* DGA…
At the Kemp Forum last Friday, Governor Bruce Rauner was given a golden opportunity to break his silence on President Donald Trump and show the people of Illinois that he would stand up for them. Instead, he praised Trump’s policies. Rauner was asked how the president was doing and said “I applaud” the Republicans’ middle-class tax hike and his regulatory policies.
CHARLES THOMAS: “But – because you haven’t gone very much, haven’t talked about it very much during your time in office. But, how’s Donald Trump doing?”
BRUCE RAUNER: “Um, so. The president is somebody that I work with. Just, I work with President Trump just as I did with President Obama. My job is to work with the White House and in Congress to make sure that the people of Illinois, the best interests of our state are represented in the actions coming in Washington. I applaud what the White House and Congress have done to cut taxes. The tax cut has led to more jobs, higher incomes, higher pay, and more economic opportunity and I applaud that, that was great progress. I also applaud the regulatory relief that the Trump administration is bringing. They’re cutting red tape, reducing regulations, encouraging free enterprise, and I applaud that. I think that’s a great step in the right direction. Some of the tactics being used in our trade negotiations – we’ll see whether they work, I’m not in a position to comment.”
Rauner’s been notably silent on Donald Trump’s presidency. He failed to stand up for the 42,000 Illinois DACA recipients facing deportation, never lifted a finger while the administration rolled back environmental protections, and refused to fight Republican attempts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act.
“Bruce Rauner’s gone from silently supportive of President Trump to openly embracing his policies,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “Illinois families can be certain now that Rauner is never going to protect them from Donald Trump’s destructive politics.”
“Openly embracing” Trump’s policies? Seems like a stretch.
The DGA’s video clip is here. The full video is here.
* More from the forum…
Um, procurement reform wasn’t one of his original 44 points. And, apparently, it’s still broken.
* And one more bit from the forum…
Rauner blamed his nemesis House Speaker Michael Madigan for Illinois’ problems. And the governor called on every candidate for the House this year to pledge the following.
“We want every member of the General Assembly who is running for the House of Representatives — which controls the budget making process and the spending process — we’re asking them to sign a promise to you and all the people of Illinois. Sign a promise. Don’t just talk about it. Don’t pretend. Sign a promise right in front of a TV camera or in front of an editorial board,” Rauner said. “I promise to vote to put term limits on the ballot. … The second promise is I promise to vote for somebody, anybody, other than Mike Madigan to be Speaker after 35 years.”
*** UPDATE *** Pritzker campaign…
Trailing Donald Trump’s approval rating in Illinois, Bruce Rauner is applauding his partner in Washington and taking a page out of the Trump playbook with his trademark tactic of attacking the media.
At the Kemp Forum on Friday, Rauner responded to a question about Illinois’ image under his failed leadership with a Trumpian line: “Don’t get me started on the bias in the media.” Later, the failed governor applauded the failed president for passing a devastating tax bill and rolling back Obama-era consumer protections — after initially being wary of even saying Trump’s name.
“Donald Trump is more popular than Bruce Rauner in Illinois, so it’s no wonder this failed governor is applauding his friend in Washington and copying his divisive tactics,” said Pritzker campaign spokesman Jason Rubin.
The video clip is here.
- Rabid - Monday, May 14, 18 @ 9:42 am:
One thing I’m good at is fixing things, like out of state no bid contracts
- Demoralized - Monday, May 14, 18 @ 9:52 am:
Now he’s whining about media bias? Has he caught the Trump syndrome where if everyone’s not praising him then the media must be biased? The man is a perpetual victim.
- wordslinger - Monday, May 14, 18 @ 9:52 am:
–I applaud what the White House and Congress have done to cut taxes. –
Remember that when you fill out your Schedule A next year. Clap yourself silly as your income is redistributed at an even higher level then it is now to support government services in Dixie and The West.
- Rabid - Monday, May 14, 18 @ 9:54 am:
Arthur Jones sign the govenors petition
- Thoughts Matter - Monday, May 14, 18 @ 9:57 am:
I don’t really get the feeling that Rauner supports Trump. Instead I think he’d prefer to pretend Trump doesn’t exist. Trump is too loud for him.
Regarding having the members of the general assembly sign promises? They pledge an oath when they are sworn in. I just want them to live by it. Then the rest will fall into place. I really wish Rauner would concentrate on doing the job he was elected to do rather than trying to dictate how a different branch of government does theirs.
- Pundent - Monday, May 14, 18 @ 9:57 am:
=I applaud what the White House and Congress have done to cut taxes.= And part of what they’ve “done” is limit state and local tax deductions at $10K which is directly aimed at blue states like Illinois.
=The tax cut has led to more jobs, higher incomes, higher pay, and more economic opportunity and I applaud that, that was great progress.= You might want to check with Marco Rubio on that.
- Jocko - Monday, May 14, 18 @ 10:01 am:
I’m sure Bruce doesn’t see the irony of urging others to “promise to do their jobs” rather than engage in empty talk & action.
- Not Rich - Monday, May 14, 18 @ 10:03 am:
He can run from Trump..but he can’t hide from him.. for every it is MJM ’s fault ad that the Gov runs, JB will run 3 ads tying him to the Donald..
- RNUG - Monday, May 14, 18 @ 10:06 am:
== I don’t really get the feeling that Rauner supports Trump. ==
No, Rauner wants to BE Trump.
- Real - Monday, May 14, 18 @ 10:08 am:
Rauner said he is working with President Trump on record. Pritzker better use that quote in an ad the same way Rauner did Ive’s.
- Anon221 - Monday, May 14, 18 @ 10:23 am:
Rauner has his own definition of “work” when it comes to anything in DC. “Um, so…” is always a tell.
- Grandson of Man - Monday, May 14, 18 @ 11:13 am:
Why would House Dems who are running for reelection sign any Rauner pledges after he spent his entire term attacking their leader and key supporters? Why would they sign a term limits pledge when Rauner’s going ballistic against a progressive income tax, ballot question or otherwise?
Please let’s get rid of any idea that things will be different for Rauner’s agenda with a Democratic speaker who’s not Madigan. The Madigan thing is just Rauner’s excuse for not agreeing to budgets and basically everything else.
- theq - Monday, May 14, 18 @ 11:14 am:
aa a person who has been waiting more than 3 months for a piece of equipment I need to do my job fully I can with great certainty say the procurement system is in fact still broken
- Demoralized - Monday, May 14, 18 @ 11:32 am:
==aa a person who has been waiting more than 3 months for a piece of equipment I need to do my job fully I can with great certainty say the procurement system is in fact still broken==
That’s because they’ve made procuring anything a beauracratic nightmare.
- Annonin' - Monday, May 14, 18 @ 12:11 pm:
Wow all of this powerful news secret til Monday.
Tribbie’s Pearson had Jack Kemp’s kid on Sunday radio not a peep about GovJunk.
- 47th Ward - Monday, May 14, 18 @ 12:47 pm:
===Um, procurement reform wasn’t one of his original 44 points. And, apparently, it’s still broken.===
Nobody expects the Rauner Inquisition.
Our chief weapon is surprise…surprise and fear…fear and surprise…. Our two weapons are fear and surprise…and ruthless efficiency…. Our *three* weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency…and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope….Our *four*…no…*Amongst* our weapons….Amongst our weaponry…are such elements as fear, surprise….I’ll come in again.
- James - Monday, May 14, 18 @ 1:36 pm:
My take on the unstated meaning of “I applaud (some action)” from hearing it in several contexts over the years, is that the applauder can bring his or herself to agree with a specific action or result, but still regards the person or group that created the result negatively.
- Skeptic - Monday, May 14, 18 @ 1:45 pm:
“That’s because they’ve made procuring anything a beauracratic nightmare.” And that’s because of people tilting contracts to vendors with connections.
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Monday, May 14, 18 @ 4:07 pm:
I will second the comment on procurement. The new process they have put in place is a absolute waste of time and effort. All it does is create more state work, not work for the citizens of the state.