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RGA contributes $2 million to Rauner - Rauner makes good on million dollar pledge - Contributes another $1.5 million to himself - At least tripled his ratings points

Friday, Sep 5, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller

* In case you’re keeping track, today’s $2 million contribution brings the Republican Governors Association’s tally to $6 million since the GOP primary.

* And, of course, the DGA was out with a quick response…

Money speaks for money and now that billionaire Bruce Rauner’s plans to eliminate the minimum wage are out-of-the-bag, it’s time to circle the wagons, and the wine casks. The people of Illinois are seeing through Rauner’s phony “everyman” act and no amount of money will hide the fact that his policies favor the super-rich at the expense of working families.

…Adding… More Friday news…

In #ILGov race, Rauner arrives at SSide credit union driving old van, deposits $800k, donates $200k, calls it coincidental to his candidacy.

— Rick Pearson (@rap30) September 5, 2014

…Adding More…. That A-1 Rauner filed today included a $1.5 million contribution to himself.

…Adding Still More… Just two weeks ago, Rauner’s campaign was pushing about 500 ratings points a week in Chicago. I’m told by one source that he’s now up to 1,596 points in the city, but told by another that it’s more than that.

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The attacks may be working

Friday, Sep 5, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller

* ABC7 Chicago, January 8, 2014…

“Anyone who wants to see more people going back to work should support lowering the minimum wage,” John Tilman, Illinois Policy Institute, said.

* Now, compare that tone to ABC7 Chicago’s report yesterday…

At the Conservative Illinois Policy Institute to which Rauner is a major contributor, Ted Dabrowski said raising the minimum wage does not address the state’s real problem.

“What’s the best way to help those who can’t get jobs? And what’s the best way to create jobs rather than be talking about the minimum wage per se?” Dabrowski said.

…Adding… From John Tillman…

Hi, Rich,

Hope you had a good summer. To be clear, our position has not changed on min wage. The more recent comments were in context of Rauner’s blueprint release, not an alteration of our position.

See link for our position - same as it has always been.

http://www.illinoispolicy.org/analysis-of-gop-gubernatorial-candidate-bruce-rauners-bring-back-blueprint/

John

I never said the position changed, just the tone.

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*** UPDATED x1 - Rauner response *** Quinn tries to buy time on IDOT scandal

Friday, Sep 5, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the Bruce Rauner campaign earlier this morning…

Day 8: No Quinn Response on Illegal Hires

It’s been more than a week since Pat Quinn began dodging questions about dozens of illegally hired patronage cronies who remain in state jobs. These are the same illegal hires that denied hard-working Illinoisans – especially our veterans – the opportunity to compete for state jobs.

Who is Pat Quinn protecting? Why are dozens of illegally hired cronies still working in the Quinn administration?

* The campaign also pointed to this News-Gazette editorial…

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner has challenged Quinn’s enthusiasm for correcting the abuses that occurred during his tenure as well as that of his predecessor Rod Blagojevich. Rauner says “dozens” who were hired illegally remain on the IDOT payroll in contravention of Quinn’s order to clean house, suggesting that those with more clout were protected while those with less were sacrificed for public relations purposes. […]

Gov. Quinn has admitted that what occurred on his watch was inappropriate and pledged to put an end to the wrongdoing. If he does not follow through on his promise [to clean house], the damage to his credibility will be significant.

* The governor was pressed again on the matter today…

Pushed if any one hired as a "staff assistant" at IDOT remains on payroll under another title, Quinn says he'll have agency "review" matter.

— Monique Garcia (@moniquegarcia) September 5, 2014

Obviously, he knows there are still “tainted” folks on the IDOT payroll. It’s a dodge, but it buys him some time.

*** UPDATE *** Rauner campaign…

Quinn Doesn’t Deny Illegal Hires Still at IDOT

“While Pat Quinn is unwilling to fire his illegal patronage hires, Illinois voters will get a chance to fire Pat Quinn in November.” – Rauner spokesperson Mike Schrimpf

Earlier this morning, Pat Quinn was confronted about dozens of illegally hired patronage cronies who remain in state jobs. Despite dancing around a series of questions, Quinn never denied the facts. Instead, he said he would ask his new transportation secretary to “review it.”

Review it? Pat Quinn told the people of Illinois he had already reviewed it and led the people of Illinois to believe that he took decisive action.

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*** UPDATED x2 - “Lie,” says Rauner campaign - Quinn opening new front on Rauner? *** Rauner counters plutocrat charge with “trashcan van” ad

Friday, Sep 5, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Natasha Korecki…

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner, under the gun this week for admitting he belongs to an exclusive wine club that costs upward of $100,000 to join after portraying himself as the frugal $18 watch wearer, had a new everyday Joe ad teed up.

In this one, Rauner talks about his “trashcan van,” which he says he’s owned for 20 years — with “almost 200,000 miles.”

“I’ll live in Springfield, sell that state plane and drive my van to work because the Capital needs a good trash can,” Rauner says in the ad, chiding Gov. Pat Quinn for using a state plane to fly to Springfield.

* The ad…

* DGA response…

This is from the phony with a $100,000 extra parking spot. The ad is as insulting as it is incredulous. Voters beware.

*** UPDATE *** Quinn campaign…

“Mr. Rauner’s attempt to deceive voters into not thinking that he’s an out of touch billionaire with 9 homes and a $140,000+ wine club membership is offensive. But it’s not as offensive as the fact that his policies always benefit the very wealthy at the expense of the rest of us, whether it’s his heartless belief that the minimum wage should be eliminated or his plan to tax consumption of food and medicine. We don’t think voters will be fooled.”

Food and medicine taxes? A new front against Rauner appears to be opening.

*** UPDATE 2 *** The Rauner campaign responds to the food and medicine tax allegation…

This is a lie. Bruce’s growth plan only modernizes how we treat services - not goods like food and medicine. And in fact, Bruce explicitly said that he would exempt “medical services” and “day-to-day items like Laundromats, day care centers, barber shops and animal care.”

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