* Politico interviewed the governor during the National Governors Association convention in DC…
Q: We’re now just weeks into your second term. You’ve already signed laws to ban the sale of assault weapons, expand coverage on abortion and offer guaranteed paid leaves. They’re the kinds of bills that really take years to accomplish for a lot of administrations. And to get them to the finish line. What’s your negotiating tactic? You came from the business world, like, what are you doing to get all this stuff accomplished? Is it just because you have a Democratic legislature?
Pritzker: Why I guess people talk about all these things that just all of a sudden have happened. But the reality is, I like to say they’re all 15-year overnight successes, that, you know, the work has been done over many, many years to get to a point where we agree that there ought to be paid leave.
Q: Do you get people into your office? Like, I want to know what goes on behind the curtain kind of thing.
Pritzker: Out of the public eye, am I twisting arms?
Q: Do you take them to dinner? What do you, what is happening, exactly?
Pritzker: I’ll do what’s required. Look, first of all, I know this is gonna sound funny, but a number of years ago, just before I became governor, so this is about 2017, 2018, the governor’s mansion in Illinois was in terrible shape before that, and the prior governor, the First Lady rather, renovated the governor’s mansion. And I know this, you’re wondering why am I saying all that in the context of the answer your question. Well, because there was no entertaining being done. There was no gathering place for the governor with members of the General Assembly. And I’m not sure the prior governor wanted to do much of that as you know.
Q: Because you’re all Democrats and he was a Republican so that…
Pritzker: I think it’s worthwhile inviting people into your home. And you know, and giving them an opportunity to talk in a, in a less tense fashion. Serving drinks is helpful. And serving food. And to be honest with you, having a good personal relationship with people on my side of the aisle as well as people on the other side of the aisle even if you have things that you vehemently disagree about. There’s an opportunity to disagree and not be disagreeable if you have a personal relationship with people.
So, you’re asking me, you know, well, what’s your negotiating tactic? First thing is, I think you have to have some kind of a cordial level of discussion that can take place where people can put their ideas on the table. I may disagree with them. They may disagree with me, but at least you can get it all out on the table without getting you know, cut off at the knees. And then negotiating. As you know, negotiating is an art. There’s a little bit of science and an awful lot of art involved. And I was a businessman before I was governor, so I can say you know what your own power dynamic is walking into a negotiation. You have an idea what the others think theirs are, and you try to figure out where you’ve got things that you can trade with one another, if that’s what’s required.
I also think sometimes just, you know, talking to people on my own side of the aisle, some of it’s about, you know, well, how are you going to go explain that to your constituents that you’re not for this thing that I’m proposing? And they can say the same thing back to me. How can you not be for whatever it is? Because in the end, I mean, it’s not that everything has to have a popularity contest behind it. But in the end, we’re all working for the same group of people. And so, I do think there’s my negotiating tactic is try to get people as close as you can to a common set of values, let’s say, about what you’re actually trying to accomplish, for whom, and then push it all over the line with the final, often, it’s a little bit of horsetrading.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 10:32 am:
== I like to say they’re all 15-year overnight successes, that, you know, the work has been done over many, many years to get to a point where we agree that there ought to be paid leave.==
This is a very self-aware point. A lot of JB’s biggest successes had been floating around the legislature for years.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 10:32 am:
===As you know, negotiating is an art. There’s a little bit of science and an awful lot of art involved. And I was a businessman before I was governor, so I can say you know what your own power dynamic is walking into a negotiation. You have an idea what the others think theirs are, and you try to figure out where you’ve got things that you can trade with one another, if that’s what’s required.===
That’s a governor talking about doing gubernatorial things, in a way where the adults get thing done.
That’s a governor that knows himself, the tools he/she brings to the office, and the tools needed to be successful for a state, which is good for the governor and good for all too.
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 10:45 am:
You mean the ‘my way or the highway’ approach to governing isn’t effective? Color me shocked. One thing that has impressed me about Pritzker is his willingness to consistently engage everyone in the process. He’s shown a willingness to compromise and is generally likable. Not being a (banned word) goes a long way in being an effective leader.
- RNUG - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 10:48 am:
While I don’t agree with all he has done, JB has been effective at getting things done.
Of course, it didn’t hurt that a lot of the stuff had been baking in the oven for years …
- MaddyMoon - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 11:02 am:
negotiating when you have super majority same party backing is not really a skill.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 11:03 am:
===is not really a skill.===
lol
Have you ever talked to a Democratic legislator?
- Henry Francis - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 11:10 am:
You mean to tell me that being respectful to others can help get things done? Showing respect to those who you disagree with isn’t a weakness, but can actually be a strength?
- Langhorne - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 11:22 am:
The bigger the majority, the more likely it is that factions will be devoted to their individual causes, and peel off from the group.
A legislator once told a newbie, you don’t wanna be the first to sign onto something. You want to be the last. If you sell your vote early and cheap, and the price goes up, too bad. You have to honor your commitment. If you wait too long, and your vote is no longer needed, too bad.
- Southside Markie - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 11:24 am:
From the interview, it seems to be all about the “knowing.” /s
- JS Mill - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 11:26 am:
=negotiating when you have super majority same party backing is not really a skill.=
Tell us you do not know what you are talking about, without telling us you don’t know what you are talking about.
Everyone wants something, the bigger your caucus, the more cats for you to heard.
It is a serious skill. The ILGOP should take note and realize public tantrums don’t get deals done.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 11:30 am:
JB never misses an opportunity to revise history and bash Republicans
There was very little entertaining at the Governors mansion during the Rauner term because the 3 year 15 million dollar renovations paid for with private funds, was not completed until the end of his term
https://news.wttw.com/2019/01/11/illinois-governor-s-mansion-secures-leed-status-after-15m-renovation
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 11:43 am:
How on earth can you say JB shows respect to the Republicans he disagrees with?
The “most progressive” Governor actually agrees on most issues with the extreme members of his caucus. It also helps to be a billionaire and make or break their campaigns
- ArchPundit - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 12:10 pm:
===The bigger the majority, the more likely it is that factions will be devoted to their individual causes, and peel off from the group.
Let’s recall Madigan’s preference for smaller majorities at times. It made it easier often.
- MisterJayEm - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 12:14 pm:
“Thoughts?”
Dude’s status as My Favorite Billionaire remains on lock.
– MrJM
- Jibba - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 1:11 pm:
I’d like to say to his regular detractors that this is another great example of why I like the guy. However, they wouldn’t understand.
- Greta - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 1:21 pm:
Gov Quinn and Gov Pritzker have used the Gov’s mansion well to take some divisiveness out of Illinois politics. Rauner and Blago, not so much.
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 1:26 pm:
===Gov Quinn and Gov Pritzker have used the Gov’s mansion well to take some divisiveness out of Illinois politics. Rauner and Blago, not so much.===
Which is why it’s silly to judge someone based on their party affiliation. Character has so much more to do with how effective they’ll be in office.
- West Wing - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 1:44 pm:
Jim Thompson was notorious for using the Governor’s Mansion to win over organized labor, Democrats and skeptical Republicans. George Ryan and now J.B. Pritzker (Quinn to some degree) are following that trend, while Rod Blagojevich and Jim Ryan were more peas in a pod
but were more aloof about mixing it up).
(not only did they have perfect hair
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 1:45 pm:
===Jim Ryan===
Jim Edgar
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 1:48 pm:
Edgar, while a teatoatler, was nothing like Rod.
Pritzker is most like JRT, and that’s giving GHR his own due.
Pritzker also has a GA that Thompson didn’t have, in times Thompson couldn’t imagine in his time as governor, and Pritzker has marginalized the folks needing that marginalization where Thompson had no worry for or of that.
- Dotnonymous - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 4:21 pm:
Pritzker shows a lot of heart…exactly what a Governor (and/or President) needs.
He can’t help being born into the billionaire class.
- levivotedforjudy - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 4:51 pm:
The comeback on the power of 1-party control: does anyone else remember the log jams and staying in Springfield in June when Edgar, Pate and Daniels were in charge? I missed a trip to Vegas because of it.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 7:03 pm:
==and bash Republicans==
You sure are a shrinking violet aren’t you? Always looking for that opportunity to play the victim @LP. You’re at least consistent at it.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 7:08 pm:
@LP
Also Mr. Wizard, if you read what he said about the mansion he stated it was being renovated and, thus, there wasn’t any entertaining going on. He acknowledged that if you have any reading comprehension whatsover. And, what he also said is true in that Rauner had no desire to entertain anyone (or if he did he didn’t show it). The only thing that guy wanted to do was pout and he could do that by himself.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 7:12 pm:
===There was very little entertaining at the Governors mansion during the Rauner term because the 3 year 15 million dollar renovations paid for with private funds, was not completed until the end of his term===
If we are revisiting history, Rauner met with those working his blind trust there, that turned out to be not so blind?
===agrees on most issues with the extreme members of his caucus.===
It’s like you, - LP -, agreeing and supporting Bailey policies, or DeVore policies, even Mary Miller and Trump policies, amirite?
“Exactly Right”
- Now Floridian Bruce Rauner