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Rauner says Quinn should push Shaw to testify

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Illinois

* Since Gov. Pat Quinn has said he will offer his full cooperation with any investigation of his horribly botched and politically tainted anti-violence Neighborhood Recovery Initiative program, this Bruce Rauner demand doesn’t appear to be too off base. From a press release…

Bruce Rauner today called on Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn to support a Legislative Audit Commission subpoenaing former Illinois Violence Prevention Authority Director Barbara Shaw when the issue comes for a vote on Monday.

“The people of Illinois deserve to know the truth about the misuse of taxpayer funds in Pat Quinn’s anti-violence program and Barbara Shaw was a key player in the initiative,” Rauner said. “There are questions that only Shaw can answer and the people of Illinois have a right to hear from her about how things went wrong, who is responsible and how decisions were made. Pat Quinn should encourage Shaw to testify and call on his legislative allies not to quash the subpoena and enable a cover-up.”

Quinn can encourage Shaw to testify all he wants, but it’ll be up to Shaw’s attorney to make that final decision. Still, not a bad way to get himself on the record here.

* Sun-Times…

The governor’s office did not immediately respond

Of course.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 20, 14 @ 11:09 am

Comments

According to news reports, Shaw wants to testify and pretty much requested the subpoena. She doesn’t need any encouragement.

Misfire.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Jun 20, 14 @ 11:20 am
Create the impression that Quinn is trying to prevent it, like he is trying to hide something..

Win

Comment by OneMan Friday, Jun 20, 14 @ 11:24 am
That are county and federal grand juries going. I’d listen to my lawyer before Rauner or Quinn.

But in the spirit of transparency, maybe the Baron can encourage Stu Levine to clear up any questions about their business relationship.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jun 20, 14 @ 11:26 am
it’s so entertaining watching one guy trying to get the other guy to be honest and forthright when they won’t be fully honest themselves about much of anything when asked. love politics

Comment by PoolGuy Friday, Jun 20, 14 @ 11:34 am
There is a reason people hire lawyers to handle legal cases, and not politicians. Do you want a politician to represent you in court?

Let the attorneys decide for their clients.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 20, 14 @ 11:48 am
Misfire only if this was a real concern. This is a political ploy to keep Quinn baggage in the public eye. Raunervich could care less. This is a juicy problem for Quinn that Raunervich would like to see drag on right to election day.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Jun 20, 14 @ 12:04 pm
Trying the case in public and making PQ look like he is soft on this issue. Rauner has run a smart campaign…brilliant compared to the GOP effort we usually see.

Comment by Wumpus Friday, Jun 20, 14 @ 12:34 pm
“There is a reason people hire lawyers to handle legal cases, and not politicians. Do you want a politician to represent you in court?”

I’ll take Madigan in Property Tax Appeals Court.

Comment by Phenonymous Friday, Jun 20, 14 @ 12:41 pm
Brilliant?

Shaw’s lawyer John Theis said three days ago that she would testify if subpoenaed. CapitolFax covered it. So did AP.

Brilliant might have been pressing the issue beforehand. Or at the time. Not on Friday.

As for Quinn’s response, Wordslinger and pool guy are on the right hunt.

“Bruce Rauner’s hypocrisy is even bigger than Donald Trump’s ego, and this latest call for transparency from Bruce Rauner is yet another failed attempt to distract voters from the fact that Rauner cannot provide any clear answers to direct questions about his plans to raise taxes and cut vital programs like education if he is elected.

Voters have a clear choice this fall. Governor Quinn has passed sweeping reforms to ensure transparency and accountability as governor, while Bruce Rauner has dodged questions since Day One about everything from taxes to gay marriage to his neglect-ridden nursing homes. Pat Quinn is the clear choice.”

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Jun 20, 14 @ 12:51 pm
Easy press release for Rauner. It was a softball pitch put out there and he swung. Unfortunately, YDD is right - it would have been more powerful had he said this before we knew Shaw said she would testify if they subpoenaed her.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Jun 20, 14 @ 1:05 pm
==Governor Quinn has passed sweeping reforms to ensure transparency and accountability as governor==

Like those sweeping reforms in hiring at IDOT, or the transparency in giving records to Shakman, or the failure to answer questions and account for millions in grant money, etc…

Gov. Quinn the man who called Blago honest and ethical.

Comment by DuPage Rep Friday, Jun 20, 14 @ 1:44 pm
Rauner makes an excellent point/huit on Quinn here.

But it seems dangerous to go donw this road, Quinn could hit back with answering Rauner to explain the nursing home straw man attempt to defraud creditors, the deaths from negelect; the investment company that was running a fraudulent scheme etc.

demanding explanations is a dangerous push from a glass house.

Comment by Ghost Friday, Jun 20, 14 @ 1:59 pm
===it seems dangerous to go donw this road, Quinn could hit back with answering Rauner to explain the nursing home straw man attempt to defraud creditors, the deaths from negelect; the investment company that was running a fraudulent scheme etc.

demanding explanations is a dangerous push from a glass house.===

How true that is.

Comment by Mighty M. Mouse Friday, Jun 20, 14 @ 2:18 pm
So, a dude with, at the least, peripheral shady acquaintances wants his opponent to push for that person’s acquaintances to testify. I get the political angle, but man, be careful what paths you choose.

Comment by efudd Friday, Jun 20, 14 @ 2:56 pm
I don’t see the downside for the Governor to call on her to testify, since it sounds like that’s what she’s going to do in either case. At least if he says, “Yup, we said we were going to cooperate, and that’s what we’re doing,” he looks like the Pat Quinn who has been such a champion of transparency for so many years.

Comment by Soccermom Friday, Jun 20, 14 @ 3:50 pm
Something tells me that this could develop into an ugly, viscous and nasty race for the governors office. I hope that I’m wrong.

Comment by Ginhouse Tommy Friday, Jun 20, 14 @ 4:18 pm
Soccermom:

It makes it look like you needed prompting from Rauner to be ethical. Not good.

Parry, thrust.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Jun 20, 14 @ 4:41 pm