* Press release…
Gary Rabine, a candidate for Governor, is calling for Illinois to join the list of a growing number of states opting out of the federal unemployment benefits.
“Small businesses have suffered long enough and now with their inability to find workers to fill their openings, they will suffer longer,” Rabine said. “It is very important that we stop the unemployment stimulus now and get our kids back to school in Illinois.”
The National Federation of Independent Business reported that 44% of small businesses said they can’t find workers to fill job openings. The unemployment bonus is scheduled to expire in September, but by that time the most productive months of Illinois small business will be gone.
“The Biden administration, who our Governor Pritzker is aligned with on almost everything, said there is little evidence that the unemployment stimulus is dissuading people from taking jobs,” Rabine said. “They blamed closed schools and daycare centers, saying many parents have to stay home to take care of children. The Biden administration is wrong, the unemployment bonus is dissuading people from working. Any worker who can make more on unemployment owes it to themselves and their families to consider staying home.”
At least nine states, including Missouri and Iowa, are opting out of the benefit later this summer. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said in a statement: “Federal pandemic-related unemployment benefit programs initially provided displaced Iowans with crucial assistance when the pandemic began. But now that our businesses and schools have reopened, these payments are discouraging people from returning to work.”
Businesses have 8.1 million jobs to fill and yet in April, the economy only added a paltry 266,000 jobs suggesting the federal unemployment benefits are keeping workers out of the workplace. Rabine said he is hearing from Illinois employers with concerns about their ability to fill open positions.
“As I travel this state, I see ‘Help Wanted’ signs everywhere and when I talk to the business owners, I hear the same thing – they can’t fill the jobs,” Rabine said. “I don’t blame workers for choosing unemployment benefits over going to a job. It makes total sense to get the same pay or in some cases higher pay staying home than dealing with going to work every day. I don’t blame anyone for making a logical decision, but at the same time we need healthy, able-bodied workers to return to the workforce. We need to follow the lead of Missouri and Iowa and opt out of the federal unemployment benefits. Job growth is the only path forward for a full economic recovery and we can’t have that if our workers aren’t working.”
Rabine said Biden is right that many parents feel they must stay home with their children who are not in school and we can’t blame good parents for this. The Rabine plan is to:
1. Stop the unemployment stimulus bonuses
2. Get Illinois’ public schools open 100%
3. Lower, not raise, taxes
“If we do these things, Illinoisans will want to get back to work and small businesses will have the opportunity to serve their customers again at maximum productivity with millions of career opportunities,” Rabine said. “We need to stop the printing presses, get back to school and back to work!”
* I was on break when Rabine announced his candidacy in late March. Sun-Times story…
“Fifteen years ago in Illinois, we really were the best place in the middle of the country to create jobs and start a business, to grow a business. But over the last 15 years, that’s deteriorated to being the worst,” he told the Sun-Times in an interview between events Tuesday.
He dismisses Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker as a “trust fund billionaire” who doesn’t have the right business experience to lead the state.
“I don’t have any knowledge of him ever building a business from the ground up. I mean, he calls himself an entrepreneur, but I’ve not witnessed real entrepreneurship there,” he said of Pritzker. “Buying and selling companies for profit is a little different from … building a paving business here in Illinois and creating a national platform for paving parking lots.”
Rabine criticized Pritzker’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis, saying that “a total shutdown may not have been necessary” last March.
Fifteen years ago, Rod Blagojevich was running for his second term in office. Just sayin…
* Daily Herald…
Rabine, a Bull Valley resident, said he will avoid the partisan paralysis the state saw with Rauner by bringing an open mind and steady communication to working with the legislature, rather than relying on executive orders as Rabine said Pritzker has done in his response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I believe that I get stronger when I surround myself with people who think differently,” Rabine said. “Because my passion is to understand all sides of the coin, I’m confident that I’ll be able to reach across better than most anybody I’ve seen.”
Rabine said he thinks the legislature will continue to evolve from the one involved in the budget impasse under the Rauner administration after being freed from the grip of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
By 2022, the “financial crisis” in Illinois will have reached a breaking point where bipartisan cooperation will be necessary, and unavoidable, he said.
FY22 isn’t looking too horribly bad, actually.
* Tribune story…
Asked by a reporter if he believed, as Trump has falsely stated, that the election was stolen due to fraud, Rabine said, “I’m not smart enough to understand what was the end result, whether it was stolen or not, and I would never say that.” […]
Rabine is an advisory board member of Turning Point USA, the controversial conservative youth group founded by Illinoisan Charlie Kirk. Rabine has called Kirk one of his heroes. Kirk, who has come under fire for spreading disinformation about the pandemic, was one of the first users of the term “China virus.” The Washington Post reported that during last year’s election season his organization funded a deceptive social media campaign aimed at influencing young people. […]
[Rabine] pledged he would “never shut down our economy and ruin thousands of businesses as J.B. Pritzker has.” […]
Rabine pledged a 50% cut in property taxes by 2024. Asked earlier how he would substantially cut property taxes, which primarily fund schools, without hurting education, Rabine offered no details but said he had an “economic team” working on a plan.
Yeah, get back to us on that property tax cut.
* He’s also been active on LinkedIn…
- cermak_rd - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 12:13 pm:
Fortunately Pritzker won’t listen to him. This guy can’t beat him (JB is vulnerable to a good candidate but this guy isn’t him).
Frankly these stories that small businesses deserve for people to HAVE to work for them are kind of obnoxious. They have a our serfs are rebelling vibe for me. And anyway the benefits expire in September so folks will be returning to labor anyway (or starting businesses or formalizing retirement etc.) soon anyway. We’ve all been through a rough year, let’s give each other time to plan the rest of our lives.
- Dotnonymous - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 12:15 pm:
Are members of the perpetually idle wealthy class lazy?…asking for a working class friend.
- SouthSide Markie - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 12:17 pm:
When an employer can’t hire people because those people are better off on unemployment, it says more about the wages the employer is paying. And most likely, the lack of benefits. Remember that many on unemployment also qualify for free health care under Medicaid. Pay people a decent wage, give them decent benefits and employers might get a different reaction.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 12:22 pm:
Rabine is not a serious person or candidate to the needs of Illinois, the issues that need governing, and someone do oblivious to the Illinois experience, and what it is like for folks living in Illinois.
Ravine is a Kassian talking point, less the trench coat and cigarettes.
The property tax cut? How will that work in real governing monies?
Then let’s not forget Rabine and Trump and the conspiracy theorists… that’ll fly after a primary?
Rabine winning the primary is the Illinois Trumpkins throwing in the towel on the whole race.
- Blue Looper - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 12:23 pm:
“When an employer can’t hire people because those people are better off on unemployment, it says more about the wages the employer is paying”
As was pointed out yesterday, the unemployment benefits are greater than $19/hour. There is also, currently, no obligation to be looking for work. This is not sustainable, folks.
Local grocers, Mom and Pop businesses simply cannot survive when they are competing against +$19/hour for not working.
Think about every place you shop/dine/frequent that pays less than $19/hour. Could you give those up?
- Sox Fan - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 12:23 pm:
If you’re not smart enough to realize the election wasn’t stolen, you’re not smart enough to be governor.
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 12:30 pm:
So basically he is Bruce Rauner plus conspiracy theories. That’ll play in a primary, right?
- Jocko - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 12:30 pm:
==I’m not smart enough to understand what was the end result, whether it was stolen or not==
7 million more popular votes, 306 electoral votes. What’s to understand?
- Pundent - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 12:34 pm:
=“Fifteen years ago in Illinois, we really were the best place in the middle of the country to create jobs and start a business, to grow a business.
Fifteen years ago Rod Blagojevich was governor. That’s the time Gary Rabine wants to go back to?
- DuPage Dave - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 12:35 pm:
It seems that Rabine has a limited understanding of how property taxes work in Illinois.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 12:36 pm:
===It seems that Rabine has a limited understanding of how property taxes work in Illinois.===
“Forget it. He’s rolling”
- Annonin' - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 12:37 pm:
Orderin’ the T shirts now
“I’m not smart enough to understand to ______”
CommandoIves lookin’ better and better
- Publius - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 12:37 pm:
Part of the problem is small businesses are at a big disadvantage. The main problem is they have to pay workers to pay for health care and future retirement. Outside of the USA that is covered in other ways. If you look at wages in Europe they are actually lower in the USA. Also, I when travel to Europe in many small businesses I see the same people working there year after year unlike here. Also, there is more emphasis on child care and transportation in Europe and how to make if affordable. Again more things workers here have to pay for on their own in the USA. No wonder no one wants to work these jobs anymore. Also, I suspect you can get rid of the bonus and it won’t help much. These folks are now just going to sit out and wait to be treated better. Many years ago you could support your family on these jobs but not anymore.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 12:40 pm:
=== Think about every place you shop/dine/frequent that pays less than $19/hour. Could you give those up?===
Where were you during the pandemic? Gave up on lots of places not paying workers.., putting the workers at risk with Covidiot thinking.
I dunno… “We support businesses paying less to workers” isn’t much of a rallying cry, LOL
- Benjamin - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 12:46 pm:
I’ve heard wonkish types suggest that some fraction of an unemployed person’s UI bonus be convertable to a one-time bonus payment upon that person getting a new job. That would encourage people who are just waiting out their unemployment benefits to find employment, but still provide the cushion for people who are hesitant to return to work for health reasons or who are caring for children.
Unfortunately, thet requires action at the federal level, which is unlikely to happen before this problem solves itself (between vaccines, expiring UI benefits, and reopening schools and daycare centers) in a few months.
- Marty Funkhouser - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 12:52 pm:
Who?
- Fly like an eagle - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 12:54 pm:
“What ever happened to the good ol’ fashioned flu?”
I dunno but I’m guessing face masks, social distancing and wiping down everything help prevent flu too.
- JoanP - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 12:57 pm:
“I’m not smart enough to understand what was the end result, whether it was stolen or not . . .”
or “I’m not smart enough.” Fixed it for him.
- Dotnonymous - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 12:58 pm:
“I’m not smart enough to understand what was the end result, whether it was stolen or not, and I would never say that.” - Rabine
You just did.
- JS Mill - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 12:59 pm:
=This is not sustainable, folks.=
It ends in September. So there is that.
=Rabine pledged a 50% cut in property taxes by 2024.=
I CANNOT wait to hear his “plan”.
Do you think his plan will rely on a “grand bargain”?
- Boone's is Back - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 1:07 pm:
Sounds like a real serious candidate. I’m glad he’s done his homework on the issues. /s
- cermak_rd - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 1:13 pm:
===Think about every place you shop/dine/frequent that pays less than $19/hour. Could you give those up?===
Everyone gave up a lot during the pandemic. Frankly if the only thing that the place has to offer a worker is deliverance from starvation I’m not sure I want to support that business.
I have a favorite Mexican restaurant. They started up with the same people. Why because everyone there is family whether they are related by blood or not. The place kept all the people on staff during the pandemic. Frankly, they deserve to out-compete restaurants that let their staff go instead.
My local Jewel grocer often used to have signs up congratulating people on 25 years of service. If my grocer is not the kind of place that people want to work for for an extensive period of time then maybe I need a new grocer.
- Jibba - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 1:21 pm:
I’m old enough to remember that even Sears had a professional, full-time sales staff. Compare that to split shifts, being sent home if not busy, and no benefits. Surprised they can find anybody at all, even in normal times.
And Publius is right…you pay one way or another. European governments tax enough to provide health and child care and other services. Here, we tax less but leave those things mostly to the individual, and business skates by.
- Anonanonsir - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 1:23 pm:
==This is not sustainable, folks.==
That’s why it goes until early September.
The American working class is briefly getting a good deal. Given that this demographic has been a challenge for Democrats, I’d expect Dem governors to be inclined to keep the expanded benefits.
- Bryan Singer - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 1:32 pm:
The Governors that want to take away earned unemployment benefits from people are the same Governors that have their hands out for unearned bailouts to cover their misallocation of tax revenues for prior years.
- Candy Dogood - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 2:31 pm:
===I’m not smart enough to understand what was the end result===
This should be disqualifying. He say’s he’s not smart enough to know who had more electoral votes? Who had more total votes? These are numbers. He’s not smart enough to tell which number is bigger?
This guy is playing with fire. He wants the support of the insurrectionists and anti-American faction of the party and lacks the courage to actually state facts. If he can’t tell which number is larger he is either lying or needs to go to the ER as soon as possible.
But this is exactly the kind of lying, posturing,and confidence man rhetoric that the GOP eats with a spoon which makes him more reflective of the party than not.
- Give Us Barabbas - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 2:52 pm:
This is not a serious candidacy. It’s a grift to harvest suc… Um, donors for fundraising and campaign databases. Vermin Supreme or Pat Paulson would be more qualified.
- Pundent - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 4:25 pm:
=“I’m not smart enough to understand what was the end result, whether it was stolen or not, and I would never say that.” […]=
If we were all lacking in smarts as Gary is he might have a shot. But unfortunately the majority of us we do have a clear understanding about the last Presidential election.