* George Will talked with Gov. Rauner again…
This state’s story, which lately has been depressing, soon will acquire a riveting new chapter. In 2018 Illinois will have the nation’s most important, expensive and strange election.
Its importance derives from this fact: Self-government has failed in the nation’s currently fifth-most populous state (Pennsylvania soon will pass it). Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner will seek re-election with a stark warning: The state is approaching a death spiral — departing people and businesses suppress growth; the legislature responds by raising taxes; the exodus accelerates. […]
Thuggishness has been normalized: Because Rauner favors allowing municipalities to pass right-to-work laws that prohibit requiring workers to join a union, Madigan’s automatons passed a law (Rauner’s veto stood) stipulating up to a year in jail for local lawmakers who enact them.
In 2018, Rauner will try to enlist voters in the constructive demolition of the “blue model.” It is based on Madigan’s docile herd of incumbent legislators, who are entrenched by campaign funds from government unions. Through them government, sitting on both sides of the table, negotiates with itself to expand itself. Term limits for legislators, which a large majority of Illinoisans favor, would dismantle the wall. A 60 percent supermajority of the legislature is required for such a constitutional reform. So, next year voters will be urged to oppose any legislature candidate who will not pledge to vote to put term limits on the ballot. And all candidates will be asked how often they have voted for Madigan for speaker — he has a 26 percent approval rating — and to pledge not to sin again.
“I love a fight,” says an ebullient Rauner, whose rhetoric cannot get much more pugnacious. He calls Madigan “the worst elected official in the country” and Madigan’s machine “evil.” The nation has a huge stake in this brawl because the “blue model” is bankrupting cities and states from Connecticut to California, so its demolition here, where it has done the most damage, would be a wondrous story enhancing the nation’s glory.
Evil? That’s some hot rhetoric.
* And we’re “approaching” a death spiral? I thought Illinois was already in a death spiral. From a 2012 Bruce Rauner op-ed…
Our state is in a long-term death spiral.
2015…
Three days before he takes the reins as governor, Bruce Rauner declared “Illinois is in a death spiral.”
Etc.
- anon2 - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:18 am:
Why would Amazon choose a state that is either approaching or already in a death spiral?
- Perrid - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:20 am:
Ah yes, Rauner is a white knight riding in to save us all, starting with the richest among us.
- Annonin' - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:21 am:
We thought GovJunk was busy talkin’ up how great IL has become because of all his genius. That was the message of Israel with his new bff at U of I.
This message will be real helpful in the qust for AmazonHQ2 too.
Now back to his study of the Legislative IG
- Retired Educator - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:21 am:
To be fair, he only stated this to his immigrant Grandfather. It wasn’t meant for public consumption.
- DeseDemDose - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:22 am:
I hope those investors that have put up those 60 tower cranes in Chicago that believe in the future of Illinois don’t take them down this weekend.
- Saluki - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:22 am:
Maybe more of a “really bad flu” spiral.
- PJ - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:23 am:
Boy do I love lofty conservative thinkers. They’ve never gotten past the old canards. Cut taxes on the rich and let them dole out their beneficence on the grateful peasants.
That mindset is pretty much dead in America. It has no more constituency. Trump fired up his base with populism and railing against the elites, and Democrats are now doing the same.
The George Will’s of the world are the last of the generation that earnestly believes that everyone in America is born on a level playing field and all you need is some gumption to make it to the top. Bless their patriotic naivety. Time to move on.
- Norseman - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:23 am:
We’re all in a death spiral. It’s just a question of when the spiral will end.
- Arsenal - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:25 am:
“Illinois is approaching a death spiral, so re-elect the guy who’s been Governor for the last three years.”
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:28 am:
He makes some interesting points, but it sure is weird how Will doesn’t mention the $12 Billion in debt Rauner has added in just three short years. You would think a “conservative” commentator would look askance at that. Since conservatives currently control DC, perhaps we’re all just within that short time frame where conservatives temporarily and magically start believing that deficits don’t matter because their team is in control?
- wordslinger - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:29 am:
Way to sell it to Amazon, Bruce. Old Gil has nothing on you.
The dude has a freaky messiah complex. He can yammer on and on about how he’s the savior.
But to date, his only accomplishments are chaos and destruction. He hasn’t shown the ability to walk and chew gum at the same time on anything positive.
- Anonymous - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:30 am:
I’d welcome a death spiral if it would end the mindless repetition from these geniuses.
- Just sayin - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:32 am:
I hate to sound childish, but it takes one to know one.
- PJ - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:32 am:
== conservatives temporarily and magically start believing that deficits don’t matter==
They’re about to add 1.5 trillion to the debt in DC with this tax bill. But we’ll get it all back with the economic boost that will come from a new private aircraft deduction and allowing the idle sit to pass down larger fortunes.
Trickle down, baby!
- PublicServant - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:37 am:
Madigan’s docile herd was augmented by the ‘R’-branded herd as I recall in disrupting Rauner’s death-spiral narrative.
- Postbot 3855 - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:38 am:
The tax eaters are sure riled up in the comment section today. Must have hit close to home.
- PublicServant - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:38 am:
How long do these state death spirals take? I need to plan.
- Just Visiting - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:41 am:
Illinois entering a death spiral took years, decades, to get to. Pensions that were once 90%+ funded now near insolvency. A property tax structure that is, at best, inconsistent statewide and perhaps criminal in Cook county is about to become more than punitive with the new Federal tax plan. The flight of manufacturing from areas like Decatur, Peoria and metro east will never be replaced resulting in underemployment in much of downstate. We can blame Rauner, Madigan, Edgar or whomever you want but the mathematical reality remains. This past summer the General Assembly passed a 32% tax hike with little to no actual reductions on the expense side. Bond rating one notch above junk was a years long slide. The financials…balance sheet…math all points to a very dim future for our state for quite some time.
- Dude Abides - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:41 am:
I don’t know about the death spiral analogy but what I do know is that when Rauner leaves office he will leave the state in worse shape than which he found it. Whoever runs against him needs to hammer that point home and Reagan did in that debate with Jimmy Carter.
I guess part of the reelection strategy is scare tactics. It’s just more desperation when your poll numbers are low and you don’t have a good record to run on. Rauner’s message is that worker protection laws are bad for business.His message is basically make things better for the wealthy and it will trickle down to everyone else.
- RNUG - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:42 am:
So, since he doesn’t have a record of accomplishments to run on, Rauner is going to try to scare us into voting for him?
- regnaD kciN - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:42 am:
To me this is something like John Smoltz or Ron Darling pontificating in a league championship or World Series game about a team he’s seen a few times during the year and he’s read the scouting report but talks like he knows the whole story when in reality, those who follow the team day by day can point out substantive items they neglected to take into consideration.
- perry noya - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:43 am:
Yes, Will’s column can easily be picked apart, and he is a fool for touting Rauner. But what about this sentence:
“Through them government, sitting on both sides of the aisle, negotiates with itself to expand itself.”
CapFax commenters cannot accept this simple truth.
- wordslinger - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:46 am:
–The tax eaters are sure riled up…–
And one knuckle dragger has already taxed his brain to capacity. You must be exhausted after coming up with and delivering that thoughtful comment.
- Laborious - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:51 am:
Keep taking it lightly & do keep pooh-poohing it, but George Will is absolutely right. Illinois is in a financial death spiral. The numbers bear that out.
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:51 am:
What are the Democrats plans to fix Illinois beyond another tax hike and opposing any reforms that would restore Illinois residents faith in state government?
Do they realize their policies are actually lowering the standard of living for middle class families through higher taxes and less job opportunities?
Criminalizing their political opponents is straight out of the Venezuelan and Castro handbook.
How can anyone actually argue that the “Blue Model” is not bankrupting cities and states from coast to coast?
the bottom 10 states in the fiscal rankings according to Mercatus are
Vermont
New Mexico
West Virginia
California
Louisiana
Pennsylvania
Maryland
Kentucky
Massachusetts
Illinois
New Jersey
Mostly Blue
the top 10 were all Red
https://www.mercatus.org/statefiscalrankings
- Anonymous - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:53 am:
- “Through them government, sitting on both sides of the aisle, negotiates with itself to expand itself.”
CapFax commenters cannot accept this simple truth. -
Rauner can, all by himself, decide not to spend money on programs and services he deems wasteful. He can also propose budgets balanced with specific cuts to match the revenue accompanying his preferred tax rate.
Raunerites can’t accept or understand this simple truth.
- think_for_yourself - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:54 am:
–“Through them government, sitting on both sides of the aisle, negotiates with itself to expand itself.”
CapFax commenters cannot accept this simple truth. –
This is actually the biggest problem I have with Rauner. He promised a reduction in taxing bodies, set up a commission and has promptly done nothing to act on it. He went so hard on his other reforms, but let this one sit.
Can one of his supporters explain the lack of action 3 years into his term (Bonus points if you can do it without using the word “Madigan”)?
- wordslinger - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:54 am:
perry,where has Illinois been “expanding itself,” other than unpaid bills?
Higher Ed? Social services? Infrastructure?
Can you apply budget book facts to your shallow cable yakker talking point?
- AC - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:55 am:
It amazes me how such commentaries fail to take into consideration how much worse off we are fiscally than we were when Rauner took office. It’s not that we haven’t been fiscally mismanaged over the years, it’s the difficult to understand belief that we can make things better, by making them worse.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:56 am:
===Criminalizing their political opponents is straight out of the Venezuelan and Castro handbook.===
You mean things like calling them evil, LP?
- igotgotgotgotnotime - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 10:59 am:
Speaking of death spirals, I wonder what George’s take on the modern Republican Party, and conservatism in general is.
- Not_a_drone - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:01 am:
–Do they realize their policies are actually lowering the standard of living for middle class families through higher taxes and less job opportunities?–
LP can you show us the top ten states based on standard of living? How about education?
Keep focusing on “fiscal rankings” as defined by Koch-funded Mercatus. Meanwhile Oklahoma runs 4-day school weeks because they can’t afford a full-week (https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/with-state-budget-in-crisis-many-oklahoma-schools-hold-classes-four-days-a-week/2017/05/27/24f73288-3cb8-11e7-8854-21f359183e8c_story.html?utm_term=.d7daeab808f1). They are #7 in your fiscal ratings, does that sound like a well-run state to you?
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:02 am:
Rauner can, all by himself, decide not to spend money on programs and services he deems wasteful. He can also propose budgets balanced with specific cuts to match the revenue accompanying his preferred tax rate.
Raunerites can’t accept or understand this simple truth.
This is not simple and it is not the truth. At least 90% of the budget is mandated by statute or consent decrees. The Governor cannot line item veto the budget to balance without the legislature changing the underlying statutes.
Cutting spending and solving Illinois problems would require bipartisan cooperation, moderation and professionalism. All of that was promised but never delivered by Speaker Madigan.
The supermajority Senate did deliver but is complicit in its enabling of Speaker Madigan’s obstruction by not publicly calling him out.
The old Democratic Springfield two step, good cop bad cop routine rolls on
- Ron - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:03 am:
Not sure why the union defenders keep their collective head buried in the sand. Illinois is an disaster.
- Ron - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:03 am:
I’m sure if we just raise taxes some more, all will be swell.
- Ron - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:04 am:
Decades of over promising union cronies has destroyed the state.
- Demoralized - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:05 am:
==“Blue Model” ==
The “Rauner Model” isn’t much better. So either way we’re in trouble.
- Demoralized - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:06 am:
One line Ron is back.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:07 am:
Rauner made clear when Pat Quinn was Governor that all the ills of Illinois were due in very large part to…
“Pat Quinn fails”
If you watch the last debate, and you (collective) should, watch and listen to Rauner pointedly start answers and end answers with… “Pat Quinn failed”
Governors own, and Rauner here whining that things are bad, it’s because Rauner has failed, and needs to blame others where he blamed Quinn.
Other states, when other governors bad mouth their states, - Lucky Pierre - like Rauner, then you can compare.
Rauner seems to despise Illinois, runs it down every chance he gets, and is helpless as governor.
Bret Baier asks the question Rauner knows is the left handed failure of Rauner… what will be different in a Rauner second term.
Nothing.
Just more failure.
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:10 am:
===What are the Democrats plans to fix Illinois beyond another tax hike and opposing any reforms that would restore Illinois residents faith in state government?===
And what are the Republicans plans other than sham reforms that do almost nothing? He can’t even propose anything close to a balanced budget with the projected revenue before the tax hike. Maybe people would have faith in Illinois if it didn’t have a governor that added 12 billion dollars in debt to a state that is, as he claims, “in a death spiral.” Illinois fiscal condition was horrible before Rauner took office. Now, it is worse.
- kitty - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:13 am:
George Will, a native of Champaign-Urbana, is showing disrespect for IL voters by stating self government has failed. Neither he nor Mr. Rauner can demonstrate with any objectivity that RTWFL, eliminating prevailing wage laws or enacting term limits will fix Illinois’ fiscal problems. OTOH, Bruce Rauner is by every objective, quantifiable measure the worst performing and most destructive governor in Illinois history.
- Aldyth - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:14 am:
We already have enough drama. Could we please have problem solving instead? That way, we could spend the same amount of energy being productive.
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:14 am:
Here are the top 10 states on standard of living
Hawaii
Vermont
Minnesota
North Dakota
Washington
New Hampshire
Maine
Montana
Iowa
Massachusetts
Nebraska
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/11/americas-top-states-to-live-in-2017.html
Frankly I would take a pass on most of them except for Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Washington.
Sorry there is no excuse for Illinois poor rankings. It is a completely self inflicted wound given how many advantages our state has. The Gallup poll backs up the biggest problem in Illinois is a lack of faith in our state government.
Why don’t things improve when a Democratic Governor is elected?
Rauner’s policies have never been implemented so they have not been tried and failed.
The Democrats policies are on display and the results speak for themselves.
- pskila - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:14 am:
two of the big con-men around…don’t anything either one them say.
- Honeybear - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:15 am:
Perfect proof of the nationally coordinated perfidy.
To bad it won’t work
It’s not that hard to explain going door to door
As Labor is organizing to do
And at every Union Thsnksgiving table
That Rauner
Failed with Zero accomplishments
Well except he did grant Big Business
Almost a Billion dollars in EDGE tax forgiveness
But destroyed
Higher Ed (72,000)
Social Services (over a million lost services, thousand of jobs lost
Credit Rating ( just above Junk)
Debt (16billion stiffing our own contractors)
And has collapsed our state workforce
Now Rauners collaborators in corporate media
Say we are going to death spiral?
Really George Will?
No worries
We’ll explain
door to door
And at every thanksgiving table
That labor sits at.
Who trusts Rauner now?
Who trusts you now George Will?
- Demoralized - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:16 am:
LP, when are you going to stop with the “Rauner is a victim” nonsense? And the additional nonsense of everything being the Democrat’s fault. Can you ever be honest about anything? Ever?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:17 am:
- Lucky Pierre -
What else do those states have in connon?
Rauner is not governorof those states.
Governors that signed budgets.
Governors that promote their state, that work to find passable legislations, governors… with accomplishments.
Bruce Rauner fails.
All these states say so too.
- Ron - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:20 am:
A little RTW would not hurt Illinois at all. Public employee abolition would do wonders.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:22 am:
George Will is still alive? Huh. Who knew?
- Ron - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:22 am:
“And has collapsed our state workforce”
The state workforce is the problem
- Demoralized - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:23 am:
==The state workforce is the problem==
Enough. Your bad mouthing and hatred is just sad. What exactly is your problem?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:24 am:
Don’t feed - Ron -
You can only drive-by something so many times.
The Bret Baier, BTIA(tm), fiasco will damage Rauner’s attempts to be the passive Governor.
Why?
When directly questioned, Rauner had no answer to what would be different in a second term.
The silence spoke volumes.
- Pundent - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:25 am:
=Decades of over promising union cronies has destroyed the state.=
Then we should give Rauner a ton of credit as he was able to blow up our bill backlog to $16B in less than three years. It would have taken decades for the Dems to accomplish this. Well done Bruce!
- Ron - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:26 am:
My problem is that Illinois should be booming, but it’s not. We have had decades of both dems and reps that has run the state into the ground with an incestuos relationship with public employee unions.
- Honeybear - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:33 am:
You are such a simple creature Ron if you think abolishing public employees would do wonders.
It wasn’t that long ago that Rauner said he had thousand of people interested in state jobs.
Where are they?
Why is it that we are down 35%
From where we started as a workforce under Rauner, which was the smallest state workforce per capita?
We’re actively collapsing.
Who wants to work for the state now?
Apparently nobody.
Ron you have no comprehension
Of what you are proposing.
You just want somebody to blame for
Rauners and ILGOPs
Utter failure
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:39 am:
Yes by all means all that ails Illinois lead back to Bruca Rauner who is solely responsible for every single unbalanced budget since 2001 and the fact that 25% of our tax revenues go to pay the interest on the pension debt.
Can’t wait to see JB’s next national interview. The last one on CNBC did not go so well.
I saw him on CNBC once and it didn’t go so well. He said he hadn’t made up his mind if President Obama deserved reelection and he might vote for Mitt Romney. This is the same guy who has not distanced himself one inch from Speaker Madigan who thought President Obama was a failure.
I will repeat, JB was unsure about President Obama but he is all in on Speaker Madigan. I think he must be reading the polls upside down.
If only JB were here to magically fix everything by changing absolutely nothing that got Illinois into this mess.
Still claiming Rauner said nothing to Brett Baier? Here is the response with video:
” I can tell you Brett, dramatic change. The people of Illinois are going to have an opportunity in November 2018 to decide whether they are going to support the folks in the General Assembly who support the Speaker and the status quo. This isn’t about Democrats vs. Republicans, this is about good government vs. a corrupt machine with politicians who run government for themselves. You know Brett, when I first met the Speaker 9 years ago, Asked him what is your goal for improving the life of the people of Illinois. The speaker told me I don’t have a goal like tat I do two things manage power and make money.”
I think a lot of the legislature got the message that it can be tough to run for reelection when you stand with the Speaker.
” For 35 years he has spent borrowed and taxed. Massive job losses , deficits, biggest unfunded pension liabilities in America, rampant corruption, cronyism, patronage. He has been overseeing a stunning failure of government and one of the reason I ran was to stand up to him and the system and change and we will never give up in the battle to make Illinois strong, proud and prosperous.”
http://video.foxnews.com/v/5539072379001/?#sp=show-clips
You must have had the mute button on your TV.
- Ron - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:43 am:
The state workforce is down due to out of control benefits that are too expensive.
- Arsenal - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:43 am:
Ah, Hawaii, a state with a well-known hostility to Democrats.
- SSL - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:45 am:
Yes we are in a death spiral. Thanks for stating the obvious George.
The bandaid can kicking approach that the union loyalist Madigan and Cullerton led legislature has delivered has doomed this state. And you can through all the governors starting with Big Jim through Rauner under the same bus. A complete and total disaster.
Rauner can’t fix it. Madigan won’t fix it. Cullerton is just Mike’s toady. JB thinks he is running for president.
It will get worse before it gets better. My advice to you is to start drinking heavily.
- Honeybear - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:45 am:
Oh ,and Ron
Good luck with your recruiting of
College Republicans
(Your preferred campaign workers)
To canvas for ILGOP candidates.
I imagine a good percentage of them
were amongst the 72,000
that left the state.
George Wills perfidy doesn’t knock on doors
- Demoralized - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:47 am:
Ron - the state workforce is declining because people are retiring faster than they can be replaced. I know you like to make stuff up and peddle it as “fact” but as usual you’re wrong.
- Whatever - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:49 am:
== Bruce Rauner declared “Illinois is in a death spiral.”==
Can we start looting now?
- RNUG - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:52 am:
== The state workforce is down due to out of control benefits that are too expensive. ==
The State workforce is down because no one is willing to work for a verbal and actual abusive employer that has cut wages to the bone (starting salary only, no raises for years unless you are a *superstar*) and slashed the benefits that used to make up for the living were salaries
- Ron - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 11:56 am:
“Good luck with your recruiting of College Republicans”
I’m not sure what this means. I’m not a republican and I’m not a recruiter.
- Nick Name - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 12:02 pm:
That is some appallingly dishonest reporting by Will. Whiskey tango foxtrot.
- perry noya - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 12:02 pm:
Wills’s comment, and mine, specifically referred to “incumbent legislators,” and all you guys can talk about is Rauner. Who is the “Raunerite” here?
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 12:06 pm:
You guys should really cut Ron and LP some slack here. I mean, would YOU want to be the person who has to defend Bruce Rauner and try to make a case for his re-election?
I’ve worked on messaging for many campaigns, and frankly I wouldn’t be able to come up with anything better than “None of this is really his fault”, “Mike Madigan is just as bad at his job as Bruce is at his” or “state workers, amirite?” either.
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 12:11 pm:
Here is the “silence” from Bruce Rauner that spoke volumes after the Brett Baier question about what would be different in a second term:
” I can tell you Brett, dramatic change. The people of Illinois are going to have an opportunity in November 2018 to decide whether they are going to support the folks in the General Assembly who support the Speaker and the status quo. This isn’t about Democrats vs. Republicans, this is about good government vs. a corrupt machine with politicians who run government for themselves. You know Brett, when I first met the Speaker 9 years ago, Asked him what is your goal for improving the life of the people of Illinois. The speaker told me I don’t have a goal like tat I do two things manage power and make money.”
I think a lot of the legislature got the message that it can be tough to run for reelection when you stand with the Speaker.
” For 35 years he has spent borrowed and taxed. Massive job losses , deficits, biggest unfunded pension liabilities in America, rampant corruption, cronyism, patronage. He has been overseeing a stunning failure of government and one of the reason I ran was to stand up to him and the system and change and we will never give up in the battle to make Illinois strong, proud and prosperous.”
Exactly where does the Governor have it wrong? I can see why you turned the sound down when he answered.
- City Zen - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 12:11 pm:
In George’s defense, he is a Cubs fan.
- Roman - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 12:12 pm:
==This model is the iron alliance of the Democratic Party and government workers’ unions.==
Not quite out-of-town-stupid by Will, because even people who live here forget this, but before 2016, Madigan had an uneasy relationship with public employee unions. They withheld money and support from Madigan’s candidates in 2010 after the Tier 2 pension law was passed; Madigan subsequently passed legislation to de-unionize some state jobs; and the teachers unions were fuming over Madigan’s support for charters and accountability standards (something he worked in concert with Citizen Rauner on.)
A deal centered on a capital bill that took care of the trades (Madigan’s traditional union allies) and screwed public employee unions was there for the taking. But Rauner wanted total victory: right-to-work and the end of prevailing wage, too. And he wanted Madigan as a political boogie man.
Governor Rauner, blinded by anti-labor zeal and hobbled by political inexperience, missed his chance to exploit the crack
in the “iron alliance” and leave Illinois public employee unions reeling. A George Will column about how Rauner blew a golden opportunity would have been more on target.
- boxed_in - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 12:13 pm:
–Frankly I would take a pass on most of them except for Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Washington.–
Sure you would because your original comment boxed you in to an indefensible position. To refresh, your comment on the “Blue Model”:
–Do they realize their policies are actually lowering the standard of living for middle class families through higher taxes and less job opportunities?–
Yet, 7 of the 10 highest standard of living states are blue. It’s almost like you made the statement without thinking (or researching) if it was true. Ideology trumps reality every-single-time.
- anon2 - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 12:13 pm:
=== “Through them government, sitting on both sides of the aisle, negotiates with itself to expand itself.” ===
If true, then why does the State of Illinois rank as one of the lower spending states, either per capita or as a percent of state GDP?
- Ron - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 12:19 pm:
“If true, then why does the State of Illinois rank as one of the lower spending states, either per capita or as a percent of state GDP?”
Does that include state and local government?
- Ron - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 12:19 pm:
We have one of the highest state and local tax burdens in the country, so that seems off.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 12:20 pm:
===” I can tell you Brett, dramatic change. The people of Illinois are going to have an opportunity in November 2018 to decide whether they are going to support the folks in the General Assembly who support the Speaker and the status quo. This isn’t about Democrats vs. Republicans, this is about good government vs. a corrupt machine with politicians who run government for themselves. You know Brett, when I first met the Speaker 9 years ago, Asked him what is your goal for improving the life of the people of Illinois. The speaker told me I don’t have a goal like tat I do two things manage power and make money.”
I think a lot of the legislature got the message that it can be tough to run for reelection when you stand with the Speaker===
Lots and lots and LOTS of words that show no leadership, takes no responsibility, shows no vision, and this isn’t a tight sound bite for a man polling 30% approval and needs a vision and seen leading.
It’s pathetic, actually.
Child-like.
But, that’s IPI messaging for ya.
===Exactly where does the Governor have it wrong? I can see why you turned the sound down when he answered.===
Nah, I was laughing like so many that wheh this is all cut into :30 second ads where Bret Baier flat out embarrassed Rauner with…
BAIER: …You’ve got rising state debt; you have increasing taxes, and kind of a lousy economic climate right now….
RAUNER: Yes.
BAIER: Businesses may leave your state.
RAUNER: Oh, they’ve been leaving.
BAIER: So what would be different in a second term?
My favorite is Rauner, the sitting governor admitting business are leaving… on his watch.
Can be cut to :15, :20, :30, even a :60 spot.
Oh, abd Rauner laughed when Baier asked what would be different.
That’s the BTIA(tm) for ya.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 12:32 pm:
Bruce Rauner did pretty darned good in Illinois during this long death spiral, having made $279 million, per his two most recent tax returns. So what he says is utter bunk, because if Illinois was really in the death spiral, he would have left a long time ago.
“We have had decades of both dems and reps that has run the state into the ground with an incestuos relationship with public employee unions.”
Whoever doesn’t Bruce Rauner for having gorged himself and his firm on public employee pension business for decades—including the TRS fund here in Illinois—and only attacks public employee unions, has no credibility.
Bruce Rauner is Mike Madigan, too, except way more hypocritical. In 2011 Rauner said public employee wages and pensions are a financial tumor destroying America, while in the same year he said the private equity business was “relatively flush” with public employee pension funds.
So Rauner wants to openly attack public employee unions and wants the “red model” of lower wages, bennefits and economic protections for Illinois’ working class. Finally he’s being open about it.
Speaking of ideological models, the vast majority of Republicans in national government want to turn the entire country into Kansas with the tax cut efforts—big tax cuts for the wealthiest.
- Anonymous - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 12:37 pm:
“Stay the course” Governor.
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 12:39 pm:
7 of the top 10 are blue?
How do you figure?
Hawaii- Blue
Vermont- Blue
Minnesota- Both House and Senate are Republican. Trump list to Hillary by 30,000 votes
North Dakota- Red
Washington- Blue
New Hampshire- Republican Governor, Trump lost to Hillary by 3/10 of a point
Maine- Republican Governor
Montana- Trump got 56% of vote
Iowa Trump beat Hillary 51-42
Massachusetts- Republican Governor
Nebraska- Red
Still think there are 7 blue states here?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 12:42 pm:
- Lucky Pierre -
So the pitch to the voters is… with Trump in his midterm and Rauner polling at 30% approval is…
“Look at the other states that are better than a failing Illinois and I’m the current governor”
That’s as sad as it gets.
Rauner can’t run away from his record.
Ask Quinn how that worked out for him…
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 12:42 pm:
Lots and Lots of words vs silence
Which one of your posts are we supposed to believe OW?
- Honeybear - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 12:43 pm:
There it is
The real purpose
Of the Rauner Administration
Anti free market ( picking winners )
Corporate patronage.
Stripmining the state
For profit
Go to the DCEO website
EDGE grants
To see the other winners
Fiscal conservatives, explain
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 12:47 pm:
===Lots and Lots of words vs silence==
Yep. Silence.
Rauner said nothing about him, his failings, and what he sees he can build on for a second term.
Silence.
It was deflect, point here, point there. To what would be different to a second term.
Silence… or ridiculous “hope” that isn’t a policy or governmental answer.
The silence, that’s the lots of words, that speak to none of the question.
===Which one of your posts are we supposed to believe===
Asked and answered above, thanks.
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 12:53 pm:
Honeybear,
Can you explain what has changed in DCEO from Blagoevich to Quinn To Rauner?
This is something that does not seem to be reported very well in Crains or the Tribune.
Perhaps you can explain what the problems are and what should be done differently in the future?
I think all states have some version of this agency to market their state through tax incentives and grants. I am certain there are problems with all of them where taxpayers are getting bamboozled.
- Honeybear - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 12:53 pm:
Well….crap
The post above was supposed to go to the Munger post
Sorry
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 12:57 pm:
You and I have a different definition of silence
Mine would be the complete absence of sound, as in no talking
- golfman-r - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 12:58 pm:
Ron, Please help me understand the cause of pension debt. If you would please, compare and contrast IMRF with any/all of the State’s pension systems. Thanks in advance
- VanillaMan - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 1:24 pm:
Rerun Rauner has been such a bad governor, he runs for reelection blaming us for electing him.
Death spiral?
Your fault for not doing what was needed to stop it, slow it down, reverse it, or figure out how a governor should address it.
This isn’t a tornado. This isn’t an earthquake. This is a man-made problem that a good governor can fix.
You are a bad governor, Bruce Rauner.
- FaultyLogic - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 1:39 pm:
–Still think there are 7 blue states here? –
LP, you really can’t help yourself, can you? By your own logic Illinois would not constitute a blue state because we have a Republican Governor (and have for 28 of the past 40 years). Thus invalidating your original point.
Go back to your original post on “Blue States” and apply the same logic then tell me how many are blue. You constantly try to have it both ways. You counted some of them as blue when it served your purpose to say they are fiscally irresponsible (New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont and Pennsylvania). Now that we are looking at which ones have higher standard of living, you changed the criteria. Now it’s the party of the Governor (Massachusetts and New Hampshire), unless it’s a Dem Governor, then what matters is the party of House and Senate (Minnesota).
- RNUG - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 1:46 pm:
== Can you explain what has changed in DCEO from Blagoevich to Quinn To Rauner? ==
It went from a state agency with a bit of oversight and a touch of transparency to a gutted out agency that was replaced with a legally questionable (don’t think they ever got the proper status) private entity with no public oversight.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 1:47 pm:
I would appreciate a nice bipartisan government without extremists like Bruce Rauner, who’s biggest political contribution includes hatred of his opponents. We had a glimpse of some bipartisanship in state government, and it was the best thing that happened in a while, I believe.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 2:06 pm:
===You and I have a different definition of silence
Mine would be the complete absence of sound, as in no talking===
Welp,
Reading your comments, you lack a grasping of many things, why should nuance be spared your lacking? lol
- VanillaMan - Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 2:38 pm:
As a conservative, I read conservative news and opinions. So I don’t bother reading LP because he regurgitates the standard spiel without even making it much related to Illinois.
Completely unoriginal.
We agree more than we disagree, but I wish he would try to make smarter arguments.