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* Gov. Bruce Rauner spoke to the United Counties Council of Illinois earlier today. From his speech…
“Everybody says ‘Bruce stop talking about unions and start talking about the budget’… Let me tell you something, balancing the budget is not hard. It’s not hard.”
He then rambled on for another 35 minutes without ever once explaining why it’s so easy peasy to balance a budget. I suppose he implied that the solutions are self evident. And, if you “balance” your budget with phony things like a magically nonexistent $2.2 billion pension “savings,” then it is kinda easy, except it isn’t balanced, so it isn’t actually easy.
* Then he admitted this about his weeks-long struggle to patch this fiscal year’s budget hole…
“We’ve got a Legislature that’s 177 members. And, you know, you raise an issue and you’ll get 292 opinions out of 177 people. So, so, you know, this is the process, this is politics, it’s sausage being made… I’m one person. I’ve got a lot of influence, but I’m one person and the Legislature has to approve this process.”
OK, so now you admit that it ain’t so easy. Sheesh. Perhaps a little less blathering on about “right to work” and a little more actual, you know, work is in order here? The advice isn’t wrong, governor.
* And since he chooses not to listen to that advice, he went on and on ad nauseum today about how private sector unions are dying on the vine and how bad public employee unions are, including their work rules…
“You can’t go to the bathroom on your own without getting ten approvals.”
Sigh.
Raw tape…
* Meanwhile, from the Illinois Policy Institute’s news service…
Illinois’ new governor faced a combative crowd in Normal where he presented some of his ideas to turn the state around. During his stop at the Normal City Council chambers for a town hall-style meeting, Governor Bruce Rauner heard from union labor and higher education protesters. The event featured some of Rauner’s ideas he shared with other groups, including right-to-work zones, lifting restrictions on prevailing wage and project labor agreements and other issues.
But, the format of the event allowed for feedback from the crowd. Previous visits around the state had the Governor presenting his ideas without the crowd offering questions or suggestions.
* Some of the attendees weren’t happy…
The governor was greeted by several audience members carrying signs that read, “Don’t Balance the Budget on My Back.” Rauner dismissed the protestors as A “special interest” seeking to derail his efforts to restructure state government.
But Local Catholic Priest Father Gregg Petri says concern over the governor’s proposals is widespread. “We are the people who make up this state. Ordinary people. We’re not a ‘block.’ We’re just people who care for those who are less fortunate and we want to make sure that they’re taken care of.”
Audience members also challenged Rauner’s proposal to cut some spending for higher education and permit counties to decide whether their teachers and other public employees are required to join unions.
* Rauner also got “mic checked” by an organized group of protesters. The silliness starts about the 45-second mark…
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:15 pm
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Dear Mike Z, Lance, et al.,
Get him on track. Help him.
Sincerely,
OW
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:20 pm
That first audio made him sound like the Republican Pat Quinn. Just kinda bounce around and not really focusing on a message.
Comment by 618662dem Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:22 pm
Everyone seems to agree that they can figure out FY15 if the five principals sit down in a room together, so did Governor Rauner bring them to Blo-No with him?
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:23 pm
=== Let me tell you something, balancing the budget is not hard. It’s not hard. ===
Not hard at all if you have no heart!
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:24 pm
==balancing the budget is not hard. It’s not hard==
Un-be-lieve-able. Apparently it is a bit hard since you faked savings to balance your budget.
==how bad public employee unions are, ==
Attack public employee unions. Check.
==dismissed the protestors as A “special interest” seeking to derail his efforts to restructure state government.==
Attack everybody that doesn’t fall in lock step with his views. Check.
I’m getting tired of this guy’s arrogance. He needs to do something - anything - instead of going around bashing anybody and everybody who dares challenge him. Govern sir. That’s what you were elected to do.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:25 pm
For such a smart business man, he sure doesn’t know how to take advice.
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:26 pm
In the words of the Big Lebowski, “What in God’s name are you blathering about?”
Comment by Man with a plan Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:27 pm
Please ask him to cite examples of those ‘work rules’. Usually union work rules are either for safety or in response to management not allowing things to happen without said work rules. The bathroom rules sound like a call center or factory where work has to stop for someone to leave the line or their desk.
Comment by mythoughtis Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:29 pm
Rich, I think you got this wrong - “Illinois Policy Institute’s news service…”
I believe the actual name is the IPI Propaganda Department.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:32 pm
Raunie you’re out of your element!
Comment by PMcP Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:32 pm
Oh Bruce, if it’s so easy, why didn’t you do it with your budget address?
Or did you mean we can make the numbers match easily enough, by plugging in “saves” that are not now legally attainable? But changing the pensions arbitrarily, and probably illegally, is the hard part.
Comment by walker Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:33 pm
That video from Normal brought tears to my eyes.
Very tastefully executed and makes me proud of my hometown exercising their citizenship.
Comment by cdog Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:34 pm
=== Norseman - Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:24 pm:
=== Let me tell you something, balancing the budget is not hard. It’s not hard. ===
Not hard at all if you have no heart!====
He said this at a DuPage Chamber event I attended yesterday morning. And in context, like you stated here Norse.
His point (apparently better fleshed out yesterday) was that a balanced budget could be proposed easily. Those are numbers on paper that reflect you aren’t spending more than you’re raising. The true cost of the balanced budget is how it affects the people of the state. He was obviously more articulate yesterday.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:35 pm
===Very tastefully executed===
Tastefully? C’mon. That stuff is creepy.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:35 pm
= “Please ask him to cite examples of those ‘work rules’. ” =
Good luck with that. Anti-worker ideologues deal in in fake anecdotes, not real examples.
Comment by Qui Tam Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:38 pm
The guy telling the protesters that they have no respect is funny. Who is the governor treating with respect?
Unions bad but he tells the teachers he is going to get more money in the class room and not the “highly paid administration”? Aren’t the teachers generally unionized? (I ask that as I open my desk drawer and look at our 83 page union contract).
I guess If you have your master’s or more you should not be paid a living wage to monitor and guide people? I love our staff, and they work hard but based on the push back on reductions we have made I doubt the teachers would have made them without me.
Who else will take a haircut under Rauner?
Governor, bite me.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:43 pm
I always wondered what would have happened if Ross Perot would have won. The simplistic argument that one man with willpower can go to a legislature and through common sense can instantly fix things is now playing out in Illinois. But the reality is that every dollar spent is critical to someone, fixes have consequences both intended and unintended and those connections are not always clear. If Rainer. Were a more sympathetic character I would feel badly for the hard decisions he will have to make. But since he’s choosing to specialize in demagoguery, blaming the victim, and pushing the Koch/ALEC agenda it’ll be fun to see him squirm.
Comment by relocated Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:45 pm
=That stuff is creepy.=
It is a bit goofy but I wouldn’t call it creepy. I think it is at least honest, more than I can say for our governor.
Oddly implemented, but honest.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:46 pm
Our governor really should drop the union attacks, at least until he gets the FY15 mess figured out and his “easy” FY16 budget passed. You know- governin’ stuff. I’m sure the public won’t mind waitin’ the day or two it will take Rauner to tidy those two things up.
Comment by Roadiepig Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:51 pm
Attention AFSCME members: Just wondering if you are rethinking the stunt you pulled on Gov’s Day two years yet?
Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:52 pm
What will King Rauner do when the Sb1 smack down comes?
Comment by Gov 1% Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 3:57 pm
Whether it is deemed Tasteful, Creepy or Goofy , it is for sure Concerted. And Protected Concerted Activity is the potential equalizer that could reign in Gov. Rauner.
Comment by x ace Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 4:12 pm
Illinois Policy Institute’s “news service.”
Fixed it for you.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 4:17 pm
“Tasteful, Creepy or Goofy”
Snow White’s least favorite dwarfs.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 4:19 pm
Is anyone getting concerned about the fixation/ obsession with degradation of unions? Is there any other topic at hand here in this state? Anything at all?
Comment by AnonymousOne Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 4:20 pm
===And Protected Concerted Activity is the potential equalizer that could reign in Gov. Rauner===
LOL
Not like that it won’t.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 4:20 pm
=“Tasteful, Creepy or Goofy”
Snow White’s least favorite dwarfs.=
Awesome!
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 4:22 pm
It is difficult to “orchestrate” an effective protest that can turn the voice of many in to a voice of one. They nailed it. I applaud the performance.
The mic check is an interesting tool. I am hoping to hear about more of the same.
The creepy thing to me is how Rauner’s style of speaking is starting to sound a little like Sarah Palin’s. Ramble, ramble, rally, rally.
Comment by cdog Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 4:23 pm
===They nailed it. I applaud the performance.===
They looked like pros to me.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 4:24 pm
Rauner is kinda like that episode of “Scrubs” in season 6 where Turk and J.D. go to a medical conference and run into Old Young MC - who repeatedly says, “Bust a move!” and everyone loves him for it. However, by the end of the episode, you realize that, “Bust a move,” is all he really is capable of saying (for whatever reason). No matter the question - “Bust a move!”
Rauner’s “Bust a move” is something along the lines of “[insert problem] its because of unions!”
Comment by Mr. Jim Lahey Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 4:30 pm
It’s bad enough Rauner doesn’t understand what it means to govern, but this union obsession is beyond creepy.
Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 4:37 pm
The speaker for the group identified herself as being from Illinois Peoples Action. Their website lists member organizations which includes mostly central Illinois churches, including Hope, Little Flower, and First Pres, in Springfield.
Comment by cdog Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 4:38 pm
Governor Clueless strikes again!
Comment by Anontwo Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 4:40 pm
Something tells me his Turnaround tour’s gonna be wrappin’ up here shortly. The public finally seems to be pushing back.
Comment by Politix Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 4:45 pm
Mr. Jim Lahey - It’s more like one of Ricky and Julian’s “brilliant” plans that always end disastrously because they failed to focus on the job at hand. Maybe attending the educational session this evening will help Rauner get his Grade 10, but I doubt it will help. I mean, if Dartmouth didn’t teach him what he needs to do the job, it’s doubtful the ISC will help.
Comment by AC Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 4:47 pm
The demo WAS creepy. They weren’t trying to make Rauner feel comfortable They’re not trying to be friendly and upbeat with the man. That’s a mic check.
Comment by Politix Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 4:49 pm
Maybe we should have a contest to see which television character the Guv resembles. I think he’s both Pinky and the Brain.
Comment by relocated Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 4:56 pm
== The bathroom rules sound like a call center or factory where work has to stop for someone to leave the line or their desk. ==
There a number of agencies that have work rules / hours as regimented as any military organization … everything is done in group at a specific time right down to the second. I’ve always assumed those rules existed because management didn’t want to have to actually manage.
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 5:05 pm
== Maybe we should have a contest to see which television character the Guv resembles. ==
I’m beginning to thing Rauner is a mash-up of Mr.”Monty” Burns and Sgt Schultz.
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 5:11 pm
If Gov. Rauner keeps it up.
The Anti-Rauner Activity will Grow , It will be Concerted , and It will Culminate in Protected Concerted Activity by Unions confronting Rauner Head On. The Gov. will revitalize the Labor Movement. People always eventually fight back.
Comment by x ace Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 5:35 pm
The governor keeps blaming all of our problems on the unions. But people are starting to remember that it was Wall Street bankers and even the venture capitalists who sent our jobs overseas who are a big reason for our economic problems.
Comment by Enviro Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 5:58 pm
Ruiner is wasting valuable public attention that should be focused on the budget, to generate support. Instead, it is all the anti union stuff. It is his passion to hear himself talk about it. The budget is simple to Ruiner–simple math (skip the suffering), but even so his math doesn’t add up. Trust him, cut the day lights out of the budget and happy days are here.
Comment by Langhorne Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 6:08 pm
Give me a break-
Don’t blame Rauner on AFSCME.Quinn has to wear the jacket for this guy. His ineptNess paved the way for Rauner who barely beat 3 penniless opponents in the Republican primary and turned around and wiped the floor with Quinn in a deep blue state.Folks weren’t thinking about a day at the Fair when they voted. They were thinking about the Quinn 6 year circus
Comment by truthteller Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 6:16 pm
Television character -
Dennis Moore from Monty Python’s Flying Circua. He was a reverse Robin Hood character who stole from the poor and gave to the rich.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 6:18 pm
Circus.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 6:19 pm
Union bashing is a Tea Party thing, and Gov. Rauner is a member of the Tea Party so…
Comment by Mama Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 6:19 pm
How much ( and whose!) money had been spent on all these junkets through the State? Is Rauner paying…
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 6:21 pm
I expect Rauner will be indicted within two years. I’m sure rod will be happy to share a cell with him.
Comment by ConCon Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 6:28 pm
Not sure why the mic check stuff is “silliness”. It’s no more silly — or juvenile — than Rauner’s own dismissal of the protests swarming all around him.
Rauner gives it, he’s going to get it back. Silly? Nah. It’s just how it’s going to be for the next four years.
Comment by Macbeth Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 6:31 pm
Rauner is also for open borders so I am not sure I would call him a Tea Partier.
Comment by Illiana Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 6:48 pm
He didn’t talk like this when he was a candidate, did he? So he knows what he is saying now won’t win him any friends or elections. Why is he doing this?
Every day this governor continues behaving like a parakeet fighting it’s reflection in a mirror, is another day we all go without any real governing. Our problems are not only being actively mishandled, we’ve witnessed both political parties mishandling them.
Rauner is making the fiscal situation worse by being so unbelievably dense!
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 6:51 pm
Rauner at the beginning basically said he did not like unions….he got bad press…calmed the noise…he won….big noise….not certain why anyone who works for a living would vote for him….odd…I do wonder if the Fed’s are looking at rauner yet? You can’t really say vote the way I want or I will give $$$ to someone else. Is that can illegal?
Comment by jazzy Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 7:13 pm
Isn’t that illegal? Oops
Comment by jazzy Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 7:15 pm
Seriously, if this guy believes what he is saying, and I think he does, can anyone really see him lasting four years?
Comment by efudd Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 7:32 pm
I see him more as a Libertarian(Koch brothers)than a Tea Party member. Just sayin’.
Comment by Minnow Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 7:37 pm
SB1’s goose is cooked. Everything else is a distraction.
Comment by Gov 1% Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 8:13 pm
==Seriously, if this guy believes what he is saying, and I think he does, can anyone really see him lasting four years?==
Can you see his highly-paid staff lasting more than two years?
Comment by Curmudgeon Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 8:35 pm
“Gov” not “God.” (I wish I could figure out how to disable the dwell - check feature on this phone)
Comment by illinoised Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 8:44 pm
See!
Comment by illinoised Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 8:44 pm
@ VanillaMan 6:51 pm === … this governor continues behaving like a parakeet fighting it’s reflection in a mirror … ===
The perfect image!
Comment by olddog Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 9:42 pm
Truth teller in all fairness I too was totally frustrated by Quinn at voting time And had just finished 29 years working for the state. Yes Quinn was a mess but I held my nose and voted for him because I felt Rauner would be much worse. AFSCME or no one else tells me how to vote. I care enough to do my homework on the candidates. No the uninformed voters are to blame for this one, as they were for Rod’s second term. Shook my head then and I’m shaking my head now. And buying popcorn, lots of popcorn.
Comment by Former Merit Comp Slave Tuesday, Mar 17, 15 @ 9:46 pm
He views everyone in government: legislature, judges, union and non-union employees as red-headed step children that need punishment. He views anyone utilizing state services as free-loading uncles that need to be shown the door.
Welcome to the Rauner family!
Comment by Johnnie F. Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 7:10 am
Ignoring Sound Advice was that a recycled lede from the first Blago Administration?
Comment by Annon3 Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 8:35 am