* Sun-Times: “Rauner to call for end to ‘partisan sniping’ in State of State speech”…
Gov. Bruce Rauner plans to talk of “bringing Illinois back” by focusing on economic development — while also chiding “partisan sniping” Wednesday in his State of the State address.
The governor’s final speech of what he hopes to be a first of two terms will center on reforming the state, which the Republican governor believes can be done with bipartisan effort, according to a source familiar with the speech.
Rauner will ask legislators to “roll up their sleeves” and work together to focus on economic development, while cutting the regulatory red tape and improving the job climate in Illinois. He’ll also talk of the need to cut state spending and roll back taxes. With less spending, the state’s capital can grow and produce more jobs, he’s expected to say.
He’ll also likely focus on an issue he’s blasted for some time, corruption in the state’s property tax assessment system. That issue has come to the forefront of his re-election campaign, as he seeks to target Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker and continue his efforts against Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.
* Tribune: “Rauner to issue bipartisan call in Wednesday speech after ripping Madigan”…
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner on Wednesday plans to issue a bipartisan call to lawmakers to work together to cut spending, roll back a tax hike and bring in more jobs, two days after calling Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan “a crook” during a campaign forum.
The theme of the governor’s noon State of the State speech is “Bringing Illinois Back,” a source familiar with his remarks said. It’s a recycled concept he’s long championed on the campaign trail and is resurrecting as he asks voters for four more years in office.
Rauner will advocate for “rolling up our sleeves and working together” to spur economic development, the source said. The governor also will argue that cutting regulations, spending and taxes will help businesses grow and lead to an “in-migration of talented people into our economy.” […]
While he will call for bipartisanship, Rauner also will take aim at Madigan, his chief nemesis at the Capitol who is chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois.
* Greg Hinz: “One guess who Rauner is blaming for the state of the state”…
According to a source familiar with the speech, which will be delivered at noon tomorrow in Springfield, the biggest news will be a call to pass legislation to prevent lawmakers from working on the side as property tax appeals lawyers. That’s aimed both at Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, who are principals in law firms that do such work.
Rauner’s call will echo that of one of the Democrats running against him, Chris Kennedy. Rauner previously has strongly criticized the side work, saying it leads to a “corrupt” system in which top lawmakers are more interested in taking care of their business than helping the public by reducing property taxes.
The governor also reportedly again will call for legislative term limits, a concept he frequently has pushed over the past four years but one which has made no progress, with Democrats saying Republicans are just trying to win seats they can’t capture at the ballot box.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 8:34 am:
Rauner says words. They’re meaningless (as is his word).
During his tenure, he’s demonstrated his words are not grounded in truth, reality or self-awareness, and bear no relationship to his actions.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 8:34 am:
Today, in his State of the State, Bruce Rauner will tell “me” he wants bipartisanship, as he will later continue in the same speech no less, call Madigan “corrupt” and try to jam the GA into gridlock for his agenda based on jobs he thinks this phony agenda creates, but the Raunerite agenda is only about destroying labor.
It’s not February yet.
Rauner is the worst Republican governor in America.
- Huh? - Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 8:37 am:
1.4% is going to call for bipartisan slamming of Madigan. Like that is going to be useful to passing an agenda.
- Perrid - Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 8:37 am:
Call the other side a crook, and then say we should all work together. Does Rauner know the meaning of this word?
coun·ter·pro·duc·tive
having the opposite of the desired effect.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 8:44 am:
Word & OW +1
It would be very amusing watching response speeches to today’s Rauner turkey.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 8:50 am:
He’s going to focus on some things that he’s tried for four years and somehow he thinks the outcome is going to be any different? If he were truly interested in governing he would focus on things he can accomplish. One of the reasons he’s been such a failure as Governor. No means no. Move on already to something else.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 8:59 am:
Will his personal streak of being laughed at continue
What’s the over/under on the # of times?
- Fixer - Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 9:21 am:
Annonin’- the line should be 3, I think. And I’ll take the over if that’s the case.
To the post- not a whole lot to add other than this is the typical lack of self awareness this governor has displayed since 2014. Also the same lack of leadership.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 9:25 am:
Fun Facts from GovJunk Garden of Eden
“INDIANAPOLIS — When Gov. Mike Pence signed the 2015 repeal of Indiana’s common construction wage statute, the Republican proclaimed that eliminating county minimum pay rates for public works projects would save the state and local governments money without reducing the paychecks of Hoosier workers.
“Wages on public projects should be set by the marketplace and not by government bureaucracy,” Pence said at the time.
“By repealing the common construction wage, our state is putting hardworking taxpayers first, lessening the burden on cash-strapped local governments and schools, and opening doors of opportunity for small businesses across our state.”
Three years later, the first in-depth, non-partisan analysis of the impact of Indiana’s common construction wage repeal suggests that Pence was wrong.
The Midwest Economic Policy Institute, in a report provided exclusively to The Times, determined that following common wage repeal Hoosiers working in the construction industry are earning less than they were before, with no meaningful cost savings for Indiana taxpayers.”
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 9:26 am:
“While he will call for bipartisanship, Rauner also will take aim at Madigan”
As if Rauner wants to govern. Rauner’s on the red state express, and bipartisan compromise would derail or slow him down.
So is Rauner going to lay out his agenda of bypassing Madigan and trying to get thousands of state workers to leave the union, like he told the Trib?
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 9:28 am:
What an oxymoron.
No, I’m not talking about Rush Limbaugh.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 9:36 am:
AA for the win!
My question to the team- Will anyone in the media or ILGOP (aside from Ives) call Rauner out for his repeated hypocrisy when he calls for bi-partisanship and then attacks Madigan?
My money is on “No”.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 9:57 am:
O…K
Rauner wants bipartisanship but his major goal is passing legislation that attacks the leaders of the political party he needs to work with.
That should turn out well … /s
- anon2 - Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 10:09 am:
The legislature should consider what kind of legal work constitutes a potential conflict of interest for legislators. I’m confident it isn’t limited to property tax appeals.
- Jocko - Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 10:18 am:
Bruce should’ve postponed the speech until tomorrow (Groundhog Day), given that the content will be identical to previous iterations.
In contrast, Bill Murray’s character realized the importance of personal change.
- Rabid - Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 10:41 am:
how many jobs did Rauner create on the porch business
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 11:34 am:
“Rauner expected to call for bipartisanship, slam Madigan in State of the State address”
That headline says it all. Does Rauner actually believe that anyone would believe a word he said if he calls for bipartisanship today? Give me a break.
- Levois - Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 11:37 am:
Will you have share a broadcast of the State of the State here?
- Generic Drone - Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 12:08 pm:
They will call it the but Madigan speech.