* Press release…
Exactly three years ago today, Governor Bruce Rauner was inaugurated as Governor of Illinois and the state is worse off for it. Rauner spoke of an “opportunity to accomplish something historic,” to “fix busted budgets”, to “forge a new path” toward “a brighter future”, and make the state “a national leader in job growth and education quality.”
Illinois residents did not get that bright future. Instead, they suffered national humiliation as the state went two-years without a budget and had its credit rating nearly downgraded to junk bond status. They saw their Governor refuse to compromise, despite the toll his policies were doing on services and job creation. Crain’s Chicago wrote just one year into the two-year impasse, “by nearly every measure, the state is worse off since Rauner took office.” Illinois residents got everything but the turnaround they were promised.
Under Rauner’s failed leadership, Illinois suffered:
Slower Job Creation: Illinois is now growing jobs at a much slower rate than when Rauner came into office. Over the past 12 months, Illinois had one of the worst job growth rates in the nation and trailed its neighbors.
Accelerating Population Loss: Rauner’s not only failed to stem the population loss, it has gotten worse as more people are leaving the state.
Higher Debt: Two years without a budget tripled the state’s bill backlog, which topped off at $16 billion. Interest was due to cost the state nearly $1 billion a year.
Lower Credit Rating: Candidate Bruce Rauner used to attack his rival over lower credit ratings. As Governor, the rating dropped 8 more times and approached junk level.
Lost Services: Rauner forced the state to endure two years without a budget, devastating state services. Under Rauner, 1 million Illinoisans lost access to services.
It’s even gotten worse for Rauner. Illinois voters disapprove of the job he’s done at nearly double the rate they approve, making him the nation’s “most vulnerable incumbent.”
“Bruce Rauner’s legacy has been set – a failed governor who drove the state further backwards,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “His tenure will be defined by his refusal to compromise, his non-existent leadership, and the two-year budget impasse he said he exacerbated for political purposes. Under Rauner, Illinois continues to lose jobs and people, and debt continues to rise. Rauner claimed he could get it done three years ago, but he has only made things worse.”
* And IWT adds its own two cents…
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 12:29 pm:
A really smart and witty twitter feed would also recognize Rauner raised the wrong hand whilst taking that oath…
…
… it was downhill after that.
- don the legend - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 12:53 pm:
Three down, one to go.
- Chris Widger - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 1:12 pm:
==His tenure will be defined by his refusal to compromise, his non-existent leadership, and the two-year budget impasse he said he exacerbated for political purposes.==
One out of three is a good batting average, and maybe it’s good enough to win an election.
- Cubs in '16 - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 1:21 pm:
Epic failure even by Illinois standards.
- Annonin' - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 1:30 pm:
Another highlight is the GovJunk University Starvation Plan which helped make schools less appealing and subject the attacks disguised as “reorganization”
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 1:43 pm:
“Bruce Rauner’s legacy has been set – a failed governor who drove the state further backwards,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “His tenure will be defined by his refusal to compromise, his non-existent leadership, and the two-year budget impasse he said he exacerbated for political purposes. Under Rauner, Illinois continues to lose jobs and people, and debt continues to rise. Rauner claimed he could get it done three years ago, but he has only made things worse.”
Hey Sam why was Illinois backwards at the start of Rauner’s term and what have the Democrats done to reverse the trajectory of the past 17 years and grow jobs and tax revenue in Illinois?
If its not too much trouble can you tell us where the Leader of the Democratic party in Illinois was able to compromise with the Governor on a single issue in the past three years?
- Flynn's Mom - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 1:49 pm:
I almost forgot about Duct Tape Man.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 2:02 pm:
Who runs IWT? Can’t find the info on their website.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 2:09 pm:
Flynn’s Mom - please do not reduce, demean, or otherwise crack wise as it pertains to the Perfect Item, Duct Tape. Any and all associations with this Insuperable Product and the B name is uncalled for, unfair, and lowly. Apologies for my strident rebuke, but this is Duct Tape we are talking about…extremism in defense of DT is no vice.
- Politix - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:51 pm:
Inauguration anniversaries are about all the GOP has to celebrate these days.