* The Chicago Sun-Times is broadcasting its editorial board meeting with the Democratic gubernatorial candidates on YouTube. Watch it…
*** UPDATE 1 *** Rauner campaign…
Following the Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board meeting with Democratic candidates for Illinois governor, Citizens for Rauner Communications Director Will Allison released the following statement:
“One thing was clear from today’s forum: no matter who wins the Democratic primary, he’ll be running on an agenda of more tax hikes on Illinois families and businesses. For JB Pritzker, he claims he has detailed plans, but when will he specify the rates on his progressive income tax proposal?” - Will Allison, Communications Director for Citizens for Rauner
* RGA…
“Today’s Chicago Sun-Times editorial board meeting was a train-wreck for Illinois Democrats, with candidates arguing amongst themselves over who is most beholden to the special interests and crooked politics that have dominated Illinois for so long. The reality is that they all have deep ties to disgraced politicians like Mike Madigan or Rod Blagojevich, and that the general election will be a stark contrast between their politics as usual and the reform agenda of Governor Bruce Rauner.” – Republican Governors Association Spokesman Steven Yaffe
*** UPDATE 2 *** Pritzker campaign…
Today, JB Pritzker demonstrated why he is the best candidate to take on Bruce Rauner and get Illinois back on track at the Chicago Sun-Times editorial board interview. JB highlighted his record of getting big things done for Illinois’ working families and standing up for progressive values while consistently holding Bruce Rauner accountable for his failed leadership. JB laid out his plans to reverse Rauner’s systemic disinvestment in Illinois communities and grow the economy statewide, demonstrating he is the candidate with the vision and leadership to move Illinois forward.
“JB is the only candidate in this race ready to take on Bruce Rauner and he made that clear at the Sun-Times today,” said Pritzker campaign manager Anne Caprara. “With his record of standing up for progressive values and his plans to grow the Illinois economy and create jobs statewide, it is clear that JB has the vision and leadership to move Illinois forward. JB was proud to hold that record up to Bruce Rauner’s record of failed leadership and will continue to make that message clear throughout this campaign.”
- GandalftheGrey - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 10:58 am:
At this point I would rather have a steamy pile of poo for Gov. rather than have Rauner and his appointees Mr. Barickman and Ms. Bourne still be in office…so any of these candidates will do
- Money and Message - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:01 am:
FWIW Kennedy is doing an outstanding job in this forum. Too bad he doesn’t have money.
Maybe I’ve missed them, but this is one of the only livestreams of the gubernatorial fora I’ve come across, and this is a good substantive conversation. That’s a nice thing about primaries. Thanks to the Sun-Times (and to you Rich for the link)
==At this point I would rather have a steamy pile of poo for Gov. rather than have Rauner and his appointees Mr. Barickman and Ms. Bourne still be in office…so any of these candidates will do==
I can’t wait to find out what my new state will be called when Robert Marshall gets elected. I wonder which of the 3 new Illinois states that he will govern over?
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:50 am:
==his appointees Mr. Barickman==
Sen. Barickman was never appointed by Rauner. He was appointed to Shane Cultra’s House seat in 2011 and then ran for the State Senate in 2012.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:50 am:
JB is flailing and repeating his robotic talking points. Weak response to Blagoevich tape. Kennedy is taking it to the establishment. Every single candidate is for fair maps as are bipartisan majorities of Illinois residents. Berrios accused of violating 1964 civil rights act by overassessing African American communities.
The moderators neglect to mention pension reform that is the reason social services and education is not being funded.
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:55 am:
—JB is flailing and repeating his robotic talking points.—
Lucky Pierre: You mean actual policies that will help the citizens of Illinois. Like legal cannabis, a progressive income tax, social justice.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 12:05 pm:
Daniel Biss is for free college in a state that hasn’t had a balanced budget in at least 17 years and has at least 130 billion in unfunded pension liabilities. All paid for by a financial transaction state that no other state has and would certainly cause the exit of the CBOT and CBOE from Illinois. No acknowledgment of the high hurdle to pass the graduated income tax that if implemented should be used to pay off debt not spend more.
No acknowledgement of the lack of faith in Illinois government by JB, just Rauner and Trump bashing. Total silence on Mike Madigan’s destructive tenure as leader of Illinois Democratic Party or his conflict of interest with Joe Berrios as a 7 figure property tax lawyer
—No acknowledgment of the high hurdle to pass the graduated income tax that if implemented should be used to pay off debt not spend more.—
Lucky Pierre: So because it is not easy to pass or implement we should just give up and not try? I want politicians with bold new ideas not old stale ideas that have not worked for our state.
I almost spit out my coffee reading that coming from you.
== just Rauner and Trump bashing==
This coming from a guy who day in and day out bashes Madigan
======
As for the Rauner camp’s response bellyaching about details, I’m still waiting on the details on how the Governor intends to balance the budget by lowering the tax rate.
Whats this ‘progressive values’ thing Pritzker and Biss keep referring to? Is that the idea of its ok to keep taxing the working poor and middle classes cause they’re not smart enough to know whats good for themselves thing?
—Whats this ‘progressive values’ thing Pritzker and Biss keep referring to? Is that the idea of its ok to keep taxing the working poor and middle classes cause they’re not smart enough to know whats good for themselves thing?—
Blue Dog Dem - No its the part where really rich people pay higher tax rates, IE not a flat tax system, a progressive tax. Working poor and middle class will pay less taxes in that type of a system.
===JB, Speaker Madigan and Joe Berrios are inextricably linked===
… like Bruce Rauner and David Duke are linked… you know, with Duke thanking Rauner…
That linking?
Or Rauner linked to Trump. Same as it ever was, and Rauner won’t refute Trump… so…
As the worst Republican governor in America, thanked by Davis Duke and running during the Trump midterm… you can play linky-link all you’d like I guess.
As usual, Biss is the only one who sounds like he knows what he’s talking about. Kennedy’s voice is like nails on a chalkboard. What is this guy still doing in the race?
- GandalftheGrey - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 10:58 am:
At this point I would rather have a steamy pile of poo for Gov. rather than have Rauner and his appointees Mr. Barickman and Ms. Bourne still be in office…so any of these candidates will do
- Money and Message - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:01 am:
FWIW Kennedy is doing an outstanding job in this forum. Too bad he doesn’t have money.
- Dan Johnson - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:15 am:
Maybe I’ve missed them, but this is one of the only livestreams of the gubernatorial fora I’ve come across, and this is a good substantive conversation. That’s a nice thing about primaries. Thanks to the Sun-Times (and to you Rich for the link)
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:20 am:
Rahm Emmanuel has nothing to do with Chicago’s high crime rate? That’s a new one.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:21 am:
==At this point I would rather have a steamy pile of poo for Gov. rather than have Rauner and his appointees Mr. Barickman and Ms. Bourne still be in office…so any of these candidates will do==
Jason Barickman isn’t a Rauner appointee…
- Boy Blunder - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:22 am:
Robert Marshall is killing it.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:44 am:
I can’t wait to find out what my new state will be called when Robert Marshall gets elected. I wonder which of the 3 new Illinois states that he will govern over?
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:50 am:
==his appointees Mr. Barickman==
Sen. Barickman was never appointed by Rauner. He was appointed to Shane Cultra’s House seat in 2011 and then ran for the State Senate in 2012.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:50 am:
JB is flailing and repeating his robotic talking points. Weak response to Blagoevich tape. Kennedy is taking it to the establishment. Every single candidate is for fair maps as are bipartisan majorities of Illinois residents. Berrios accused of violating 1964 civil rights act by overassessing African American communities.
The moderators neglect to mention pension reform that is the reason social services and education is not being funded.
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:55 am:
Robert Marshall…yikes!
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:57 am:
Looks like Bob Marshall is still running for congress. LOL http://www.citizensforrobertmarshall.net/
- Illinois Resident - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 12:02 pm:
—JB is flailing and repeating his robotic talking points.—
Lucky Pierre: You mean actual policies that will help the citizens of Illinois. Like legal cannabis, a progressive income tax, social justice.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 12:05 pm:
Daniel Biss is for free college in a state that hasn’t had a balanced budget in at least 17 years and has at least 130 billion in unfunded pension liabilities. All paid for by a financial transaction state that no other state has and would certainly cause the exit of the CBOT and CBOE from Illinois. No acknowledgment of the high hurdle to pass the graduated income tax that if implemented should be used to pay off debt not spend more.
No acknowledgement of the lack of faith in Illinois government by JB, just Rauner and Trump bashing. Total silence on Mike Madigan’s destructive tenure as leader of Illinois Democratic Party or his conflict of interest with Joe Berrios as a 7 figure property tax lawyer
- So_Ill - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 12:33 pm:
Bob Marshall is a piece of work.
Kennedy making his campaign about the Cook County assessor is a pretty interesting political move.
- Illinois Resident - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 12:37 pm:
—No acknowledgment of the high hurdle to pass the graduated income tax that if implemented should be used to pay off debt not spend more.—
Lucky Pierre: So because it is not easy to pass or implement we should just give up and not try? I want politicians with bold new ideas not old stale ideas that have not worked for our state.
- Illinois Resident - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 12:40 pm:
—No acknowledgement of the lack of faith in Illinois government by JB, just Rauner and Trump bashing.—
Lucky Pierre: Who has been the governor the last 4 years and has not created positive change? Blame should go to Rauner. What has he accomplished?
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 12:52 pm:
==repeating his robotic talking points==
I almost spit out my coffee reading that coming from you.
== just Rauner and Trump bashing==
This coming from a guy who day in and day out bashes Madigan
======
As for the Rauner camp’s response bellyaching about details, I’m still waiting on the details on how the Governor intends to balance the budget by lowering the tax rate.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 1:38 pm:
Inconvenient fact for Democrats- Mike Madigan is by far the least popular among Illinois residents between Trump, Rauner and Madigan.
- Blue dog dem - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 2:22 pm:
Whats this ‘progressive values’ thing Pritzker and Biss keep referring to? Is that the idea of its ok to keep taxing the working poor and middle classes cause they’re not smart enough to know whats good for themselves thing?
- Illinois Resident - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 2:26 pm:
—Whats this ‘progressive values’ thing Pritzker and Biss keep referring to? Is that the idea of its ok to keep taxing the working poor and middle classes cause they’re not smart enough to know whats good for themselves thing?—
Blue Dog Dem - No its the part where really rich people pay higher tax rates, IE not a flat tax system, a progressive tax. Working poor and middle class will pay less taxes in that type of a system.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 2:31 pm:
==Inconvenient fact for Democrats- Mike Madigan is by far the least popular among Illinois residents between Trump, Rauner and Madigan.==
Inconvenient fact for Rauner is that only Rauner’s gonna be on everyone’s ballot.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 2:41 pm:
JB, Speaker Madigan and Joe Berrios are inextricably linked
If you like Cook County Democrats and their terrible record of raising taxes and chasing employers out of the state they are your candidates.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 2:57 pm:
===JB, Speaker Madigan and Joe Berrios are inextricably linked===
… like Bruce Rauner and David Duke are linked… you know, with Duke thanking Rauner…
That linking?
Or Rauner linked to Trump. Same as it ever was, and Rauner won’t refute Trump… so…
As the worst Republican governor in America, thanked by Davis Duke and running during the Trump midterm… you can play linky-link all you’d like I guess.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 2:59 pm:
==If you like Cook County Democrats and their terrible record of raising taxes and chasing employers out of the state they are your candidates.==
Chicago’s the only part of the start adding jobs, chief.
- Frankly - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 4:46 pm:
As usual, Biss is the only one who sounds like he knows what he’s talking about. Kennedy’s voice is like nails on a chalkboard. What is this guy still doing in the race?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 7:39 pm:
–JB is flailing and repeating his robotic talking points.–
LP, “robotic talking points,” I like it. Where did you ever hear that turn of phrase?
- Rabid - Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 5:18 am:
team rauner takes part in democrat debate, hides from the GOP debate