* More from Gov. Rauner’s Maze Jackson interview…
JACKSON: Governor, I’ve heard it, you know, I go places and people tell me “Bruce Rauner is an enemy of black people.” Why do people say, are you an enemy of black people? And why is that the perception?
RAUNER: Again political false baloney. The spin is, because we had a budget fight for two years and some human services got hurt and cut, that somehow I wanted to hurt, and some of those hurt the black community. And that’s true. But you know what? I was working to try to get a balanced budget, I proposed a balanced budget, that would have funded human services and funded Chicago State. Mike Madigan had the super majority. He could have passed any budget he wanted at any time he wanted to for those two years, with or without my support. He wanted, he wanted the crisis. What’s Mike Madigan, and his unions, his union buddies, what’s they’re track record in the black community? It is horrible. How many African-Americans are working on the construction sites on the South Side of Chicago? Virtually none. How many African-Americans are in apprentice programs with Madigan’s union buddies? Virtually none. They were happy to see the black community suffer during the budget impasse. They were happy to do that. They had no problems with it. It was breaking my heart. And then they have the gall to turn around and say it was my fault? I’m sorry, that’s a bunch of horse manure. It’s not my fault. They caused it. They did it.
Rauner has admitted in the past few weeks that he was at least partly to blame for the impasse. Apparently, those days are over. “It’s not my fault!”
* Rauner also took on the Legislative Black Caucus yesterday, and they responded this morning…
Governor Rauner spouted off lies about his failed record during an interview with Maze Jackson, stealing others’ credit as his own while struggling to survive on the campaign trail.
In one interview, Rauner once again claimed to be the best governor for the black community, took credit for a school funding he vetoed twice, and undermined the work of the Legislative Black Caucus. After being asked about reforms the Black Caucus championed, Rauner said, “I created the taskforce that drove all that. They could have done that any time. They didn’t. I did.” It’s simply a fallacy and desperate move to draw votes from the African American community when we all know he’s failed us.
The truth is under the Rauner administration minority contracting requirements have been waived and the percent of state business going to minority businesses has actually plummeted by 22 percent. And African-American unemployment in Illinois remains among the highest in the nation under Rauner’s failed leadership. That’s after Rauner put child care funding in jeopardy, decimated funding for social services like summer programs and Teen Reach, and jeopardized the MAP Grant Program.
“Governor Rauner says he’s done more for the black community than anyone, but that’s news to black communities across the state who are hurting from his years of failed leadership,” said Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford. “The truth is that this governor slashed funding for gun violence prevention programs and social services, blocked funding for schools while insulting teachers, vetoed a minimum wage increase, and sent black unemployment skyrocketing. We deserve better than a governor who shamelessly takes credit from others and spews empty rhetoric and then leaves our communities behind when it really matters.”
* Back to the Maze interview…
JACKSON: Governor, have you made any black millionaires?
RAUNER: Oh, we’re sure helping a lot of black entrepreneurs and black business owners. [Reaches for paper] So, so, I knew you were gonna ask, so I brought a list.
JACKSON: You brought papers?
RAUNER: I brought papers.
JACKSON: Cause you know how I feel about papers.
RAUNER: Cause I got names for it. So, how we’re gettin’ contracts. So Dr. Willie Wilson is a good personal friend of mine. I love him. He’s a man with a good heart, and I worship with him and I work with him. He’s a self-made businessman who’s become a millionaire just from his own hard work. He’s overcome discrimination and a lot of hurdles in his life, and he didn’t come from a background of anything other than just hard work and wanting to give back to the community.
JACKSON: Well he was a millionaire already, man. You didn’t make him. You helped him.
RAUNER: No I did not say, no no. I’m saying he made his own…
JACKSON: Okay.
RAUNER: But he and I are working together cause we both care about creating more black millionaires. That’s what we’re trying to do. Dr. Wilson is my friend and my ally, and I appointed him to be chairman of the fair state contract task force. He is doing it, and we now are demanding that more black businesses get state contracts. It used to be lip service by the Democrats. I’m doing it as a Republican. And so here, what have we done? RGB Properties, Angela Shumpert. Okay, $31.9 million potential contract.
JACKSON: Angela?
RAUNER: Angela, go Angela.
JACKSON: You need a consultant?
RAUNER: Logsdon Stationers, Ian Brown. We got a contract for him, $446,000 from CMS. Annasha Corporation, Robert Bellamy, $3.3 million for a temporary services management project. Carepaks Health Services, $413,000, home health care services.
He “brought papers”?
- Huh? - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:15 am:
“He “brought papers”?”
Rolling papers? /s
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:18 am:
===“But you know what?“===
No. What. What governor. What. Tell me what.
Ugh. Still brutal.
- Jimmy Two Times - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:19 am:
Get the papers. Get the papers.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:20 am:
===Mike Madigan had the super majority. He could have passed any budget he wanted at any time he wanted to for those two years, with or without my support===
“But you know what? I kept Ken Dunkin away or made him vote against overrides, so it’s baloney what I’m saying here, which is probably why I’m behind 16-22 points in my campaign” - Fake Bruce Rauner
- Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:20 am:
I thought he asked for his money back from Willie Wilson.
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:20 am:
https://youtu.be/LxPIu78YkwU
Zero.
- Real - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:20 am:
Did not Rauner’s wife state that “it was the happiest she has seen Rauner in 20 years” during the budget impasse? He loved watching as most of the state suffered per his wife’s statement.
Rauner is soulless and desperate so he wants to flip the script now.
- Real - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:22 am:
Furthermore, if democrats were so happy there would of been no attempts to override his veto.
Fact is the only people happy were Rauner as his wife stated. The happiest he has been in 20 years.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:22 am:
Mitt Romney had binders… Bruce Rauner has papers…
Rauner is embarrassing to even his own pandering.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:26 am:
–They were happy to see the black community suffer during the budget impasse.–
Just a coincidence that they waited until Rauner became governor to engage in that happy task.
- Juice - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:28 am:
Ok. So Rauner claims that he wanted to end the impasse.
But it was Madigan (though really it was more the rank and file than Madigan) who muscled through the veto overrides.
While Rauner threw Chris Radogno under the bus by blowing up the Grand Bargain.
Before the impasse was resolved, it was pretty easy to understand why Rauner could point fingers and the press and a lot of voters allowed him to get away with it. But that narrative simply contradicts reality.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:35 am:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgT9QVkGXxI
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:38 am:
Rauner is so ineffective. It’s always someone else’s fault. He’s not a conservative and not responsible. Who are the real conservatives anymore? Not national Republicans who explode debt, and not Rauner.
- Rabid - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:41 am:
You know what, this is the collateral damage from your drive a wedge strategy
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:48 am:
Why does the African American community keep reelecting the same legislators year after year?
“I suggest they visit Chicago’s south suburbs. There, systemic collapse isn’t imminent. Armageddon isn’t coming. It already happened. The south suburbs represent a catastrophic, wholesale failure of government, and they’re a warning to other Illinois areas caught in death spirals for the same reasons.
The causes are varied. Some are debatable. But confiscatory property tax rates, unquestionably, are the core problem and the primary accelerant in the death spiral. Effective rates exceeding 5 percent of a home’s value simply cannot work. That’s what they average in the Southland. Who would build or improve a home in the face of such rates?
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/opinion/ground-zero-governmental-failure-chicagos-south-suburbs
Zero effort in Mike Madigan’s Springfield to help these communities
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:51 am:
==How many African-Americans are working on the construction sites on the South Side of Chicago? Virtually none. How many African-Americans are in apprentice programs..==
More pants on fire nonsense. Why doesn’t somebody call him out on this stuff?
- Demoralized - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 10:19 am:
==“It’s not my fault!”==
That should have been on the Governor’s campaign signs. Because that’s been the central theme of his entire time in office.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 10:20 am:
==Zero effort in Mike Madigan’s Springfield==
Do you hold the Governor accountable for anything? Ever. Or are you happy with Governor Victim? Of course being a victim yourself . .. .
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 10:21 am:
Dude drinks a glass of chocolate milk and suddenly thinks he’s the voice of the African American community.
- Molly Maguire - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 10:22 am:
Papers, yay papers!
- The Dude Abides - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 10:27 am:
Rauner has just been caught in a maze of lies. Less than a month before election day, the polls show he is in bad shape and he is verbally just flailing away in desperation.
- G'Kar - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 10:29 am:
==“It’s not my fault!”==
Every time I hear Rauner says this, Joliet Jake Blues begging on his knees comes to mind.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 10:42 am:
The victims are those that live in the South Suburbs and other struggling communities with 5% property tax burdens.
No I would not blame the Governor for that Demoralized as this did not state 3 1/2 years ago.
He is trying to give these areas relief from Springfield mandates so there is more local control over their budgets.
Mike Madigan is not a change person and will not budge
- JS Mill - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 10:45 am:
=Zero effort in Mike Madigan’s Springfield to help these communities=
Ok, and what has Rauner done to change that?
Let a millionaire stay a millionaire? Mighty nice of him.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 11:02 am:
“Lucky Pierre “
If your take is…
“Rauner is not in charge, he’s trying to get to BE in charge…”
That’s a failed governor.
So, keep making that argument… and “Madigan”
Rauner is a mere 16-22 points behind Pritzker.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 11:02 am:
LP, don’t listen to the critics.
I think you and the Raunerbots are doing an amazing job spreading his message, as reflected in his approval rating and the polls.
Keep up the good work, all through election day.
- low level - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 11:07 am:
New lows for Bruce. There were many reps and senators on BOTH sides of the aisle who helped constituents of all races during the impass. Thats why several GOP reps broke ranks to get a budget passed.
As for Maze, thats just Maze being Maze…
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 11:09 am:
Keep talking Bruce.
I can see you coming in third next month.
- Rauner jr - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 11:21 am:
Maze, my dad isn’t going to make you a millionaire no matter how awkwardly you manage to ask.
- anon - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 11:36 am:
He “brought papers” cause they are going to roll a fattie after the interview… both Bruce and Maze like papers
- Actions speak louder than words, Jackson - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 11:47 am:
The reason no one takes Maze Jackson seriously is Rauner paid him $91,000 in the final days of the last campaign through Leslie Munger’s fund and he’s probably on the payroll again this cycle. Politico: “Connecting the dots on Maze Jackson: Jackson also owns a marketing company called The Intelligence Group, which was paid $91,000 by Munger for campaign work.” https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/07/25/new-bid-for-tronc-meet-the-connectors-patti-blagojevich-goes-off-on-trumps-favorite-network-290672 Why does WVON let Maze masquerade as anything other than the paid Rauner Shill he is?
- Demoralized - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 12:14 pm:
==Mike Madigan is not a change person==
Well, I suppose that’s better than being Governor “I’m not in charge.”
You have incredibly low standards for Governor’s LP. You’re perfectly happy with the “it’s not my fault I’m only a victim” schtick. Me? I prefer a Governor who can actually govern. You? A whiner is good enough.
- pawn - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 12:15 pm:
Click here for the audio of Bruce Rauner, in his own voice, putting out his theory of the budget impasse back in 2012:http://www.nprillinois.org/post/illinois-issues-social-cost-rauner-v-labor#stream/0
Here’s the key quote:
“In Illinois there’s been a long-time history of what I would call social service, social justice, a bigger role for government in the safety net than in many other states,” Rauner said at a tax policy conference sponsored by the George W. Bush Institute. “I think we can drive a wedge issue in the Democratic Party on that topic and bring the folks who say, ‘You know what? For our tax dollars, I’d rather help the disadvantaged, the handicapped, the elderly, the children in poverty. I’d rather have my tax dollars going to that than the SEIU or Af-scammy (AFSCME), who are out there for their own interests.’”
- Demoralized - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 12:16 pm:
==so there is more local control over their budgets.==
And that’s you Raunerbot’s code for “get rid of unions.” Still holding your breath and turning blue waiting for that to happen aren’t you.
- James - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 1:27 pm:
“Cause you know how I feel about papers”. I don’t read. Don’t write. Don’t need to. I got a show. I don’t need no cat reading from papers on my show. Who reads? Just talk, they’ll listen.
- sharkette - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 2:56 pm:
The BEP, Business Enterprise Program, which supports Minority, Black-Asian-American Indian & Veteran Female & Disabled organizations and small business has reach out programs through out the State and events regularity to reach out and support all minorities. You actually have apply and do to work to participate.
So I am not so sure it’s less since Rauner has been in I would say the event they hold are substantially more now than any time prior than 4 years ago.. Governor’s State University has one soon..
https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/business/sell2/bep/Pages/Vendor_Registration.aspx
- AlfondoGonz - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 2:58 pm:
Leave the papers. Take the credit.
- MickJ - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 3:25 pm:
“Zero effort in Mike Madigan’s Springfield to help these communities”
sez bigots for black empowerment
- “Lola” - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 3:56 pm:
Was this a political interview or an official state interview? Interesting the Governor had actual names of individuals and companies that have received contracts. Did he sign off on those contracts himself? Make me wonder if there a firewall between the state side and political side?
- @misterjayem - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 4:09 pm:
“political false baloney”
Never settle for anything less than Bruce Rauner’s GENUINE political baloney.
♬ Political baloney has a first name
it’s B-R-U-C-E. ♫
♬ Political baloney has a second name
it’s R-A-U-N-E-R. ♫
♬ He loves to feed it every day.
And if you ask him ‘Why?’ he’ll say: ♫
Because… MADIGAN
– MrJM
- Name/Nickname/Anon - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 4:46 pm:
Maze is a businessman first. I’m sure there’s something in this for him.
- M - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 4:47 pm:
After all Rauner did help a blackman, Ken Dunkin, become rich. He gave Dunkin a million dollars for his loyalty to him.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 6:59 pm:
local control is code for get rid of unions
What a red herring, union jobs are growing much faster in our neighboring states than in Illinois
Why is the union agenda supercede every single other government issue in Illinois?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 7:00 pm:
===supercede every single other===
It didn’t until January of 2015 when a certain somebody gave a PowerPoint presentation in Decatur.
- low level - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 7:33 pm:
LP- are u new to the state? You’ve missed everything Rauner has blamed on unions? You read the interview, yes? Its:
Madigan and unions who are to blame for everything according to Gov Victim (w the $18 watch).