* Rep. Jeanne Ives campaign press release…
In late 2017, Rauner defended himself to the Chicago Press Corp saying, “I am not in charge…”
Edgar County Watchdogs, Kirk Allen and John Kraft, published an authenticated internal email from First Lady Diana Rauner that suggests Gov. Rauner is correct. He’s not in charge. His wife is.
According to the story, the Watchdogs filed a FOIA inquiry about “protocols” involving Diana Rauner when it came to policy decisions and communications emanating from the Governor’s office. The response from the Governor’s office was that there are no such protocols.
However, in an email from Diana Rauner to the administration’s state communication staff several months before the legislation enacting taxpayer-funding of abortion-on-demand (HB 40) was signed into law by the governor, Diana Rauner clearly indicates she expects to sign off “per protocol”.
* From the Edgar County Watchdogs’ story…
Dianna Rauner made it clear August 10th, 2017, at 7:18 pm, several months before HB 40 abortion bill was signed into law, that she will, in fact, sign off on the final version, per protocol.
Per Protocol?
“Happy to discuss further but per protocol I expect to sign off on the final version. Thanks”
While the topic of killing babies in the womb has been a heated debate for years in this country, we find that the Governor’s signing of the Abortion-on-demand bill, with taxpayers picking up the tab, may be the true tipping point in Illinois politics and the Republican Party.
Compound the signing of the bill with the fact his unelected wife affirmed she would sign off on the final version months before it was signed into law, it’s clear there is more to the story as to who is in charge.
Um, no.
* If you click here and look at the actual e-mail, you’ll see Mrs. Rauner was clearly discussing a proposed statement from the governor, not the language of the bill, which had already been passed by both chambers.
The e-mail’s subject was “Statement on HB40.” She sent the e-mail to two press staffers, the governor’s chief of staff and her own chief of staff…
I would suggest:
Governor Rauner is committed to protecting women’s reproductive rights and has a consistent record of standing up for women’s rights. He won’t comment further on a bill that has not been sent to his desk.
Happy to discuss further, but per protocol I expect to sign off on final version. Thanks.
So, yeah, she definitely had some control over the governor’s messaging, but not the content of the legislation. At least, not that we know of.
As for protocols, they don’t have to be written down. Sometimes, you just know.
* Speaking of Mrs. Rauner, this e-mail was sent by her yesterday from a group called Women Working For Change…
Friends,
On March 20th Illinois voters will choose their candidates to run for the office of Governor this November. I am writing today to ask you to join me in voting for my husband, Bruce Rauner. […]
He can win a pivotal second term, but only with your help and support. Bruce will never stop fighting for Illinois, and I am proud to join him. Please vote for Bruce Rauner and join our movement to save Illinois!
Thank you for joining us in this important election!
Best regards,
Diana
The WW4C group has a very sharp website. If you go to the “About” page, you’ll see this…
Women Working for Change (WW4C) is a coalition of women from across the state of Illinois.
We are Democrats, Republicans, independents, doctors, teachers, moms and CEOs.
We joined together on the core principle that if we listen to each other and elevate the conversation above the constant political fighting we can reach real solutions to the problems we face in our state.
* Now, scroll all the way to the bottom…
Paid for by Citizens for Rauner
WHOIS lists the site’s creation date as November 15, 2017. The first story (the First Lady loves stories) was posted on December 7th. I’m guessing this “group” will get a whole lot more visible after the primary is over in a couple of weeks, assuming Rep. Ives is safely dispatched to the sidelines.
*** UPDATE *** The Illinois Review has picked up on the story. Headline…
Rauner campaign funds non-partisan, pro-abortion women’s group website
Yipe.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 1:45 pm:
–He can win a pivotal second term, –
As a white male, I’m curios as to what he would be pivoting to.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 1:54 pm:
It’s simply amazing the acronyms money can buy. /S
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 1:55 pm:
The ECW presenting material in a misleading way? Say it ain’t so!
Mike Madigan and the Edgar County Watchdogs he controls?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 1:59 pm:
Raunerism is the driving force.
It’s not a bipartisan thingy, it’s a thingy disguised as bipartisan but in actuality allows Diana to toggle back and forth from her alleged Dem ties, while advocating and funding the starving and closing of other social service organizations by Bruce.
Ives isn’t the best at messaging, or understanding how to tell stories, or stories Diana Rauner likes, but I digress…
… Ives’ Crew goes for the “blow it all up, see what hsporbs” language, instead of calmly and completely, in a pithy way, say the Rauner are not Republicans… so vote accordingly.
- Rufus - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 2:01 pm:
Say what you about the Governor, Mrs. Rauner is one classy Lady. I have been watching the refurbishing of the Governor’s Mansion for over a year, and they are doing everything, I mean everything, inside and out. And remember this is all being paid with private money. I am very impressed with Diana Rauner. We owe her a debt of gratitude (Wish she was Governor :^)).
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 2:08 pm:
The “Watchdogs” once again prove their worthlessness as “reporters” who can be trusted
- Ron - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 2:09 pm:
Private money is bad though. Or something like that.
- ste_with_a_v_en - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 2:10 pm:
This just makes Ives look abrasive as usual.
- Concerned Dem - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 2:16 pm:
I really hope Team JB is ready to face off against the First Lady in the General Election. It may not be her name on the ballot but Team Rauner will happily inject her into as many situations as possible to soften Bruce’s harsh record. Team JB is going to have figure out who to tip toe the line of not being overly aggressive when attacking her but at the same time make the clear case that she was a party to destroying much of the state’s social service structure.
- Responsa - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 2:16 pm:
==if we listen to each other and elevate the conversation above the constant political fighting we can reach real solutions to the problems we face in our state.==
Sounds promising. Not everybody in Il is enjoying the politics of fiery rancor and nastiness and divisiveness. I hope there really is some “there” there with this group.
- Blue dog dem - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 2:16 pm:
Speaking for Mrs. BLUE (sitting next to me), she also will not be voting for soon-to-be-ex-governor Rauner. Unless he’spicking up lots of converts, he will be getting much fewer votes than his first go around.
Gotta tell you. Rauner made a swing through so illinois over the weekend. I hear hes quite proud of his SB40 vote.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 2:19 pm:
===at the same time make the clear case that she was a party to destroying===
That would be really unwise.
- 19th ward guy - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 2:23 pm:
Ives has run the worst campaign since, well I guess that would be Proft 2010. Tone deaf. Ou of touch. Angry. Terrible ads. No ground game. The end is near for the IPI crowd. How can you possibly ask donors for $ after this train wreck? (
- Grand Avenue - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 2:53 pm:
Bruce Rauner is the most pro-choice Governor in Illinois history.
That fact plus the the fact that there is enough corruption dirt on Pritzker means Rauner has a shot in the suburbs and therefore would have a shot against Pritzker.
Rauner also likely needs a third party candidate to fill the Scott Lee Cohen General Election Role - be someone who can get the votes of people who don’t want to vote for either Rauner or Pritzker because without that “safety valve” they will vote against the incumbent.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 2:56 pm:
Kennedy vs ives
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 3:04 pm:
===Rauner campaign funds non-partisan, pro-abortion women’s group website===
That’s just about as good as you can frame something for a GOP Primary … *just* about as good as it gets…
- Concerned Dem - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 3:07 pm:
Rich - I said it would be a fine line to walk, but Team JB can’t ignore the stream of attacks that she will deliver for Team Rauner. She endorsed and supported her husband’s scorched earth approach to governing and was willing to let the budget hostages die in the process, at some she will have to wear that if she / the Rauner camp plans on her taking a more active role in this cycle.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 3:08 pm:
This website “WW4C” is approved by Anne, Hud, and the Winnetka Cocktail Party Circuit…
They feel “real” good about it.
It covers a lot of things that concern those attending those cocktail parties…
- Real - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 3:17 pm:
I really hope Team JB is ready to face off against the First Lady in the General Election. It may not be her name on the ballot but Team Rauner will happily inject her into as many situations as possible to soften Bruce’s harsh record. Team JB is going to have figure out who to tip toe the line of not being overly aggressive when attacking her but at the same time make the clear case that she was a party to destroying much of the state’s social service structure.
-Julianna Stratton.
- Elliott Ness - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 3:34 pm:
The “Watchdogs”= Policy Institute and they are both often found to be less than credible….these are NOT journalists but they are mean, vindictive and often “slant” the story to support their version of reality.
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 3:38 pm:
Looks like the “Watchdogs” need to climb back up on the porch and resume their relentless focus on more meaningful matters such as inventory discrepancies at the Paris Township Garage.
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 4:09 pm:
Some watchdogs if they can’t even watch their spelling of Diana’s name.
As to the site and the big Diana Rauner offensive that’s supposed to win suburban women over to Bruce? GMAB. This guy is running under the Trump Party banner no matter what. The best he can do is rough up Dems running for the GA based on bad sexual harassment headlines but that still doesn’t get him reelected unless JB went Access Hollywood on one of the Blago tapes.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 4:16 pm:
=We owe her a debt of gratitude (Wish she was Governor :^)).=
Mrs. Rauner’s Ounce of Prevention will get paid very well, very soon. Early Childhood Grant decisions are going to made soon and Ounce will reap a windfall.
- Dupage Bard - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 4:42 pm:
I propose a third party for Illinois - the Northshore Party
Just call it what it is. Really only 4 possibilities for Governor at this point and all are from pretty much the same zip code. They’re all from the same circles of influence for sure.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 5:26 pm:
I beg Mrs. Rauner to take charge and get the folks in Quincy to a place where the water won’t kill them.
Please, right now, before another vet dies on our watch because of our unforgivable negligence.
This is our Flint. We will not and should not be forgiven for failing.
It can be done. It will take some initiative and work, but it can be done. You know it can, and you know it’s the right thing to do, so please, do it right now.
Please. You can do it. Right now.