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* Kurt Erickson reports on a college town editorial board meeting with Bruce Rauner…
BLOOMINGTON - Republican candidate for governor Bruce Rauner added Illinois universities to a growing list of state programs he thinks should get more money.
The political newcomer from Winnetka told a joint meeting of the editorial boards of The (Bloomington) Pantagraph and the Decatur Herald & Review Wednesday that an influx of cash for higher education could be used to address skyrocketing college tuition costs.
“The two biggest things I know I can do are increase state support for higher education: We’ve been cutting it for years; that’s pushed tuition costs up. And the other big thing is to work with the universities to improve their management and reduce their administrative spending,” Rauner said.
I agree that universities absolutely need to improve their management and reduce overhead. But we’re now up to four big funding increase proposals from the guy who wants to cut taxes: P-12; Higher Ed; Infrastructure; IDNR.
…Adding… Actually, it’s likely six. He’s said he wants to spend more money on agriculture programs. He’s also said he wants to hire more prison guards.
…Adding More… I’m reminded that he also wants to reopen keep Murray Developmental Center, so that’s seven.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 11:28 am
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Not a complete shock that a guy who will say anything to get elected would call for more spending and less taxes.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 11:32 am
What a joke Rauner is turning out to be, but it won’t be funny if he gets elected.
Comment by DuPage Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 11:37 am
QUINNSTERS, please send a dancing calculator to follow Rauner anywhere. Please bring a calculator for any joint appearance. You must prosecute this math issue - the press won’t do it for you.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 11:38 am
Ducky, if he has a real plan to reduce taxes, he hasn’t made it public.
He’s got a vague plan to reduce the income tax in three years, but no specifics that I’ve seen as to tax rates in any particular year.
He’s got a plan to expand the sales tax.
And he’s got a long list of new spending.
When you look at their actual plan, Rauner seems to be running to the left of Quinn on fiscal issues.
Comment by Gooner Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 11:40 am
Please Governor - please expose what Rich has so nicely referred to as “a fundamentally dishonest position.” Do it now. Do it tomorrow. Do it in the debate. Do it until the election.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 11:40 am
If Rauner could really reduce Higher Education Administrative spending, that alone, might get my vote. Higher education costs have increased even faster than health care inflation for 30 years—ridiculous. Cut the needless overhead and inflated executive salaries and put the money into frontline classroom staff.
Comment by Louis Howe Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 11:41 am
Cut revenue and increase spending. That’ll certainly make the state’s finances better.
And some of you said things can’t get any worse by electing Rauner . . . .
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 11:41 am
===but no specifics that I’ve seen as to tax rates in any particular year==
There’s one specific number: 3 percent rate in the fourth year of his term.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 11:43 am
He will raise taxes more, both in percentage and dollar, than the Democrats ever did.
His spending priorities are good of course - I just don’t like him pretending that he won’t raise taxes, because he clearly will.
Comment by gopher Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 11:45 am
Promise more money to each interest group that sits in front of you.
Could this guy be any more like a weak career politician?
Comment by walker Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 11:47 am
Gopher, he can’t raise taxes on his own. He needs the legislature and he has already said they shouldn’t raise taxes during lame duck.
Comment by Casual observer Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 11:53 am
What’s a million here or there to a billionaire. Oh, wait he hasn’t pledged to pay for all this spending and hasn’t given us a real plan for doing that either.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 12:01 pm
Totally agree with Walker. Rauner tells each group that he talks to that he will help them with more money. But he never actually comes out and says where the new money will come from. And he will have to work with all those “corrupt career politicians” to get things passed in the GA. This guy is just trying to please everyone by telling them that he will fix what they think is wrong. Saying it and doing it are 2 very distinct things. Anyone that believes this snake oil salesman is just too blind or lazy to read and find out some real mathematical facts. He is going to continue to avoid real answers to problems in this state, as long as the media doesn’t press him on it. True, the state is in a mess, but if Rauner is elected, it will get much worse.
Comment by Big Joe Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 12:03 pm
I still remember canvassing that woman in Mayfair. She was from Indiana, stay-at-home mom concerned about schools w/ husband working for city in special events.
She was convinced Rauner’s acumen with money was something like magic. He could just make it appear.
He must be that way, he’s rich, was her reasoning.
People who want to believe stuff that ain’t true, they are going to believe it.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 12:03 pm
Rich, that was my understanding too.
That gives him the freedom to leave rates at 5% the other years and run again claiming to have kept his promise.
Comment by Gooner Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 12:07 pm
So, if I understand this correctly, in the private sector GTCR pursued “Rockstar” executives until they would accept their offer. I assume this included compensation and that GTCR felt that it was important because they had a major positive impact on business. In the public sector executives (administrators) are irrelevant, cost too much and should be cut? Interesting how his formula changes especially since admin costs in the public sector average about 5% and in the private sector 15% is considered good. Panderer or liar? I say both.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 12:14 pm
In all fairness, he did say he’d use his business skills to run the state–rack up debt, spend all you can, get out with lots of money and leave the mess behind.
Comment by Earnest Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 12:19 pm
Budget a year of spending with two years of taxes. Call it balanced and you got it whipped.
Comment by vole Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 12:22 pm
“What a joke Rauner is turning out to be, but it won’t be funny if he gets elected”
I’ll bet all these spending increase promises go away after Rauner is elected.
Comment by a drop in Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 12:23 pm
We could learn from this guy.
He insulates himself well from his hand-picked lieutenants who run his businesses. He takes the fifth.
Editorial Boards don’t question him when he promises something for everyone. Like an offer they can’t refuse.
Rank and file GA members are bought and fear him.
He has his inside people who steer government business to him.
And like Sgt. Schultz, there is a likeable side to him.
Comment by The Five Heads Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 12:35 pm
=== I’ll bet all these spending increase promises go away after Rauner is elected ===
LOL
Really? I might take that bet.
The last Republican governor we had travelled the state making all kinds of spending promises, and he kept them. By raising taxes, borrowing, raiding funds and passing unbalanced budgets.
And he was a fiscal conservative.
Because state spending was built up over years by Republican governors in Republican districts, it is very hard for Republicans to make cuts. Public jobs are a significant economic anchor wherever a prison, university of other public facility is located.
That’s why it took a Democratic governor to close prisons and facilities.
Edgar was the exception, not the rule when it came to fiscal prudence.
And he told me once that he never would have been able to keep spending in check without Mike Madigan.
You read me right.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 12:38 pm
So where does the revenue from this come from? A new program to print money in the basement of the governor’s mansion?
Comment by wayward Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 12:40 pm
The Ron Turner magical budget plan back in full force.
For crying out loud.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 12:42 pm
It’s a hard point to drive home but the fiscal disaster of the state has impacted higher ed funding. Lower funding equates to higher tuition to make up the difference. Higher tuition equals higher student loan debt. Higher student loan debt equals unhappy late 20s to 30 somethings. Student debt = “Quinn’s democrats bankrupting the state” = stealing some millennial votes from Quinn.
Comment by Anarditka Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 12:53 pm
You can easily balance a budget and spend more money on things you want if you don’t care about the rest budget. Just ask my 16 year old daughter.
Comment by Makandadawg Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 1:10 pm
There’s no way Rauner could preside over the biggest tax cut in state history, while boosting funding for education, public safety, ag and social services. No honest conservative could say otherwise. So which promises would he break?
Comment by Anon Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 1:12 pm
Anarditka: At the root of many states’ budget woes is the inequality of income distribution and stagnation of middle class incomes. It is very ironic that an icon of the 0.01% that has benefited so greatly from this inequality and lording of GDP by the financial sector could sway so many people. What’s the problem with Kansas might as well be what’s the problem with Illinois and on and on and on.
Comment by vole Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 1:33 pm
A commenter, several days ago, remarked about the total absence of Quinn signs in Centralia ( home of Murray Center ). This is true, and given the employee base in Marion, Clinton and Washington Counties and the economic impact its total closure will have Gov. Quinn will be lucky to get 20% of the votes in these counties.
I am reminded of a book written by the late Sen. Simon lamenting and commenting on the “pandering” that politicians engaage in to get elected/reelected. If Rauners campaign is not engaged in this ultimately self-defeating strategy with all his promises, lack of specifics and feel good ideas I have totally misread his message.
Or maybe Slip and Sue has has a magic formula for making this all happen.
Comment by illini Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 1:34 pm
“In all fairness, he did say he’d use his business skills to run the state–rack up debt, spend all you can, get out with lots of money and leave the mess behind.”
Earnest nails it!
Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 1:36 pm
“Lower funding equates to higher tuition to make up the difference” while true, the UofI was merrily raising tuition in the fat 90’s at a rate far exceeding inflation.
Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 1:40 pm
He doesn’t need to reopen Murray Center…..it isn’t closed….the Judge made it very clear that it can only be closed if they give the parents/guardians choice for their loved ones….so far we haven’t seen that choice….
With Quinn we know what we are going to get in Southern Illinois….nothing but more closures and disappearance of jobs. Quinn made it very clear to many of us early in this campaign with his comment, “I don’t need Southern Illinois to win this election”. I think a lot of us in Southern Illinois will at least take a chance with Rauner….it CAN’T BE WORSE THAN QUINN …..
Comment by Millie K. Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 1:58 pm
Unfortunately, there is a way to increase spending on all of these worthwile programs and cut taxes at the same time. Its called not funding the pensions. Until very recently, this is what Illinois did for nearly 100 years, and obviously it is why the state is in such a financial pickle today. So what terrifies me is not that Rauner won’t keep his promises, but that he WILL keep them.
Comment by Andy S. Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 2:14 pm
Big Joe said “Rauner tells each group that he talks to that he will help them with more money”
Rauner’s promise proliferation reminds me of another dishonest candidate for Governor: “I have made so many promises I can’t keep them all let alone keep track of them” - Rod Blagojevich
Comment by Siriusly Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 2:25 pm
Skeptic is right. I know what tuition and fees were in the late 60’s early 70’s when I was getting my degrees. And I know what my nephew ( more correctly, my brother ) is paying today.
State funding when I attended was at close to 50%, today I think it is less than 10%. This for a flagship state institution, still ranked as one of the top Universities in the country, but also has among the most expensive in-state tuition’s in the country.
Comment by illini Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 2:26 pm
I’m beginning to believe business people should not be allowed to run for any office. Wasn’t George W. (Shrub)Bush an MBA?
Comment by Lovecraft Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 2:39 pm
Vole: Illinois is not just any state. Illinois has the worst bond rating and pension deficit in the nation, by far. Dems have run both chambers for several decades. Fair or unfair Quinn is lumped into the democrat fiscal disaster. Second, you are trying to broaden a discussion about higher ed budgets into your passionate dissatisfaction with income inequality. I am sorry you hate a capital economy. But we are talking about college tuition today. I don’t like the affordable care act because I pay more for health insurance. Instead I should be saving that for my kid’s college tuition. Completely irrelevant to the discussion but lets lump that in too.
Skeptic: good point
Comment by Anarditka Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 2:55 pm
Rich,
Murray Center is open. He said he would keep it open and consider opening closed prisons.
Comment by Nonplussed Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 2:58 pm
==Dems have run both chambers for several decades==
I seem to remember a guy named Pate Philip who ran the Illinois Senate for a good long time (I think about 10 years, ending in 2003). And I seem to remember a few Republican Governor’s thrown in over those “several decades.” I think a Governor might have a bit of a role to play in the running of a state too, don’t you think.
I know it’s good politics if you are a Republican to blame the Democrats for all of the state’s woes. If you were honest, though, you’d recognize that line of thinking is utter garbage. There is enough blame to go around. Partisanship, however, doesn’t allow for that honest assessment.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 3:02 pm
To Demoralized point - did we not have a quarter of a century of Republican governors, and during at least a part of that time the R’s had effective control of the legislative process? Yet, the excesses being blamed on the D’s continued uninterrupted and effectively were continued during their reign.
Admittedly, there is plenty of blame to go around, but to put everything on Blago, Quinn and Madigan seems to me to be hypocritical. Yes, they have not been able to bring things in balance, but the R’s had their chance!
Comment by illini Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 3:31 pm
Rauner’s plans to increase funding to every group he talks to, while lowering taxes (then ditching out just in the nick of time) sounds par for the course, doesn’t it?
Comment by anon Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 3:43 pm
@Vole= You nailed it! How in the world did did the uber wealthy get the middle class social conservatives to vote against their economic best interests all the while failing to deliver on the conservative social agenda at the same time? Kansas indeed.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 3:44 pm
I have been at the U of I for 30 years. I can tell you, unconditionally, that the high cost of tuition has nothing to do with reduced state revenue to the university. That is not the problem. The problem is the DISTRIBUTION of the revenue. Tuition could be virtually free if we got rid of the layers upon layers of administrative bloat here, whose growth is four times that of the faculty. The problem is NO ONE is watching the $$$. The Board of Trustees, whose job it is, are totally clueless regarding the use of money.
Comment by Filmmaker Professor Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 4:32 pm
As an alumni, and without having access to the facts that you have, I will not immediately disagree. We do see the increase of administrative staff at all levels of education.
However, when you look at a 40% decrease in State funding, what is one to think! And where is the needed funding going to come from ( instate, out of state or international )? Obviously, the U of I is taking advantage of all its options.
I agree the Board of Trustees has not been as proactive or as involved in the minutiae of running a world class University, as I might hope, but to great extent their hands have been tied by the legislature and the funding constraints brought about by 30 to 40 years of legislative incompetence by both parties.
Comment by illini Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 5:17 pm
This is what so many people want to hear…that is why he does it. Blue state programs and red state taxes — only works as long as you can make up the difference by not funding pensions and getting way behind on bills. PQ at least is honest about taxes and has made the pension payment every year he has been governor.
Comment by facts are stubborn things Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 7:34 am