* Set the Wayback Machine to 2014…
After pulling strings to get his daughter into Walter Payton College Prep, Bruce Rauner, a Republican candidate for governor, became one of the elite Chicago public high school’s biggest benefactors.
The Rauner Family Foundation gave $250,000 to the Payton Prep Initiative for Education on Dec. 14, 2009 — about a year and a half after Rauner called then-Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan to overturn his daughter’s rejection for admission, records examined by the Chicago Sun-Times reveal.
Rauner’s gift was the largest the not-for-profit foundation had received up to that point. It amounts to nearly 30 percent of all the money the group has gotten during its first five years, according to records the Rauner and Payton charities have filed with the state.
Rauner’s gift to the Payton Prep Initiative came two months after his foundation gave $500,000 to the Chicago Public Schools Foundation, run by the school system’s top administrators. His foundation previously had given money to that organization.
* Now…
Former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner made a $250,000 campaign contribution to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last week after seniors in the uber-wealthy Florida Keys enclave where Rauner owns a home were among the first in the state to receive COVID-19 vaccinations in January.
Rauner’s connection to the favorable treatment first was reported Wednesday by the Miami Herald, which obtained a memo the management of the exclusive Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo sent to residents noting that its medical center had vaccinations for residents age 65 and over while most Floridians struggled to access the shots. DeSantis has used the state’s vaccination program to open special distribution sites in select communities while skipping state and local vaccine registration logs, various Florida news outlets have reported.
“Over the course of the last two weeks, the Medical Center has vaccinated over 1,200 homeowners who qualify under the State of Florida’s Governor’s current Order for those individuals who are 65 years of age or older,” the Ocean Reef Club’s message to residents read, according to the Herald. “We are fortunate to have received enough vaccines to ensure both the first and second for those vaccinated. At this time, however, the majority of the State has not received an allocation of first doses of vaccines for this week and beyond, and the timing of any subsequent deliveries remains unclear.”
In its report, the Herald stated that contributions to DeSantis’ political fund surged amid the disbursement of vaccines, noting the only contributions the Florida governor received from Key Largo were from Ocean Reef residents.
* And…
Since DeSantis started using the state’s vaccine initiative to steer special pop-up vaccinations to select communities, his political committee has raised $2.7 million in the month of February alone, more than any other month since he first ran for governor in 2018, records show.
A spokesperson for the governor did not immediately respond to email and telephone messages, but, after the story was published, DeSantis spokesperson Meredith Beatrice said that the governor was not involved in selecting the Ocean Reef Club for the early vaccine distribution. She did not explain how the club obtained so many doses ahead of others. […]
By hand-selecting the communities, DeSantis allows residents to bypass state and local vaccine registration systems and go directly through their community organizations, like the Medical Center at Ocean Reef. […]
The effort has brought scrutiny from DeSantis’ critics as the state’s vaccine distribution appears to be inequitable. By the end of February, only 5.6% of those who’ve been vaccinated in the state are Black, even though Blacks account for 17% of the state’s population, state records show.
He might want to bump up his apparent standard tip. $250,000 in 2014 is equal to $279,568.31 today. /s
…Adding… React…
- Strategy Geek - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 9:44 am:
“Just donatin’ and gettin’ my vaccinatin’ like any other regular guy.”
- NotRich - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 9:45 am:
Bruce being Bruce Florida style…
- Roadiepig - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 9:45 am:
Those who picked Florida in the “Where will Rauner move to?” pool , please pick up you share of the winnings by end of business hours today…
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 9:45 am:
Corrupt to the core
- Colin O'Scopy - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 9:46 am:
Two types of people in the world: 1) people who stay within the lines and wait their turn and 2) special people, you know, like Bruce Rauner.
For shame.
- Ok - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 9:47 am:
If there is even a lick of DeSantis’ office considering these contributions in its allocation of vaccines, dude is going to federal prison.
- Steve Rogers - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 9:48 am:
I’m sure that trading COVID vaccines for campaign contributions from rich, white benefactors will elicit outrage among other GOP governors. Outrage that they didn’t come up with this idea first.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 9:49 am:
Since I read this coverage I’ve been trying to sort out if $250,000 for a COVID-19 vaccine has a higher net value than the tens of millions he shelled out to rent the IL GOP.
His administration was like watching an episode of Storage Wars where one of the stars way over bids the garbage that no one else wants.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 9:50 am:
What good is having all that dough if you can’t use it like this? Buying a house or twelve is nice, but buying people is so much better.
- Ok - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 9:52 am:
Talk about trading campaign contributions for (vaccine) appointments.
- Chuck - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 9:52 am:
Blago went to jail for less.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 9:53 am:
I guess it’s his standard tip?
Kid gets in to Payton? $250k
Get a vaccine for a global pandemic? $250k
The worst thing to have on a resume to honesty to governing is IPI, the only thing worse is also having “Rauner Administration” on that same resume.
Honesty, integrity, ethics, morals.
Bruce Rauner lacks all of those.
The phony “Everyman” denied a worthy child a chance at Payton Prep, now using his overarching wealth to skip ahead, of course with that pesky $250k at the ready.
Raunerites own their adding and abetting this small man for the four years of purposeful destruction.
Only… only Peter Breen… only him.. showed remorse, until he took it back.
This story, I’m not surprised, I’m more saddened as those who defended this man called him “honorable”, called him “good”, they even called him a “hero”
You got played. He’s laughing at you while in the Keys, and dropping his $250k to hurdle you.
- Bruce( no not him) - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 9:55 am:
All I had to do to get my vaccine, was drive 40 miles. Guess I got off cheap.
- @misterjayem - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 9:56 am:
“Oh yeah, a buffer. The family had a lot of buffers.” — Willy Cicci, The Godfather: Part II (1974)
– MrJM
- OneMan - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 9:58 am:
According to the google machine, Bruce is 64
- The Dude Abides - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 10:03 am:
Rauner being Rauner. The guy is as phony as the day is long.
- Justy - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 10:06 am:
I got these vaccines and they’re f’in golden and I’m not just giving them away for f’in nothin.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 10:08 am:
“The Rauner Family Foundation gave $250,000 to the Payton Prep Initiative for Education”
Rauner also gave a Pennsylvania governor’s campaign $300,000 for public employee pension business. Dude loves him some “corrupt insider” action and public sector money.
“2) special people, you know, like Bruce Rauner”
3) people who can’t be bought but instead do the buying
- blue line - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 10:09 am:
it wasn’t too long ago that $25,000 was the going rate to get things done. this was blagos price of admission. the cost has increased ten fold in 2021. covidflation!
- Keyrock - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 10:22 am:
And some of you had been wondering what costume Bruce has been wearing lately. The answer:
Bruce Rauner - Florida Man.
- Norseman - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 10:27 am:
OneMan said what I was thinking. Curious. I’ve not seen reporting of Rauner’s actual vaccination status. The presumption is there, but … And, people under 65 can get vaccines if they have certain medical issues.
=== Blago went to jail for less. ===
Blago went to jail for shaking other folks down to get his favors. Rauner uses his own money.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 10:28 am:
Only one thing matters. What costume did Bruce wear to his vaccination?
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 10:32 am:
But I’m sure he’s donated ‘millions’ to COVID relief or something so he’s probably entitled. /s
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 10:33 am:
Odds are… Rauner will skate on this.
The buffers and “money is speech” spiel gives Rauner that phony laugh and grin as he mocks everyone “not him”
- illinifan - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 10:34 am:
Florida hit the trifecta…Trump, DiSantis and Rauner.
- DS - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 10:45 am:
Quid Pro Quovid
- Blue Dog - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 10:52 am:
This is just a friendly reminder how state/federally run healthcare actually works.
- Jocko - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 10:58 am:
BVR has always been as subtle as a 20 pound sledgehammer.
I wonder what little old lady told Bruce the vaccine would become available in his community?
- Honeybear - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 10:58 am:
Bruce Rauner, ever the man of privilege and perfidy
- Henry Francis - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 10:59 am:
The article reported that Bruce contributed $5k to DeSantis in September. Then, a week after he turned 65, he made the $250k contribution. I am sure it was just a coincidence.
- Just Me 2 - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 10:59 am:
===DeSantis doing great work===
Great work of helping rich people like Bruce.
- Ok - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 11:01 am:
If Rauner laughed when Mary Ann asked that question, that’s his tell.
- fs - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 11:08 am:
== According to the google machine, Bruce is 64==
Eh, you might need to refresh your browser. Mine shows he was born in February 18, 1956. So he just turned 65. He’s clearly playing dirty pool, or at least thinking he needs to, but he might skate on a technicality here.
- Dutch3001 - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 11:09 am:
I wonder if he put his Carhartt’s on and rode his Harley to the vaccination site, just like he used to do in Illinois when he tried to demonstrate to people who were not multi-millionaires that he was “one of them”.
I actually saw and heard him peddle this nonsense in person when he went to Kaskaskia (the first state capital of Illinois) at the 200th anniversary of Illinois in 2028. He told the crowd of maybe 100 people that they were “blessed” to live at Kaskaskia and that it was so beautiful that he got on his Harley two or three times a year and rode down there from Springfield just to look at it. I’ll bet he actually couldn’t have found Kaskaskia (even if he knew what it was) without a map and a passel of aides to read it for him.
- Dutch 3001 - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 11:12 am:
I meant to say 2008 when I said I saw Rauner at Kaskaskia, I and our former president have trouble with typing things correctly. I am hoping Rauner does not come back in 2028.
- Henry Francis - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 11:12 am:
The article also reports that DeSantis enjoyed the biggest fundraising month of his political career in February.
And the only contributions he received from Key Largo were from residents of Bruce’s enclave.
A lot of coincidences here . . .
- Steve Rogers - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 11:13 am:
to the update: “Focus, Mary Ann, Focus. Focus.”
- "A Horse is a Horse" - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 11:16 am:
Why aren’t the Feds investigating Rauner?
- Dutch3001 - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 11:17 am:
I meant to say 2018. It is just one of those days.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 11:17 am:
To the react?
Rauner rarely cared what simple folk think, Rauner was willing to be brazen and slick to game things for himself.
Truly a terrible man.
The Raunerite enablers still have yet to own their complicity and the damage they helped Rauner make.
So… all the apologists and enablers, congratulations, you got duped, hustled, and played… and Bruce loves it.
- City Zen - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 11:27 am:
==He might want to bump up his apparent standard tip.==
Bruce never liked COLAs.
- Dysfunction Junction - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 11:36 am:
MrJM with the Godfather reference. Priceless.
Regarding the $250K standard tip, there appear to be exceptions. He didn’t need to “tip” anyone to facilitate his daughter’s move from Walter Payton Prep to Dartmouth, as that was his Alma Mater. But IIRC, he did establish an endowed professorship. And donated enough to get his name on a dorm. As well as the Rauner Collection at the Dartmouth library, including the papers of “Godfather” author Mario Puzo. Surely a deal they couldn’t refuse.
- vole - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 11:38 am:
Just a little “where’s mine” in the sunshine state.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 11:38 am:
=== He didn’t need to “tip” anyone to facilitate his daughter’s move from Walter Payton Prep to Dartmouth, as that was his Alma Mater.===
LOL…. (deep breath)…. LOL
The dude built a whole “Rauner Library”
C’mon, seriously…
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 11:43 am:
===Surely a deal they couldn’t refuse.===
“Rauner didn’t miss a trick. He played it beautifully”
- Tom Hagen, maybe.
- Lello - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 11:45 am:
There is a DeSantis clip now where he says a local hospital set up the site, not the State of Florida Department of Public Health. Is that accurate?
- Colin O'Scopy - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 12:00 pm:
I wonder if dropping ones “Gs” is working for him in Florida?
“I’ve been a-wish’n and a-hopin’ I could git the vaccine down here in Flo-ri-duh and now, bless his heart, the Gubnuh has come though for us po’folk livin’ at the Ocean Reef Club.”
Or somethin’ like that.
- Essential State Employee - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 12:00 pm:
=I meant to say 2008 when I said I saw Rauner at Kaskaskia=
Actually you meant 2018. 2008 was the Year of Blago at his worst.
- The Way I See It - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 12:03 pm:
Desantis is definitely taking the lead as the Trumpiest. Vaccines for campaign donors is the lower level of ventilators for red states.
- Ryan - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 12:06 pm:
He’s just livin’ the life and vaccinatin’.
- Essential State Employee - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 12:17 pm:
=Actually you meant 2018. 2008 was the Year of Blago at his worst.=
2008 was also the year that Blago “celebrated” Illinois’ 190th birthday (albeit 2 days late) by shutting down many state parks and historic sites. Kaskaskia State Capitol was spared but nearby Fort Kaskaskia, Pierre Menard Home, and Fort de Chartres were not. (Plus the old Vandalia state capitol site was closed too). All while Blago bragged about he never visited any state parks or historic sites.
https://capitolfax.com/2008/08/28/carnage/
- Captain Obvious - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 12:46 pm:
Amusing to see how many heads Uncle Bruce lives in rent-free. And he can afford to pay rent, obviously.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 12:49 pm:
=== Amusing to see how many heads Uncle Bruce lives in rent-free. And he can afford to pay rent, obviously.===
This only makes sense if you think dropping $250k and the vaccine is “ok” with you.
If that’s true, it says more about your character than anyone living rent free anywhere.
So, there’s that… obviously.
- 4 percent - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 12:58 pm:
He should have done an RFP - I would have scheduled an appointment for him at HyVee for $100k /s
- Huh? - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 1:00 pm:
“Florida Man costume”
Is that the one with an buttoned Hawaiian shirt over a white tee-shirt, Bermuda shorts, sandals with black socks, topped off with porkpie hat?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 1:17 pm:
===how many heads Uncle Bruce lives in rent-free===
Most of us paid dearly for that, duder.
- Colin O'Scopy - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 1:28 pm:
=Amusing to see how many heads Uncle Bruce lives in rent-free. And he can afford to pay rent, obviously.=
Based on this comment alone, I believe you actually are Bruce’s nephew.
- Mr K - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 1:31 pm:
Wow.
It’s PTRSS — Post Traumatic Rauner Stress Syndrome.
I see Raunner doin’ Rauner — and, of course, calling all the hoopla ‘ridiculous’ — and I get a twinge of a stress. Well, more than a twinge. A sharp pang.
Still, I have vivid memories of walking back from work at 5pm, checking CapFax on my phone, and reading about all the Rauner stories that happened during the afternoon.
Closing X, blocking funding for Y, shutting down meetings with Madigan and Cullerton, etc. etc.
Those were the pre-Covid days. Days when you’d ride Metra, actually see people, and wonder what the next day at work was gonna be like.
Memories.
- Frank talks - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 2:00 pm:
Is anyone surprised? What are the chances Ken Griffen got the vaccine already? I’m guessing pretty good. What are the chances that Gold Coast, Winnetka and Oak Brook has found “work arounds” to get theirs? It’s what the 1% does and how things work, they pay big money and get theirs. How many were taking luxury vacations early on to “escape”?
- Ares - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 2:24 pm:
Given that Gov. Ruiner turned 65 recently, I am betting he received his jab.
- Gohawks123 - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 2:28 pm:
Florida guy pays off governor, is how I read this.
- Third Reading - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 2:33 pm:
Collective Bargainin’ the Rauner way
- Nobody Sent - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 3:00 pm:
I guess pay to play is ok when you are the one getting to play.
Rauner and DeSantis deserve each other.
- LkBrightSideofLlife - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 3:27 pm:
And yet we have 400 Cook County residents and 200 DuPage residents traveling to Springfield to get vaccine’s in a SJR story last week. Seem fair? Using tech savvy people to jump the line? And yet we still worry what Rauner is doing in Florida? Please check our own backyard all you “holier than thou” people before convicting our ex-governor in Florida.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 3:33 pm:
===Seem fair? ===
Yep.
You don’t live on an island, dummy.
- Chuck - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 3:35 pm:
@Norseman - I wasn’t comparing Rauner to Blago, I was comparing DeSantis.
- BluegrassBoy - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 3:38 pm:
Poster boy for the WORM society. Looking more and more like Mr. Burns each day. What a disgrace, his stain on Illinois is going to stick around for some time.
- @misterjayem - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 3:46 pm:
“This is just a friendly reminder how state/federally run healthcare actually works.”
This is literally how GOP run government works.
– MrJM
- don the legend - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 3:46 pm:
a Bruce Rauner supporter reminds me of this Malcom X line from the movie Malcom X:
“Oh, I say and I say it again. You’ve been had! Ya been took! Ya been hoodwinked! Bamboozled! Led astray! Run amok! This is what he does!”
- Norseman - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 4:35 pm:
Chuck, as far as I’m concerned all three were/are terrible governors.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 5:12 pm:
=== Please check our own backyard all you “holier than thou” people before convicting our ex-governor in Florida.===
LOL, the guy dropped $250K for the privilege.
I mean, defending a seemingly seedy transaction is quite… comical.
- Essential State Employee - Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 8:00 pm:
=@Norseman - I wasn’t comparing Rauner to Blago, I was comparing DeSantis.=
Heaven forbid we would have had a COVID-esque outbreak during the Rauner and Blago administrations. In my opinion they would have taken the vaccines for themselves (although in the case of Rauner, many of his followers would have been the ones rejecting the vaccines). Then they would have likely drawn up an executive order Banning State Employees from even receiving the Vaccine. And/or if they would have resorted to stay-at-home orders, they would have ordered everyone else to stay home except state employees (and if the unions complained, they would crush them).