Pritzker over Rauner, 130-10
Friday, Feb 28, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Lauren FitzPatrick at the Sun-Times…
What do you give to a governor who has two mansions and can afford anything he wants? How about a $950 bottle of Japanese whisky. Or $450 worth of tequila. Or a bust of Abe Lincoln?
Those were among the 130 gifts Gov. J.B. Pritzker has logged getting since taking office a little over a year ago, records show. The uber-wealthy Illinois politician also reported getting six hats, a smattering of scarves, 14 shirts and 54 books among a haul that his staff values at an estimated $25,230. […]
Pritzker didn’t keep any of it, according to spokeswoman Jordan Abuddayeh, who says the governor shared anything perishable with his staff and put the rest in secure storage locations at the Thompson Center and the Capitol until they are donated to charity. […]
The logs list Republican former Gov. Bruce Rauner as having gotten just 10 items in his first year in office, 2015. It showed Rauner received chocolates that December, eight books — including one titled “Don’t Sell Yourself Short” — and a painting. It didn’t include prices or say what was done with the items. Rauner representatives didn’t respond to messages seeking comment.
- Bothanspy - Friday, Feb 28, 20 @ 9:32 am:
I personally loved the three month trial subscription to Food Network
- Cubs in '16 - Friday, Feb 28, 20 @ 9:36 am:
Who sends gifts to kazillionaires; governor or not? It’s ridiculous when there are so many people in legitimate need.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Feb 28, 20 @ 9:39 am:
Pritzker is so much nicer, politically, and has been an infinitely better governor than Rauner.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 28, 20 @ 9:41 am:
One ran a phony campaign and tried in his first year to tear down Illinois. A budget wasn’t signed by that same governor until his third year. You can make an argument 10 might be 9 too many.
The other saved the state by merely defeating Illinois’ biggest negative. One *might* say a grateful state, her citizens, businesses, showed sincere gratitude for such a saving. It didn’t hurt that this governor also, arguably, had one of the most impressive legislative sessions with major accomplishments, and folks noticed.
By nearly every measure… including gifts.
- Henry Francis - Friday, Feb 28, 20 @ 9:43 am:
Apparently Rauner failed to log all the neat patches that were given to him for his biker boy vest. He totally beats JB in that category.
- Oak Parker - Friday, Feb 28, 20 @ 9:54 am:
They can set up a display for all the gifts in that storefront room in the basement of the Thompson Center next to the bathrooms (right past the New Orleans kitchen restaurant) so the public can enjoy seeing them.
- Headline - Friday, Feb 28, 20 @ 9:54 am:
Even Santa likes Pritzker better than Rauner
- Pyrman - Friday, Feb 28, 20 @ 10:11 am:
Note to Governor and staff—I am available if help is needed to dispose of that 450.00 bottle of tequila.
- efudd - Friday, Feb 28, 20 @ 10:22 am:
Yeah, well, Rauner would have gotten many more presents if it wasn’t for Afscammy.
And Madigan. Don’t forget Madigan.
- Kayak - Friday, Feb 28, 20 @ 10:34 am:
bargainin’ and negotiatin’ 101
- OneMan - Friday, Feb 28, 20 @ 10:35 am:
== How about a $950 bottle of Japanese whisky ==
Mad props to the staffer who convinces the boss that it is perishable.
For what it is worth, unlike wine it doesn’t really change in the bottle.
- Pick a Name - Friday, Feb 28, 20 @ 11:02 am:
Just curious, serious question, does anybody in Springfield see JB out and about?
Rauner attended events from high school basketball games to charitable functions and ate at many locally owned restaurants.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 28, 20 @ 11:09 am:
===…does anybody in Springfield see JB out and about?
Rauner attended events from high school basketball games to charitable functions and ate at many locally owned restaurants.===
Governor Pritzker is spending days actually running the state of Illinois, as our former governor, for three years, had lots of time to fritter away days while he held Illinois hostage by holding a minority party in check with Ken Dunkin.
It’s exiting, the measure of governing as to how many pancake houses are visited or high school games attended.
That’s fun.
- JS Mill - Friday, Feb 28, 20 @ 11:14 am:
=Just curious, serious question, does anybody in Springfield see JB out and about?
Rauner attended events from high school basketball games to charitable functions and ate at many locally owned restaurants.=
You have to be kidding me.
Pritzker has been all over Illinois, north, south, east, west. Not just 50 yards from the mansion.
Pritzker funded Mrs. Rauner’s Ounce of Prevention when her husband cut funding to the tune of $5 million.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Feb 28, 20 @ 11:17 am:
“Just curious, serious question, does anybody in Springfield see JB out and about?”
The governor is always doing projects and bill signing events, like yesterday at Quincy when he announced a local capital bill project.
- Ok - Friday, Feb 28, 20 @ 11:19 am:
So, JB is a re-gifter?
Scented candles next year…
- Bourbon Street - Friday, Feb 28, 20 @ 11:20 am:
==Just curious, serious question, does anybody in Springfield see J.B. out and about?==
When Rod was governor, people often saw him jogging in the Ravenswood Manor neighborhood. Rod was quite friendly and routinely greeted people.
I may be going out on a limb here, but I do not believe that Rod will ever make a list of “Illinois’s greatest governors.”
- theCardinal - Friday, Feb 28, 20 @ 12:04 pm:
Wait what ? the 24 pack of Stag I dropped off didn’t get in there? … (snark)
- schmiddy6 - Friday, Feb 28, 20 @ 12:23 pm:
“Apparently Rauner failed to log all the neat patches”
Didn’t help that the back of the yards biker club asked him to give it back in solidarity with the butchers unions their families were in after Rauner started with the RTW stuff lol
- Excessively Rabid - Friday, Feb 28, 20 @ 1:20 pm:
I saw JB playing the cowbell with the band at a domestic violence fundraiser in Springfield last year. He was having a really good time.
- JBFan - Friday, Feb 28, 20 @ 1:20 pm:
==How about a $950 bottle of Japanese whisky. Or $450 worth of tequila==
Gov. Pritzker, if you or your staff is reading this and if you still have these, I’ll gladly accept your donation
- capitol view - Friday, Feb 28, 20 @ 1:44 pm:
is there going to be a Passover Seder this April?