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* Gov. Bruce Rauner on his $20 million campaign fund…
Rauner called using his campaign fund, which also could help bolster supportive legislators facing political risky votes, “an issue of freedom of speech in politics.”
“The voters need to be informed about the issues and what’s going on. The voters need to understand my personal view of the issues and the agenda. The folks who might have a different point of view are entitled to their views as well, but we’ve got to get our message to the voters and to the citizens, the taxpayers, the families, the working families who are suffering and hurting in Illinois,” Rauner said.
“It’s not just two years until the next election. There’s a process of communicating with other people of the state so they understand what’s going on and why the actions that we’re taking are being done,” he said. “The reality is we’ve got to (make) some tough decisions in the next six months. Really tough. I’m not going to like it. But you know what? I’ve got to do what I think is right for the long run.”
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 10:26 am
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Money = speech. Always thought that was ridiculous. Still do. The amount of money I have shouldn’t determine how much “speech” I get in the public arena. This concept hasn’t been one of this country’s finest moments when it comes to democracy.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 10:33 am
“Cliff’s Notes Version”?
Legislators; you’ve been warned.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 10:33 am
So is he saying you can’t be an effective governor without that kind of money? I guess Quinn never had a chance.
Comment by wjmaggos Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 10:38 am
Completely with you Demoralized. If you have a mountain of money you get more speech than anyone else, because it matters more, I guess.
There was something about this that calls to mind your parents spanking you and then telling you it’s for your own good.
Comment by The Way I See It Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 10:38 am
I know Mr. Uihline is about growing the ILGOP GA and not about primaring sitting GOP members for HIS type of legislator.
@FakeRonSandack - I hope the Governor is paying attention to how well I learned & quick too! #PayingDividends #IndependentLemming #Owl
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 10:38 am
“The folks who might have a different point of view are entitled to their views as well” unless you are a public employee, that is. Their advocacy groups should be silenced per the Governor.
@Demoralized- I would offer the following embellishment on your formula; PRIVATE money=speech
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 10:40 am
Bruce…what an arrogant jerk.
Comment by Del Clinkton Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 10:44 am
Think of all of the tough votes Republicans didn’t take because they were scared to death not to have the resources to go out and defend it as a good government vote. That excuse is gone in a lot of cases now. Money isn’t everything, but it sure ain’t nothing.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 10:46 am
“The voters need to understand MY personal view of the issues and the agenda.” A lot of use of the words “We” and “I” in that quotable.
This is only a microcosm of what’s happening in the country as a whole. Makes you wonder if it needs to get worse before it can better…?
Comment by The Muse Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 10:48 am
===Think of all of the tough votes Republicans didn’t take because they were scared to death not to have the resources to go out and defend it as a good government vote.===
The giddiness of both MJM & Cullerton is about GOP votes that protect Dem seats that the GOP wants to target.
The more GOP green lights, the fewer bad Dem votes needed to pass a Raunerite agenda.
It’s all about building what Griffin, Uhiline, and Rauner believe make a good Raunerite, no matter the party.
MJM and Cullerton see bad votes by GOP legislators as Democratic majority assets.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 10:53 am
This the game Madigan and his ilk have played for years. If it is okay for the 4 tops to enforce voting discipline with campaign money, then why not the Guv? I think those upset about this are mostly upset because this Guv has more money than the Dems.
Comment by Skirmisher Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 10:55 am
A one party system of Democrats brought us the failed leadership calamity that we have in this state. Bruce Rauner has put together an army of active supporters, who will follow his lead. No other politician in our state can make that claim.
The $20,000,000 seed money put together so far will be used By Bruce to make sure that competent leaders are elected, and those “politicians” who oppose sound government…are defeated (Democrats and Republicans).
Loving this so far.
Comment by Raunerbot Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 10:56 am
The way I read it, he’s saying he’ll be spending this money on TV, radio and direct mail during the session to push his legislative agenda.
Who’s susceptible to being muscled that way? I’m guessing there are more GOP legislators worried about getting on the wrong side of the Rauner/Griff/Uiehlein bank than Dems from marginal districts.
Presumably, Rauner will bankroll GOP challenges to vulnerable Dems in 2016, anyway, right? This particular PAC strikes me as a hammer to be applied to GOP legislators who don’t know from tough votes.
Pick your pain.
Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:01 am
===MJM and Cullerton see bad votes by GOP legislators as Democratic majority assets.===
Boy Willy, they sure have been wasting a lot of breath then trying to get a GOP vote on a number of bills over the years. Your observation is beyond cynical. How do MJM and JC see good GOP votes on tough bills…or is there no such thing? It might be time to do a shut down and reboot of your head. It’s been hacked.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:04 am
@Raunerbot- the name says it all. You see no wrong in him doing the same things that Madigan and Democrats have done for years. Moral relativism and fair enough except the Governor said he was going to change all of that not do the same thing. THAT, is my issue. He could have just said he was going to beat them at their own game and I would accept that, it would be honest. But that is not what he promised. Clearly Madigan and Cullerton cannot claim the moral or political high ground so any cries of foul from them would/should fall on deaf ears.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:07 am
- A Guy… -,
The MJM and Cullerton roles, like all legislative leaders that aren’t Co-opted, are to protect the Members and their majorities.
===Your observation is beyond cynical.===
It’s reality. Every Dem vote saved from voting Raunerite is a win, unless MJM & Cullerton secure safety for the Dem from the GOP GA.
===How do MJM and JC see good GOP votes on tough bills…or is there no such thing?===
Any vote that keeps political pressure on the GOP is a good GOP vote.
That’s how Csucus legislating works.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:09 am
I wonder if the Feds are watching how this 20 million is being spent?
Comment by Joe Blow Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:13 am
===I wonder if the Feds are watching===
Oh, please.
Sheesh, man. A bit early for this, ain’t it?
Take a breath already.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:17 am
Sorry Rich it’s just that it’s this kind of arrogance and brashness that gets good intentions into trouble. We have seen it before.
Comment by Joe Blow Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:23 am
@JSMill & JoeB:
I agree with both of you.
Comment by Del Clinkton Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:28 am
===The MJM and Cullerton roles, like all legislative leaders that aren’t Co-opted,===
Look in the mirror and repeat this. Try not to laugh.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:30 am
@Joe Blow11:13=I wonder if the Feds are watching how this 20 million is being spent?=
I hope they are, but they will probably have a hard time doing anything. If push came to shove, Rauner has a Billion dollars to pay the lawyers. O.J. proved with the right lawyers, you could get away with murder.
Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:30 am
“an issue of freedom of speech in politics.”
Rauner’s definition of propaganda.
Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:31 am
Guy, which goo-goo votes that GOP legislators were scared to make are you referring to?
Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:37 am
===- A guy - Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:30 am
===The MJM and Cullerton roles, like all legislative leaders that aren’t Co-opted,===
Look in the mirror and repeat this. Try not to laugh.
“Who” co-opted them (Now I sound like that Owl Sandack)
If you say “Union Bosses” and “Special Interest”, remember Rauner himself never minded donating to Daley, Rahm, Rendell, DNC…
You missed the point, again…
MJM & Cullerton, they want majorities…
The H& SGOP are now just chits to Rauner, numbers to co-op to get to 30 & 60. The goal isn’t GOP majorites, it’s Raunerite vote totals equaling 30 & 60 at the cost of the GOP GA building a majority with “tough” votes hampering.
Caucus legislating.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:38 am
It’s more entertaining for me to let you have this conversation with yourself and just observe.
Some days you simply tax my kindness. lol
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:41 am
- A Guy… -,
Step up your game, your points are getting too telegraphed.
It’s about the numbers 30 and 60 and ignoring autonomy and talking past the GOP Caucuses, even if it hurts them.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:55 am
Wasn’t the $20m just a way to beat the caps before the reset?
Comment by Watson Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 12:20 pm
$20 million will buy lots of votes in Springfield but it will most definitely backfire in the voting booth once voters see the billionaire’s true arrogance. Remember team Rauner you are in that seat not because of your popularity but mostly because of Quinn’s high negative’s which in turn =’s zero political capital.
Comment by 75th district Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 2:12 pm
===it will most definitely backfire in the voting booth===
…says the guy who predicted that Rep. John Anthony would lose.
He won 58-42.
You might wanna refrain from predictions for a while.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 2:15 pm
No matter how you rename him, a skunk is still gonna stink. This $20M fund is a PAC to buy votes/buy friendly legislators. Lobbying is legalized bribery and so is this.
Don’t give us a lot of high-sounding hooey about ethics then try to defend a skunk like this. It still stinks.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 2:28 pm
High Sounding Hooey??? Maybe Natasha was right. That phrase set the whole state back 5 decades.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 2:37 pm
Thanks Rich, I appreciate the advice.
Comment by 75th district Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 2:44 pm
If money equals speech, then it stands to reason that, the lack of money equals silence. Plutocracy anyone??
Comment by exbricklayer Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 2:53 pm
There is a hell of a lot nobody seems to know about what Governor Rauner thinks. Such as his idea of a social agenda.
Comment by Quill Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 3:16 pm
Governor you are not an outsider anymore, time to hammer and shake the taxpayers not run the midterm elections to suit you
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 3:29 pm
==- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:17 am:==
He did have the place swept for bugs.
Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 3:37 pm
===He did have the place swept for bugs.===
I would too, no snark.
You are now governor of the 5th largest state, it’s “common” to have a sweep before entering new digs.
I don’t blame any of them one bit.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 3:40 pm
all bugs, six-leggers, eight leggers, winged ones, slitherers…and yep, those pesky electronic ones. The place needs an overhaul for all of them.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 4:10 pm
Oh stop.
I’m not going to complain until he gets some kind of result from those millions. Right now, he’s got himself elected with it, and no one else. He spent more than $20 million to get no one else elected.
Let him talk and spend. This is Illinois. He isn’t doing anything different from what MJM has done.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jan 21, 15 @ 9:23 am
- VanillaMan -,
It’s Blago-like, not MJM-like.
The money makes Blago’s dream come true.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jan 21, 15 @ 9:39 am