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Tuesday, Apr 11, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From a reporter friend who is covering Gov. Rauner’s non-campaign campaign tour today…

* The Question: Your suggested non-campaign campaign slogan(s) based on this photo?

*** UPDATE *** We now have the governor’s entry…

@NOWFoods is one of many #IL fam businesses we are working hard to protect from career politicians in Springfield #Twill #BringBackIL #ILGov pic.twitter.com/yWnCPitCii

— Bruce Rauner (@BruceRauner) April 11, 2017

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*** UPDATED x1 - Jarrett retracts bill *** NEIU shuts down for three days as controversy swirls over $30K Valerie Jarrett speech payment, $98K for prez search

Tuesday, Apr 11, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

Today, as Bruce Rauner chooses to hit the campaign trail instead of working to pass a much-needed budget, Northeastern campus is shutting down again. This is the second time in three weeks that Northeastern Illinois University has had to shut down due to the two-year deadlock over a new state budget.

“Today, Bruce Rauner is once again choosing to put politics over doing his job as Governor,” said JB Pritzker. “While Rauner heads out on the campaign trail, our state still doesn’t have a budget and Northeastern campus is shutting down again. This is devastating. Illinois families have had enough of Bruce Rauner’s failed leadership and they are ready for a progressive leader who will fight for what’s right and actually get things done for our state.”

* Twitters…

No school at @neiu today because of the lack of a state budget. Faculty and staff are demonstrating outside of campus during a furlough day pic.twitter.com/TaVuEAiMbi

— Lauren Chooljian (@laurenchooljian) April 11, 2017

* Sun-Times…

Three class days were cancelled to cut costs during the budget impasse, and union leaders are planning a rally to protest the school’s financial straits — but Northeastern Illinois University was planning to pay former White House adviser Valerie Jarrett $30,000 to speak at its commencement ceremony.

Those plans changed after a few university trustees objected — and the Sun-Times began asking questions. Northeastern said late Monday that a donor came forward to pay the five-figure speaking fee.

But at an April 6 board meeting, trustees approved an honorary degree for Jarrett — while learning that a contract had already been negotiated and signed to pay her $30,000 for her May 8 speech.

Just the day before, the school’s interim president said the university was in a “state of emergency” amid the 22-month budget impasse.

Hearing of Jarrett’s contract on April 6, at least one board member uttered “wow,” according to audio of the board’s meeting.

Click here for the trustee meeting audio and fast forward to about the 1:38:00 mark. It’s quite the discussion, with one trustee arguing that it was “classist” to oppose the speaking fee.

And ironically enough, the trustees discussed a statement on impending employee furloughs immediately after they finished talking about the speaking fee.

…Adding… I didn’t see this item at first…

Additionally, the university’s board last week approved an “expenditure recommendation” of $98,000 to executive search firm Greenwood/Asher & Associates to search for a new university president.

Asked for comment on that approval, the university said it couldn’t comment on the search for president or the $98,000 approval.

Sheesh.

*** UPDATE *** Sun-Times…

Valerie Jarrett won’t collect a speaking fee for her commencement speech at cash-strapped Northeastern Illinois University.

Jarrett has spoken with the university president and will not be taking a speaking fee, a Jarrett spokeswoman said Tuesday.

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*** UPDATED x3 - Rauner denies it’s a campaign tour - ILGOP denies this is a campaign tour *** Rauner joins growing field of Dems on the hustings

Tuesday, Apr 11, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* AP…

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner is launching the first official campaign tour of his re-election bid on Tuesday, as Democrats line up to unseat him in 2018 and the Republican tries to turn around his sagging approval ratings.

Rauner will kick off a two-day, multi-stop swing with a morning event in the Chicago suburb of Bloomingdale, followed by events in northern and western Illinois and an evening rally in Springfield, his campaign said. On Wednesday he’ll appear at five restaurants and businesses in southern Illinois, Quincy and Champaign. […]

Rauner’s campaign says he wants to take a message directly to voters that he’s working hard and is still determined to “deliver real change” for Illinois, such as term limits for lawmakers and a property tax freeze.

He also will criticize Democrats for trying to “duct tape over” Illinois’ problems - a central theme of television commercials that an arm of the Republican Governors Association began airing last month. In the ads, a plaid shirt-wearing Rauner stands in what appears to be a workroom stocked with tools and says he’s the one trying to fix Illinois.

* WHOI…

Governor Bruce Rauner will kick of his re-election campaign Tuesday with a stop in Peoria.

The Governor will be at the Brewer’s Distributing Company, talking about his plan to balance the budget, and fix what he calls a broken political system in Illinois.

* Peoria County Republican Party…

You are invited to join Peoria area leaders at a rally to support Governor Bruce Rauner this afternoon at 4:00 pm at Brewer’s Distributing, corner of Allen Road and Townline Road. The doors will open at 3:45 pm, no earlier. Come learn about the Governor’s plans to turnaround our state.

* KWQC…

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner is launching the first official campaign tour of his re-election bid as Democrats line up to try to take him out in 2018.

Rauner will kick off a two-day, multi-stop swing Tuesday morning, April 11, 2017 in suburban Chicago, with a stop planned for Rock Island at 1:45 p.m. The Governor’s itinerary says he will be at Performance Food Group, 8001 51st St. W.

* News-Gazette…

Wednesday’s scheduled 5:15 p.m. appearance at HL Precision Manufacturing, 2110 Round Barn Road, Champaign, is the final stop on a two-day swing around the state. […]

The media release about Rauner’s appearances echoed the theme of television commercials the governor’s campaign staff has been running on Illinois television stations since late March.

“Rather than work to finally solve Illinois’ structural problems, politicians in Springfield want to duct tape over Illinois’ challenges with more spending, higher taxes, and no real reforms,” said the notice. “Gov. Bruce Rauner will tour the state this week highlighting the need for a truly balanced budget with real reforms to fix Illinois’ broken political system, freeze property taxes, reduce the debt and grow jobs.”

Stops today include Bloomingdale, Rockford, Rock Island, Peoria and Springfield. Tomorrow’s campaign tour takes him to Quincy, East Alton, Marion, Robinson and Champaign.

*** UPDATE 1 *** From the ILGOP…

Hi Rich,

This tour is not the governor formally launching his reelection campaign. He’s traveling the state to talk about the need for a balanced budget with reforms. It is being paid with political resources out of an abundance of caution.

Thanks,

Aaron P. DeGroot
Illinois Republican Party

*** UPDATE 2 *** From the Rauner campaign…

This week, Bruce and the team are taking to the road, traveling all across our great state to listen to Illinois families and to talk about budget and reform.

But before we go, we need your help. Will you consider contributing to our Volunteer Fund today to directly help our grassroots team as we prep for this trip?

Chip in $5 >> Fliers for our events
Chip in $20 >> Fuel for grassroots team before hitting the road
Chip in $30 >> Pizza for our grassroots team
Chip in $50 >> Recruitment of more volunteers

Every donation counts as we work to get out the important message this week; we’re so grateful for your support!

Thanks,

Team Rauner

*** UPDATE 3 *** AP…

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner says his two-day trip across Illinois “has nothing to do with the election” even though it’s being paid for out of his campaign fund.

Rauner spoke Tuesday in Bloomingdale before flying to stops around Illinois.

His tour comes after several Democrats in recent weeks announced they’re running for governor in 2018.

Rauner refused to say he’s running for re-election, saying it’ll be “discussed later on.” He insists the tour as simply “communication with the people of Illinois.”

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