Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

I’m shocked! Shocked!

Posted in:

Illinois

Like other governors on the campaign trail before him, he’s doling out millions of dollars in taxpayer funds for everything from new roads to improved drinking water systems in the final weeks before the Nov. 4 election.

Through Monday, this month’s total alone stands at 26 projects worth more than $140 million.

By contrast, during the same time period in 2013, Quinn’s own official news releases note he handed out two grants worth a total of $1.48 million.

* From the Rauner campaign…

Pat Quinn is already under federal investigation for misusing millions in October of 2010, and now it looks like he’s pumping out millions more to boost his campaign once again. He’s throwing around taxpayer money in October in the hopes of raising your taxes in November.” — Rauner spokesperson Mike Schrimpf

I hope they remember all these news releases if their guy wins. No ribbon cuttings in October, 2018 for Bruce or that comment is gonna come back on him.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 14, 14 @ 4:36 pm

Comments

I’m shocked the big brains at team Rauner thinks anyone cares about this.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 14, 14 @ 4:38 pm
What, Rauner doesn’t have money to throw around?

Comment by Casual observer Tuesday, Oct 14, 14 @ 4:42 pm
“taxpayer funds for everything from new roads to improved drinking water systems”

Shades of N̶o̶r̶t̶h̶ ̶K̶o̶r̶e̶a̶ a first world representative democracy!

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM (@MisterJayEm) Tuesday, Oct 14, 14 @ 4:47 pm
Isn’t there a legislature that approves a budget?

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Oct 14, 14 @ 4:48 pm
NEW ROADS??!!!

Thanks, Rauner, as you know we’d much prefer our pot-holed, crumbling highways and byways! As for clean drinking water, unnecessary luxury for us regular folks, to be sure.

Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Oct 14, 14 @ 4:51 pm
I’m assuming these are routine annual grants versus NRI type “grants.”

I bet many of these grant announcements were delayed for maximum political impact. That may sound innocuous but it often means projects miss the construction season, project costs go up or the project must be completed in less time.

In my former agency, grant recommendations were sent to the Governor’s Office and sat there until there was a political benefit from announcing them. Meanwhile the grantees were waiting to get their projects going.

Comment by Sir Reel Tuesday, Oct 14, 14 @ 4:56 pm
Mr. Rauner,

“You’re gonna need a bigger checkbook”.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 14, 14 @ 5:01 pm
Another bad day for Mitt…seems unlikely he wull need to worry about 18

Comment by circular firing squad Tuesday, Oct 14, 14 @ 5:11 pm
Rauner can’t keep comments from last fall… this spring… a few weeks ago… from coming back on him! If he manages to nab the big seat, there will be a LOT coming back on him in four years (and much sooner!).

Comment by PolPal56 Tuesday, Oct 14, 14 @ 5:20 pm
Bush did the same thing for senators/congressmen in 2006 coordinated out of Rove’s office working with every big appointee down to a GSA administrator-it was a major story/investigation in 2007 that prompted obama to call for closing Rove’s office.

It’s called politics and government and if an incumbent is going to be blamed for every problem under the sun because he/she’s in office they’re going to take credit for everything going right under the sun.

my guess is every elected governor/senator/congressman that can is doing this stuff right now across the country.

moving on.

Comment by Shore Tuesday, Oct 14, 14 @ 5:47 pm
Don’t worry, he will have to study the issue

Comment by One to the Dome Tuesday, Oct 14, 14 @ 5:56 pm
I know two guys who were forced to resign their management positions from a state agency recently because they refused to comply with an order to issue what they considered to be an improper grant under state administrative rules. Quinn is pulling out all the stops to buy votes this time around, and nearly all in Cook County. I don’t care if “everyone does it”. The expenditure of public funds for personal gain (Including re-election) is the essence of public corruption.

Comment by Skirmisher Tuesday, Oct 14, 14 @ 6:14 pm
==The expenditure of public funds for personal gain (Including re-election) is the essence of public corruption.==

The promise of expenditure of public funds for personal gain by Rauner is not?

Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Oct 14, 14 @ 6:20 pm
“I don’t care if “everyone does it”. The expenditure of public funds for personal gain (Including re-election) is the essence of democracy.”

And the pursuit of popular policies for election is the essence of democracy. The alternative is that our politicians are held unaccountable and operate without a mandate.

I understand the whole “Quinn did X, hit him for iiiiiiit!” mindset, and I’m not saying I always do better when it comes to Rauner, but let’s try to separate the wheat from the chaff here.

Comment by Adlai Wednesday, Oct 15, 14 @ 8:07 am
==Quinn is pulling out all the stops to buy votes this time around, and nearly all in Cook County. I don’t care if “everyone does it”. The expenditure of public funds for personal gain (Including re-election) is the essence of public corruption.==

This has got to be the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Governor’s do ribbon cuttings and press releases and give out grants ALL THE TIME. Every politician from the beginning of time has done it. It isn’t corruption. It’s called POLITICS and you clearly have zero understanding of it. Basically what you and others are saying is that Governor’s are never allowed to give out grants. Ever. Because it’s corruption. That’s just asinine.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Oct 15, 14 @ 9:11 am