitive with New York and California.
We are not competitive for manufacturing jobs with our neighbors in the Midwest and the job creation numbers confirm that.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 2:52 pm:
===We are not competitive for manufacturing jobs with our neighbors in the Midwest and the job creation numbers confirm that.===
I hope Rauner said that when Gov. Walker was pitching Wisconsin.
Do you realize how ridiculous you sound?
What, so when Rauner saw Walker, should Rauner had said… “Wisconsin is just better”?
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 3:06 pm:
LP, what manufacturers do you think Rauner was trying to attract in Israel? Get a clue.
We’re all aware that Israel’s economy is about the size of Wisconsin’s, or 40% that of Illinois?
These are all political trips, anyway, for incumbents to look like big shots back home.
If that alleged “trade trip” to China and Japan results in an increase in Illinois exports, I’m sure Rauner will let us know. Don’t hold your breath.
- dbk - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 3:13 pm:
I try not to get unduly irritated at actions-statements like these, but that ad with the gov’s buddies from WI, MI, and IN is playing several times a day in our local market…
I mean, make up your mind–are you with your fellow-Illinoisans or against them? And if you’re against them, what are you doing running for re-election, for goodness’ sake?
It’s embarrassing, frankly.
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 3:23 pm:
Where did I say Rauner was pitching Israeli manufacturers?
I said Illinois was competitive with California and New York as they are also high tax states with burdensome regulations also controlled by unions and trial lawyers. They also have a huge debt like Illinois
https://www.usgovernmentdebt.us/state_debt_rank
Rauner is with his fellow Illinoisans who despise the political dysfunction here in Illinois that is the reason we have some of the highest unemployment and population growth in the country.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 3:26 pm:
I’m sorry, LP, I assumed you were making a minimal attempt to relate your daily chanting points to the subject at hand. No idea why I thought that.
- Epic - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 3:26 pm:
I wonder what Rauner thinks of Israel’s universal healthcare and it’s 23% work force union participation which includes white collar workers. Wonder if Rauner told them how much greater there economy was right to work or if they followed the American model of healthcare.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 3:27 pm:
===highest unemployment===
I thought Rauner was just touting the low unemployment numbers…
Hmm.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 3:30 pm:
But, - Lucky Pierre -…
Rauner’s Rusty Robot ad…
===Citizens for Rauner today released a new tv ad highlighting the corrupt Madigan Machine that has run Illinois for too long.
Governor Rauner has worked tirelessly to make state government work for all Illinoisans. He closed the revolving door between government and lobbyists, helping to clean up Springfield. He’s brought thousands of jobs to Illinois===
That’s thousands of jobs…
Who is right? You or the Governor’s campaign?
- Free Set of Steak Knives - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 3:32 pm:
Rich -
This is supposed to be a joke, right?
The corporate tax rate in Israel is 24%.
The personal income tax rate is 50% for income over $180K per year.
- We'll See - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 3:44 pm:
- Lucky Pierre @ 3:23 -
You had a typo — I went ahead and fixed it.
“Rauner is with his fellow Illinoisans who promote the political dysfunction here in Illinois…”
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 3:46 pm:
Free Set, they also have a 16 percent VAT.
- Anon - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 4:04 pm:
*waits patiently for Rauner to talk about raising taxes to balance the budget*
- Free Set of Steak Knives - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 4:07 pm:
Great point, Rich.
For someone who went to great lengths to exclude Minnesota from his dataset, pointing out Israel as a low-tax state seems absurd.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 4:09 pm:
===Rauner says he pitched Illinois’ “attractiveness” in Israel===
When asked if Illinois was attractive, Rauner said Illinois was really nice and fun and had a great personality.
- Shake - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 4:21 pm:
I’m Thinking Rauner Gets On With The Trump Campaign In2019. He’ll Need A Job. And Man Can Rauner Lie.
- Happily Retired - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 4:23 pm:
I believe Israel receives more US aid than any other nation - billions
- Lamont - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 4:50 pm:
I’d like to follow Israel’s model too. Universal healthcare and nearly free college. Corporate tax of 25% and a progressive tax ranging from 10% to 50%.
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 5:00 pm:
“What, so when Rauner saw Walker, should Rauner had said… “Wisconsin is just better”? ”
Hopefully when he saw Walker he told Goldberg that he had lost his job as tour guide immediately.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 5:30 pm:
I wonder if 1.4% realizes there is an Israeli Consulate in Chicago. I am willing to bet that when this meeting was arranged the Consulate handed in a dossier on 1.4% and his administration and a complete rundown on 1.4%’s broken record stump speeches about how bad it is in Illinois.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 6:13 pm:
Prove it Governor.
We’ve got proof you disrespect us.
So we don’t believe you.
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 6:32 pm:
I am sure Governor Rauner would agree with you about lowering the current corporate tax rate from 35% to 25%
- Gefelte George - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 7:31 pm:
He set the hook when he told Bibi about his Swedish born Jewish grandparents.
- Generic Drone - Tuesday, Nov 7, 17 @ 11:29 pm:
Illinois will look more “attractive” when Rauner is gone.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Nov 8, 17 @ 7:33 am:
==Many companies are leaving because of our regulations and our taxes.==
“Many” implies a large number. It shouldn’t be that hard to list these “many.”
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Nov 8, 17 @ 7:35 am:
I wonder if the Governor knows that the individual tax rate goes all the way up to 50% and that they have a VAT of 17%. Taxes don’t seem to be an issue there. If the Governor wants to follow the Israeli model he could balance the budget no problem.