* The location tag is a nice touch…
* So, why is McCann in DC?…
Scores of elected officials from across Illinois met with Vice President Mike Pence and other senior officials Thursday at the White House to talk about state and federal issues.
The White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs hosted about 140 state and local elected officials from Illinois on Thursday. Each state has a day where their officials are invited to the White House to be briefed on matters important to them.
No Democratic lawmakers took up the invitation, according to those who attended.
The officials spent the afternoon talking about transportation, housing, and tariffs important to Illinois with Pence, Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson and others.
“Every department is rolling back regulation,” said state Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, who attended with her husband. “Every single speaker talked about the need for reforming government and to roll back regulation from the previous administration.”
Anthony Bedell, deputy assistant secretary of intergovernmental affairs with the Department of Transportation, spoke about plans to improve rural infrastructure.
“They’re trying to get more money down to rural areas for infrastructure projects,” Rezin said. “He said about 60 percent of the money going out the door for infrastructure will go to rural projects.”
- DuPage Bard - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:54 pm:
60% to rural projects? How much economic revenue including income tax, gas tax, etc, comes out of Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky and others compared to Illinois?
- NIU Grad - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:55 pm:
Slightly off-topic (maybe), but I wonder if any of Pence’s PAC money has made its way to anyone in Illinois?
- Flat Bed Ford - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:10 pm:
140 seems to be a pretty exact number. Is there a list? Would love to see who just lost my vote…
- Nick Name - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:17 pm:
“Trump International Hotel”
If you want to do business with the Trump White House, this is where you stay/hold your meeting or conference, whatever. It’s one way he’s lining his pockets. He’s being sued over this.
- Highland IL - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:22 pm:
Were only republicans were invited? The Illinois New Network implies everyone was invited.
- Concerned Dem - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:41 pm:
Can they all stay there?
- Jibba - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:42 pm:
Yeah, those regulations are just killing jobs and the economy /s
- RNUG - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:44 pm:
Juat saw a call on FB for Rauner to withdraw from the race in favor of letting McCann carry the conservative banner against JB.
Wonder if that posting was a result of the D.C. meetings?
- Pius - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:48 pm:
I attended. It was originally supposed to be for local (think county) officials. When we arrived in DC, there were a bunch of GA Republicans suddenly were part of the group. Were GA Dems invited? Good question! Nobody in the group would know because there were no GA Dems there to say if they were invited or not. I suspect that they were not invited, or they were invited a very late date. As for meeting, it was too much talking about how much this current administration has done and not enough time for questions and comments from those of us who made the trip there. Some of the speakers did provide time for questions, like the DOT speaker. Others, like Ben Carson, gave their dong and dance and then left the stage after zero to only a few questions.
- GOPgal - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:59 pm:
After every White House presentation I bet some Illinois Republican raised their hand and said, “But, but, but …Madigan!”
- Prius - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:30 pm:
=dong and dance=
Must be USCCB type of piety.
- Bogey Golfer - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:37 pm:
-60% to rural projects? How much economic revenue including income tax, gas tax, etc, comes out of Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky and others compared to Illinois?- And the states that carried Trump are……
- Curious - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:49 pm:
Pius - Thank you for your report.
I see the meetings were held at a Trump hotel, as I’m not sure how the meetings were arranged, but does that mean you were all staying at the Trump hotel as well or were other hotel arrangements made?
Not to be rude, I’m genuinely curious.
Thank you again for your information.