* Not a single surprise in this list…
Today, Governor Rauner was endorsed by the state’s four most prominent business groups that support his goal of reducing the tax and regulatory burden to grow the Illinois economy. He released the following statement following endorsements by the National Federation of Independent Businesses, Associated Builders and Contractors, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, and Illinois Manufacturers Association.
“It is a tremendous honor to receive endorsements from the NFIB, ABC, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, and IMA. I am committed to making Illinois the best state in the country to start and grow a business. We will continue working every day to grow the Illinois economy by reducing the tax and regulatory burden on our businesses to create more good-paying jobs.” - Governor Bruce Rauner
ABC President Alicia Martin released the following statement:
“ABC endorsed Bruce Rauner for Governor in the fall of 2013. We did so because we firmly believed Governor Bruce Rauner would make a positive impact on the economic well-being of ABC members and the construction industry. Given the accomplishments of Governor Rauner over the past almost four years, we were right to endorse him then and we are right to endorse him for another four-year term.”
NFIB State Director Mark Grant released the following statement:
“Governor Rauner is the clear choice for Illinois’ small businesses.
“When he took office nearly four years ago, Illinois small businesses were struggling to keep their heads above water and to compete with business in the region. Today, they are firing on all cylinders, hiring more workers, paying higher wages and growing their businesses. They know that Governor Rauner and his economic and government reform agenda is a major reason why.
“…Despite well-funded and entrenched opposition, Governor Rauner has never backed down. He remains deeply committed to policies and legislation that will help attract and keep jobs in the state.
“On behalf of our dues-paying members throughout Illinois, I’m proud to announce the NFIB Illinois PAC’s endorsement of Bruce Rauner for a second term as governor.”
Greg Baise, president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, release the following statement:
“The IMA endorsed Bruce Rauner four years ago because Illinois could not afford a Governor who created a hostile business climate with more spending and higher taxes. Four years later, voters in this state could not have a sharper contrast between the two candidates for Governor. JB Pritzker supports raising taxes and spending taxpayer money without accountability as far as the eye can see. The choice is clear as Bruce Rauner is the only candidate that will protect your pocketbook and that’s why manufacturers across this state are endorsing him for Governor today.”
Rick Delawder, President of SWD, Inc. and Chairman of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association released the following statement:
“The business community needs a Governor who understands the challenges facing employers and taxpayers every day. As a family owned manufacturing business, we’ve seen some tough times in this state due to policies that make it difficult for us and our customers to compete and grow our businesses. Higher taxes, higher spending and more regulations do not create jobs or result in higher wages and greater investment. JB Pritzker’s tax and spend solutions are something we cannot afford and that’s why we are endorsing Bruce Rauner for Governor.”
Todd Maisch, President and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, released the following statement:
“Governor Rauner has consistently stood up for businesses here in Illinois. The governor has been a champion for reducing the tax and regulatory burden that is holding back economic growth, and we at the Illinois Chamber of Commerce are proud to stand behind his message for cutting taxes and creating jobs for hardworking Illinois families”
* Pritzker campaign…
While Bruce Rauner makes an announcement with business groups this morning, a quick look at his record shows how he’s failed the same business community he claims to care about.
Here’s how Rauner failed businesses and drove Illinois off a fiscal cliff:
JOB GROWTH: Illinois’ unemployment rate is among the highest in the nation, and “by Rauner’s own standards, he’s a bigger failure than his predecessor” on job growth. New jobs totaled 209,000 during Rauner’s first 42 months as governor, less than the 241,500 jobs created in the 42 previous months.
BILL BACKLOG: Rauner tripled the state’s bill backlog to a record $16 billion at the height of his budget crisis. And he racked up over $1 billion in late payment fees during his budget crisis — which is more than the last 18 years combined.
JUNK STATUS: “Governor Junk” dragged Illinois’ bond rating to one notch above junk status, the lowest ever for any state in the country. In just three years, state bonds were downgraded eight times and five state universities were downgraded to junk status.
SMALL BUSINESS: Rauner’s budget crisis forced a quarter of Small Business Development Centers to close, and state contracts for minority business owners dropped by 22%.
MANUFACTURING: Eleven months ago, the failed governor zeroed out a $1.4 million grant to the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association for job training, which earned him headlines like “Rauner eliminates manufacturing program during Manufacturing Month.”
“Bruce Rauner created unprecedented instability for businesses as governor, harming hardworking Illinois families and business owners across the state,” said JB Pritzker. “Rauner’s two-year budget crisis devastated the economy, and it will take years to recover. While Rauner, by his own measure, has been a ‘miserable failure on jobs,’ I have a record of creating thousands of good-paying jobs and helping transform our state into one of the world’s top tech hubs. I look forward to bringing my record of job creation to Springfield and putting our state back on the side of working families.”
*** UPDATE *** Greg Baise at the IMA…
“JB’s claim is false. Because Gov. Rauner recognized the importance of addressing the critical job training needs of the state’s manufacturing sector, the final budget did ultimately include the workforce development grant. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle again included it in this year’s budget. While the Pritzker campaign is quick to respond with their canned messages, their continued silence over how much they plan to tax working families and Illinois businesses and how they will pay for almost $11 billion in new spending has been deafening,” said Greg Baise, president and CEO, IMA.
The cut was indeed on the list of what the governor’s office wanted to slash after a budget was passed over Rauner’s veto, but the IMA says it was restored and then put into the budget this year as well.
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:40 am:
Hey JB did the co equal Supermajority Democratic General Assembly who last season had the most anti business legislative session in Illinois history fail Illinois workers and employers?
They handpicked you to support for Governor because you share their ideology.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:46 am:
For the endorsement interview
They met at the crossroads
At midnight
For the soul of American business
They get the destruction of all labor
EDGE and EZ Zones
Only help the wealthy owners
Not the workers
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 12:02 pm:
“the most anti business legislative session in Illinois history”
[citation needed]
– MrJM
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 12:03 pm:
Wait a minute, the Illinois Manufacturer’s Association lost a 1.4 million training grant and they still endorse Rauner? That is some unrequited love right there.
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 12:03 pm:
Well Addison apparently did not get its own U of I campus — new prize GovJunk handin’ out Shucks
Did Baise suffer a head injury> He rails about governors’ spendin’ and taxin’, but does give GovJunk proper credit.
- Henry Francis - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 12:07 pm:
Didn’t the Illinois Chanber of Commerce also recently endorse Ken Dunkin?
- Hamlet's Ghost - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 12:08 pm:
Mark Grant:
“When he took office nearly four years ago, Illinois small businesses were struggling to keep their heads above water and to compete with business in the region. Today, they are firing on all cylinders, hiring more workers, paying higher wages and growing their businesses. They know that Governor Rauner and his economic and government reform agenda is a major reason why.
Question - how much of Bruce Rauner’s “reform agenda” has been actually enacted?
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 12:12 pm:
JB is correct.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 12:14 pm:
===“Bruce Rauner created unprecedented instability for businesses as governor, harming hardworking Illinois families and business owners across the state,” said JB Pritzker. “Rauner’s two-year budget crisis devastated the economy, and it will take years to recover. While Rauner, by his own measure, has been a ‘miserable failure on jobs,’ I have a record of creating thousands of good-paying jobs and helping transform our state into one of the world’s top tech hubs. I look forward to bringing my record of job creation to Springfield and putting our state back on the side of working families.”===
This is top shelf, letting it “be”, and calling out Rauner and tying it all together, which appears to be the theme today “Bruce Rauner failed”
Then again, that’s the reality of Rauner’s term, not just a theme for today or a campaign.
This is good work being done here.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 12:15 pm:
To have to be really out of your mind to think that Illinois is now a better place for business with Rauner as governor.
He has made everythin worse.
- Jibba - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 12:19 pm:
==Despite well-funded and entrenched opposition, Governor Rauner has never backed down===
That’s a bug, not a feature.
===are proud to stand behind his message for cutting taxes===
It is a message because it is not a plan or accomplishment.
And good response by JB. Don’t attack the endorsers, despite their partisan leanings, provide facts that counter their fawning.
- Anon0091 - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 12:20 pm:
The statements of each of the groups are very interesting in that some choose to be positive about Rauner while others take shots at Pritzker. Not sure it’s a great strategy for IMA to be taking shots when Rauner is likely to lose - you’d think they’d be hedging their bets a bit.
It’s also worth noting that these groups stuck with the one that brung em even though Rauner stabbed them in the back on the Exelon bailout and some other matters.
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 12:23 pm:
JB and the Democrats oppose every single policy change the 4 largest business groups say they need to grow jobs in illinois but it is Governor Rauner who has failed them?
LOL
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 12:29 pm:
Hmmm, if I am correct, isn’t the IMA where Mike z landed after his cohorts were pushed out by rauner in favor of ipi? I have a problem believing this is a completely sincere endorsement
- Rabid - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 12:32 pm:
Term limits get job creators excited
- Good at Bidness - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 12:41 pm:
Business organizations shouldn’t be making ideolocally-based endorsements.
These Business organizations are failing Illinois businesses.
- Ga. Dawg - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 12:48 pm:
Accomplishments as Governor? Did I miss something in the news?
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 12:59 pm:
The vendors and providers that got IOUs from Illinois while they still had to make payroll and rent were hurt by the impasse and blowing up the grand bargain. Don’t they count as businesses too?
Martin, Grant, Baise, and Maisch don’t speak for businesses. They speak for their tribe.
- peteypablo - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 1:02 pm:
@misterjayem Maybe Luckily Pierre is talking about the press release issued last year by some business groups. I believe IPI wrote a story on the press release. Too lazy to go find that though…
https://capitolfax.com/2017/05/31/biz-groups-worst-session-ever/
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 1:10 pm:
The leaders of the business groups in Illinois don’t speak for business ????
The businesses hurt by late payments certainly benefitted from the 12% late payment interest that exceeds the prime rate by 7% didn’t they?
Or they could have sold their receivables to the firm Governor Edgar ran and got the cash immediately.
The Combine always wins no matter what
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 1:24 pm:
==The Combine always wins no matter what==
Yeah, well, it helps that Rauner gives them sweetheart warehouse rental contracts.
But congrats on discovering the writings of John Kass, I guess.
- 8657 - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 1:27 pm:
Not surprised. Also not surprised to see that IRMA was not part of that group endorsement.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 1:29 pm:
==The leaders of the business groups in Illinois don’t speak for business==
Do you think union leadership speaks for all workers?
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 1:33 pm:
LP
So you’re saying no budget was better than a budget because they got interest? What about all the providers that closed. Was no budget good for them? It’s absolute silliness to somehow say no budget was a good thing. You’re propaganda knows no bounds.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 1:36 pm:
Its irresponsible to want to cut taxes right now. Anyone advocating that is being disingenuous
- City Zen - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 1:54 pm:
==Do you think union leadership speaks for all workers?==
We Are One
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 2:06 pm:
==We Are One==
Such is the union leaders’ contention, yes, but I somehow doubt LP agrees with them. And if the putative leaders of one community don’t actually speak for everyone in that community, they probably don’t in other communities, as well.
- Albany Park Patriot - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 2:14 pm:
I wonder how many powerhouse endorsements he has like this in his back pocket. Maybe the College Republicans will support him, too.
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 2:26 pm:
“The Combine always wins”
LP was programmed by John Kass?
- Sue - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 2:33 pm:
Unfortunately it will be after the election that Illinois realizes they elected a total empty suit( extra large). Pritzker won’t come clean on his tax plan but promises every progressive program under the sun. His statements about creating jobs is no different then Rauners since both created jobs by investing in businesses. Pritzker is another rich guy with no experience at governing. He is the Democratic version of Trump and we see how well that is working out
- don the legend - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 2:39 pm:
Perhaps the Governor told these four prominent business groups he’s going to announce the thousands of jobs he has promised from his overseas travels. But he’s strategically waiting till the last minute so as to really bury JB, Sam and Kash.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 2:44 pm:
Hey Baise, explain to tax payers why their utility costs should go up because manufacturers in enterprise zones don’t pay utility taxes. Go ahead
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 3:11 pm:
==The businesses hurt by late payments certainly benefitted from the 12% late payment interest that exceeds the prime rate by 7% didn’t they?==
So you are saying Illinois taxpayers paying 12% a year for money owed for services they could have paid 0% if they paid on time, is a good thing?
How does paying 12% over cost lead to Illinois needing less revenues? Isn’t the need for more revenue the reason for more taxes?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 3:12 pm:
===The businesses hurt by late payments certainly benefitted===
They didn’t all qualify.
- Shytown - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 3:35 pm:
Business groups are endorsing the repub candidate over the dem you say? Well I’ll be damned.
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 3:35 pm:
Re: the update, it’s amazing how dense and dumb the IMA is
- Sue - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 3:47 pm:
Why doesn’t the legislature eliminate the 1 percent a month penalty for late payments. It could be replaced with a lower penalty and an incentive to pay on time such as a small discount.
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 4:35 pm:
“extra large”
Why are some people so obsessed with JB Pritzker’s size?
I can’t tell if it springs from simple childish meanness or some kind of personal kink.
– MrJM
- wondering - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 5:22 pm:
Really now, this speaks volumes about these 4 organizations. If they would endorse Rauner, the worst governor in the U.S., second worst in Illinois history, only behind Lennington Small, what does this say about them and their unbridled greed?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 6:03 pm:
Because Gov. Rauner recognized the importance of addressing the critical job training needs of the state’s manufacturing sector, the final budget did ultimately include the workforce development grant.
Isn’t that the burger that only sent into effect because Republicans and Democrats in the GA overruled Rauner’s veto? That Baise gives Rauner credit for that says all you need to know about Baise’s credibility.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 9:24 pm:
==Why are some people so obsessed with JB Pritzker’s size?==
Gotta own them libs, and they haven’t noticed that JB himself is usually the first to make fat jokes.