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Report: Another tie between Rauner and CS-T chairman

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Illinois

* Progress Illinois has some oppo on another business relationship between Bruce Rauner and Sun-Times parent company Chairman Mike Ferro…

Ferro and Rauner have a long-standing relationship, having worked on a number of deals together, including purchasing the parent company of Sun-Times Media, Wrapports LLC. Prior to running for governor, Rauner sold his share of the company to Ferro for $5 million.

But what many do not know is that Rauner also invested millions into Merge Healthcare, for which Ferro’s company, Merrick Ventures, paid $20 million for a controlling stake in 2008.

Merge Healthcare was close to going under when Ferro jumped in to save the health records and imaging software firm. By 2010, Rauner owned 900,000 shares of Merge Healthcare. Other notable Chicago-area billionaires who bought into the struggling company, once stewarded by Ferro as chairman, include J.B. Pritzker and Matt Hulszizer.

Rauner has since divested from Merge Healthcare. But the business relationship is still a notable one considering the multi-millionaire once plunged millions of dollars into a struggling company owned by Ferro. And considering many question whether the Sun-Times’ recent decision to endorse Rauner, after the newspaper stayed out of the endorsement game for three years, has to do with the GOP candidate’s former ties to the newspaper and Ferro, one can only logically extend that train of thought to the Merge Healthcare deal.

Gov. Pat Quinn’s camp, along with numerous community groups and organizations in the state, have repeatedly requested that Rauner release his full tax returns and schedules from previous years as a means to ensure that the GOP candidate is clear of business relationships that could be a conflict of interest if he were to take office as governor. […]

Those cries for transparency could be validated and strengthened by the Sun-Times’ McKinney debacle, as Rauner’s ties to Ferro are at the very least questionable when looking at how the endorsement and the veteran reporter’s treatment at the newspaper has played out.

Discuss.

* Related…

* Few legal options for ex-Sun-Times reporter

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 11:34 am

Comments

In what minds are there any questions as to how and why the McKinney squeeze and Rauner endorsement played out?

Who do you believe? Sun-Times management and Rauner or your lying eyes?

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 11:38 am
I thought payback was supposed to be a “b-word”?

Or perhaps it is, and this proves that Ferro is Rauner’s ‘b-word” after Rauner saved Ferro’s bacon in the Merge Healthcare deal!

Comment by Concerned Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 11:38 am
Hope this makes the main stream media or it will not be noticed.

Comment by Nearly Normal Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 11:43 am
And people were worried about Hoover…….

Comment by Ghost Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 11:44 am
Come on labor folks and Quinn supporters - pull together a blow out rally calling Rauner the corrupter and highlight his nefarious activities NOW!!!

Comment by 2 Cents... Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 11:48 am
Some individuals and groups are certainly fixated on the Sun-Times endorsement, but Rauner is running an ad touting a pretty solid clean sweep of newspaper endorsement statewide. Unless someone can make a provable case that all or most of these endorsements are somehow hinky, the continued focus on the Sun-Times just falls completely flat. Almost like somebody continuously repeating “but it’s not fair!” A continuing emphasis by some of these groups on the Sun-Times article only reminds people that the Governor hasn’t been endorsed by any newspaper (as far as I know) and that his campaign seems to be angry about one of the endorsements. Better change the subject with less than two weeks to go!

Comment by Illannoyed Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 11:51 am
How long before Kass acknowledges that Rauner is a key part of the Combine?

Comment by Mister Whipple Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 11:51 am
So we had that statement from Andy Shaw aout the BGA’s take on the Sun-Times.

But as recently as last spring there were articles that mentioned McKinney’s attorney Patrick Collins was a BGA board member and he donated his book sales to support BGA’s efforts.

I guess Pat’s book sales don’t compete with the Mickey Ferros or the Rauners or the Pritzkers or the Crowns.

But is he still on the BGA board?

Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 11:51 am
Pardon…I wrote Sun-Times “article.” I meant “endorsement.”

Comment by Illannoyed Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 11:52 am
It is not the endorsement–it is the ownership of a major news outlet by the potential Govenor that is disturbing. No, Rauner sold his ownership stake prior to his candidacy announcement, but the recent days disclosures proves Rauner still owns the Sun-Times in a way that matters more.

Comment by Concerned Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 11:54 am
Remember BR cannot be bought because he owns everything and everyone.

Comment by paddyrollingstone Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 11:55 am
Quinn needs to make the case as to why he should be re-elected and it would be nice if he could get at least one newspaper endorsement. While newspapers don’t carry the influence they used to do if he is completely shutout that is a powerful statement.

Comment by Cassiopeia Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 12:02 pm
McKinney is a victim of Raunervich’s march to the mansion. Too bad McKinney doesn’t have any good legal options. Hopefully he’ll find a good job.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 12:03 pm
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsvbYKr19ng

Comment by PublicServant Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 12:08 pm
When did you guys get the idea that endorsements were fair.

Comment by Anon Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 12:26 pm
Rauner bought all of his endorsements. that is all he does is buy things up. cant get more hinky than that.

Comment by admin Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 12:30 pm
You know, there was a hue and cry from the Rauner supporters that the so-called conflict with McKinney should have been disclosed (I didn’t see any conflict). Shouldn’t they be consistent in their “outrage” and demand that the Sun Times disclose their conflict of interest as it relates to Rauner? Seems like a double standard to me.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 12:53 pm
==- Illannoyed - Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 11:51 am:==

Have you actually read some of these endorsements? Some of them bend over backwards to ignore things that Bruce Rauner has said that directly contradict reasons for endorsing him. Others are basically “change for the sake of change.”

==- Cassiopeia - Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 12:02 pm:==

Votes are more of a statement than any newspaper editorial.

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 2:16 pm
If endorsements meant anything Quinn would be getting creamed in the polls. He’s not. It’s too close to call. If Bruce Rauner is elected I seriously doubt if he will change the way he operates. He has got another thing coming if he thinks he can bend the State Govt and legis. to his will. The people of the blog will have a lot to talk about. Rich might want to catch up sleep now because I think he is going to be busy if Rauner wins. Just saying.

Comment by Ginhouse Tommy Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 4:43 pm
Everyone should know that all of the newspapers that have endorsed Rauner are supporters of corporate welfare and not moderates or populists. Never consider their endorsements as anything but supporting their own self interest.

Comment by Enviro Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 5:22 pm