* Background to this post is here. Gov. Rauner was asked today if he regrets contributing to the Illinois Policy Institute and if he would contribute to the group again…
Gov. Rauner: Well, I can tell you I would absolutely not give them another nickel, I can say that. I’ve been a longtime funder of efforts to bring free market principles to Illinois and to America. They used to be an advocate there. But I’m very troubled, very troubled by what I’ve learned. And I certainly would not give them any more money.
Reporter: Can you elaborate on what you’re troubled by?
Gov. Rauner: Based on what I’ve seen, I have not studied the whole article that’s come out, but based on what I’ve been told and what little I’ve learned about it, it sounds like there’s been improper structure there and improper, um, uh, benefits.
Reporter: Do you think the attorney general’s office should take a look at Tillman?
Gov. Rauner: I’ll leave that to the attorney general, but I’m troubled by what I’ve seen.
I’ve asked the attorney general’s office for comment and will post it when I get it.
*** UPDATE *** From the attorney general’s office…
We’re reviewing the information and will determine if we need to take a next step.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Tillman’s response…
The two had a good thing going and didn’t even know it, but then they just had to ruin it by firing Goldberg, et al and moving those Policy Institute employees into the governor’s office, which, in my opinion, led directly to Rauner’s signature on HB40, which totally blew everything up.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:51 pm:
===but then they just had to ruin it===
It couldn’t have happened to two nicer, more deserving people.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:51 pm:
==I have not studied the whole article that’s come out, but based on what I’ve been told and what little I’ve learned about it==
Jeez Louise, is he even in charge of what he reads?
BTW, Lisa Madigan investigating IPI would be exactly what Tillman wants.
- Blue dog dem - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:52 pm:
FREE MARKET PRICIPLES. what a joke. EDGE? Intersect Illinois. You sir, are rightly named Governor Funny Bunny.
- PJ - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:54 pm:
What a shame their weird pseudo-propaganda machine fell apart. It was very cool when our governor was personally funding his own positive news coverage from the unbiased journalists over at IPI.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:55 pm:
Is there any way to throw gasoline on this dumpster fire? Please continue…
- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 2:58 pm:
Yesterday it was the farmer and his heifer, today it’s Rauner and Tillman.
Another heartbreaking story of amour fou gone tragically wrong.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:00 pm:
Gotta love Tillman go full “Diana” on Bruce.
Hysterical.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:01 pm:
–Regardless, we wouldn’t accept his donation.–
I doubt that can be topped as most hilarious quote of the year, Illinois bracket.
–BTW, Lisa Madigan investigating IPI would be exactly what Tillman wants.–
I doubt that very much. Dishonest spin has it’s limits.
- don the legend - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:03 pm:
Arsenal, I thought the same thing. It’s like the guy at the bar who bases all of his opinions on the teevee scroll or reads only the headline of the article.
Lazy is another apt description of Rauner.
- Macbeth - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:04 pm:
This means Diana is in charge?
- Back to the Mountains - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:05 pm:
== Our members believe in balanced budgets, responsible gov’t and reducing taxes on Illinois’ middle class ==
Surely, as such stalwart supporters of responsible government, you won’t object to the AG’s office investigating the tangled web you’ve woven, yes?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:05 pm:
===The two had a good thing going and didn’t even know it, but then they just had to ruin it by firing Goldberg, et al and moving those Policy Institute employees into the governor’s office, which, in my opinion, led directly to Rauner’s signature on HB40, which totally blew everything up.===
That’s how Ace, Nicky, and Ginger lost the Tangiers too.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:05 pm:
==I doubt that very much.==
Well, OK, once she’s actually found something, he’d be up a creek. But for the first week or two…
- Blue dog dem - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:06 pm:
Gotta love that ivy league education. I wonder what coursework defines ‘free market principles’ as favorable tax deals for some but not all……let me think….Good Old Boy Network 101.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:07 pm:
Here I thought Madigan was in charge instead of Bruce. Yet Mr. Tillman is saying Diana is the one in charge
- Pritzker Plumbers Inc. - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:08 pm:
For someone who makes over $400,000 a year, works “hard” and creates “value,” Tillman sure has a lot of time to tweet and harass reporters.
- walker - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:10 pm:
So the Tillman and Proft splits with Rauner had nothing to do with HB40?
To give Tillman some credit, he actually came up with a rough budget proposal that was Billions closer to balancing than Rauner’s. He still had big holes, and pieces that likely couldn’t happen, but it clarified the discussion of what would have to be abandoned.
Tillman was also honor-bound to propose lower taxes. The Wallendas couldn’t make that balance.
- Anon - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:10 pm:
Diana is absolutely in charge.
- Leonard Washginton - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:11 pm:
The photo on that Tweetstream is so incredibly sexist that I cannot believe it isn’t getting anymore attention.
- From the 'Dale to HP - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:12 pm:
Who knew governing was so hard… the IPI story.
- Soccermom - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:17 pm:
I yield to no one in my loathing for the Rauners, but I think it’s kind of nasty and sexist to giggle when Tillman plays the “his wife wears the pants” card.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:18 pm:
So take a look at me now,
it’s just a losing race
And there’s nothing left here to remind me,
just a memory of disgrace
Ooh take a look at me now,
well there’s just a van full of trash
And my reelection is against all odds,
no matter how much money I cash!
- Soccermom - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:18 pm:
That said, come ON, AG Madigan. This guy is flouting the law. There’s no downside — you’re leaving office, and IPI has been asking for it.
Put them behind bars and go enjoy the private sector.
- Evanstonian - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:25 pm:
IPI was always going to stab Rauner in the back at some point. Their whole shtick only works if they have no power.
- Norseman - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:29 pm:
Phony right-wing conspiracy theories throwing trash on AG review starting 3… 2… 1…
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:29 pm:
Is Tillman saying it’s wrong to listen to women or that it’s bad for women to be in charge?
- TominChicago - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:33 pm:
Can you really blame Diana for not thinking that they were getting there money’s worth from the IPI given the BTIA’s performance last summer. As a white women, she thought they sucked.
- Soccermom - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:34 pm:
Michelle — Both, I think.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:34 pm:
===Is Tillman saying it’s wrong to listen to women or that it’s bad for women to be in charge?===
Are you asking him as a white male?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:35 pm:
Gov. Rauner,
I thought Lisa Madigan couldn’t be objective?
You needed “your” AG, no?
- Anon - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:45 pm:
Michelle and soccer mom - He means neither. Rauner is governor, not Diana. He signed HB40 because of her social agenda, so yes, she’s in charge. But we didn’t elect her.
- Anon - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:50 pm:
And doesn’t Tillman support Ives? So clearly he thinks it’s fine for a woman to be in charge. And with any luck, a woman will be in charge. Just from the wrong party, right?
- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:50 pm:
Anyone think this story would have ever seen the light of day if the troncs had gotten their hands on the Sun-Times?
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 3:56 pm:
Anon, you don’t have to be governor to donate to IPI. Tillman is insulting Rauner by suggesting he listens to a woman — his wife — and the direct context is whether or not the Rauners will donate to IPI. Is there more to it than that, sure. But that’s the context.
Now, as for the rest of the stuff, yeah, you are probably right.
Then again, Diana’s presence four years ago might be why he’s governor.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 4:05 pm:
“Tillman is insulting…”
Yep, he is so brilliant he cannot even insult Rauner without being a sexist jerk.
- JoanP - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 4:29 pm:
I’d better go grocery shopping. I’m running low on popcorn.
- Wensicia - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 5:15 pm:
==Assuming that’s because Diana won’t allow him to donate to us.==
Meow
- Morty - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 5:34 pm:
Every once in awhile you just have to sit back and enjoy the schadenfruede
- a drop in - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 6:00 pm:
Every time a member of the elite champions ‘free market principles’ I want to reach for my weapon.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 6:14 pm:
What’s interesting about this development is that Rauner was ready to go. No bumbling, stumbling, babbling, like usual.
He was primed and ready for this throwdown.
- Komodo Dragon - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 8:42 pm:
Tillman and Rauner sitting in a tree…..you can’t finish it because we have no “G”.