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* Amanda Vinicky’s Illinois Public Radio interview with Gov. Bruce Rauner on the governor’s first 100 days in office is very, very good. She really took it to the guy. Click here and listen to the whole thing.
* Dave Dahl at the Illinois Radio Network also had a very good interview with Rauner. Check it out…
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 7:30 am
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Heard Amanda’s interview yesterday.
She doesn’t let up, and does a good job trying to keep Rauner focused.
Great job.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 7:41 am
How can Rauner, with a straight face, say he never made money or contracted with government?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 7:47 am
Everyone, whether or not they contract with the state, are affected by tax rates. It is a conflict of interest for rich people to lobby the state for lower taxes so they don’t have to pay for their fare share. They have done it at the federal level and now targeting the state level. Clearly, that point was not made. He’s disingenuous about doing it for the masses, it is only beneficial for the 1%.
Comment by RetiredStateEmployee Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 7:52 am
At about the 9:20 mark fantasyland starts. Anonymous 7:47 is absolutely correct.
Comment by LizPhairTax Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 7:58 am
And, as always, major respect to Dave Dahl. You can hear the smirks and eyerolls without him being disrespectful to the Governor. A pro.
Comment by LizPhairTax Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 8:03 am
Also, the Governor’s simultaneous love for “The People of Illinois” and contempt for the people of Illinois is disconcerting.
He’s Ike, we’re Tina.
Comment by LizPhairTax Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 8:10 am
He says he’s working for every family.. Well, he certainly hasn’t been working for mine.
Comment by NewWestSuburbanGOP'er Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 8:29 am
I do think that raising taxes on successful small businesses does hurt the economy making us less competitive and costs our state jobs. Raising taxes on successful individuals does not.
Why can’t they change the tax code to accommodate this? It seems so obvious.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 8:32 am
Turnaround agenda is not good for Illinois citizens. Does he realize the election is over and he needs to start governing?
Comment by NewWestSuburbanGOP'er Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 8:39 am
LP:
It most cases of small business it’s the same thing. That’s the problem. LLC’s are pass-through tax entities.
Comment by DuPage Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 8:39 am
“If. I. Talk. Slowly. This. Will. Be. Over. Soon.”
Vote my way, you get money. Seems straightforward enough.
Quid. Pro. Quo.
Good to know that Rauner never made any money off government. Stu Levine must have been on the payroll for $25K a month for humanitarian reasons.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 8:44 am
Bruce is in office to help the wealthy. Great part about the millionaire tax and raising minimum wage being passed by voters but ignored by Rauner. We’ll see this over and over again in the coming years. He doesn’t represent anyone who isn’t in his club.
Comment by AnonymousOne Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 8:45 am
How does it help the middle class if the state raises taxes and forces their employer to cut their pay or move away to stay competitive?
Everyone should see the logic of making Illinois more competitive for businesses to grow and employ more people.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 8:52 am
I notice a tick or tell — when talking about the autism program funding the ‘g’s went missing, when speaking about education funding and Sen. Manar’s plan, the ‘g’ was back — not sure what it means but it’s fascinating and might give clues in future interviews.
Comment by Not quite a majority Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 8:53 am
Amanda did a nice job of pressing him for answers. This guy just wants to buy politicians so they can vote the way he tells them to vote. Jeez!
Comment by NewWestSuburbanGOP'er Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 8:59 am
Listening to the Vinicky interview now. Gov. Bruce Rauner is a forgetful man…when he wants to be.
Comment by Corporate Thug Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 9:00 am
==How does it help the middle class if the state raises taxes==
Who said everything in this world has to be paid for by working people of the middle class? As many in the middle class have lost jobs and seen their income stagnate, these are not the people to be looking at for economic relief to our budget. It’s time those who are in a better position to pay, actually do.
Comment by AnonymousOne Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 9:02 am
===I do think that raising taxes on successful small businesses does hurt the economy making us less competitive and costs our state jobs. Raising taxes on successful individuals does not. ===
Many, many small businesses don’t pay much corporate income tax. Instead, it’s passed through to their personal tax bill. So raising taxes on individuals is actually raising taxes on small business owners.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 9:04 am
===Everyone should see the logic of making Illinois more competitive for businesses to grow and employ more people.===
Speak for yourself. Not seeing “your” logic. Life isn’t simple.
Rauner wants lower wages. You want to take 10% less in hopes more people MAY get hired?
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 9:08 am
Medicaid pays nursing home bills for a lot of people. Much of that is reimbursed to the state from the federal government. Rauner made a lot off of nursing homes.
Rauner also made a lot of money off of managing state pension funds.
Rauner then said he did not make any money from the state. No credibility.
Comment by DuPage Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 9:09 am
“We’re not forcing anyone to accept ‘Empowerment Zones’, that should be a local decision.” Um…I suppose that’s true, much like no one forced states to pass seat belt laws. It’s just that they would have lost their Federal highway funding if they didn’t. But they weren’t forced to. Got it.
Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 9:12 am
Willy obviously you have never owned a business or worked in the private sector. Not seeing your logic either.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 9:21 am
LP, your dorm room economics and “logic” isn’t quite as deep as you think it is.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 9:29 am
- Lucky Pierre -, you know me so well.
Riddle me this; are employees here in Illinois making too much.
This is a “yes” or “no”. I mean you told us all…you see the logic. So logically, people are making too much.
It’s a “yes” or a “no”
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 9:30 am
I have always worked in the private sector and owned businesses. Never once did my expand/hire decision turn on personal tax rates (always had pass-through entities). I was certainly focused on “take home” pay and so if higher taxes bite into that, then I would work to grow even more so that there would be more “take home” pay for me at the end of the day.
Growing the businesses often included hiring more people, or hiring more people was a result of growing the business.
Comment by Concerned Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 9:31 am
Reform and turn around agenda may sound wonderful, but it comes down to what that actual means…it means different things to different people and may be catch phrases for things that many people don’t understand and may not really want. Sometimes phrases like empowering local governments can be a Trojan hoarse for — I want to bust the unions.
Comment by facts are stubborn things Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 9:46 am
===Never once did my expand/hire decision turn on my personal taxes===
Founded and grew two companies, and the same was true for me. Also was a senior executive in financial world.
Lucky Pierre: Your simple economic theories can sound great, but don’t actually work that way in the private sector. Costs of labor can impact behavior. Tax rates rarely do (at least at the levels we are talking about.)
Comment by walker Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 9:52 am
===Costs of labor can impact behavior. Tax rates rarely do (at least at the levels we are talking about.)===
That’s why Rauner has slides about labor and complains, in great detail, about unions.
Well said, - walker -. Thanks for clarifying… with some logic.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 9:57 am
Interesting that he signaled out his old buddy’s home state of New Jersey as one that he doesn’t want to replicate.
Comment by Knifefighter Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 10:01 am
His comments on the $20 million campaign fund underline hid overall lack of respect for the role government. His strategy effectively dismisses any voice we have through our local legislators. Forget your constituency-vote with me or I’m coming after you.
Comment by Politix Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 10:04 am
@LizPhair: “He’s Ike, we’re Tina.” Funny.
Great interview–she kept up the pressure during the follow-up questions; actually made him a little uncomfortable when she wouldn’t accept the initial canned responses.
Rauner: “I feel terrible” about abandoning vulnerable kids. Hmmm. Seems like a stock response; he said the same thing in the Dave Dahl interview when questioned about autistic kids. Also, “These cuts are not part of a negotiating tactic.” Good to know.
The thing that disturbs me in both these interviews is that if you don’t think his statements through to their logical conclusions, and don’t know some of the background, he sounds sort of reasonable. How many voters just take in the confidence, the engaging voice and demeanor, and the sound bites about fiscal responsibility, and accept what he says at face value? I talked to one such person yesterday (college-educated, not stupid) who backs Rauner because “He’s just trying to save people money.” Sigh. Would like to see some post-Good Friday public opinion polls on the governor and his “turnaround” efforts.
Comment by Crispy Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 10:11 am
In both interviews, BVR gets away with blaming Pat Quinn for a “dishonest” $1.6 billion budget shortfall. The truth is, Pat Quinn had a plan to maintain revenues, as unpopular as his plan may have been.
BVR not only is disingenuous in his characterization of PQ, his 2016 budget is among the most disingenuous in the history of Illinois.
The General Assembly should pass his budget as presented and give him the option of vetoing it.
Comment by Sun Tzu Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 10:22 am
He slips into salesman mode so easily.
Comment by Cheswick Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:04 am
It is not just tax policy it also business friendliness- workers comp reform etc. this thread seems to think businessmen are greedy but trial lawyers are not.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:09 am
LP, where do you see any anti-business sentiment here? Who said anything at all about trial lawyers?
You might think that memorizing a few shallow talking points is an accomplishment and the end of knowledge, but you would be wrong.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:15 am
Brucie has mastered gross hypocrisy w/o self-awareness. Trial lawyers make money off government regulations, but investment houses w/ contracts to manage and invest pension funds don’t?? He’s free to ignore statewide referendum results cuz they contradict his agenda, but local voters are more democratic?? On planet Brucie only the Raunerbots can see through the looking glass.
Comment by D.P.Gumby Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:15 am
Look at - Lucky Pierre -…
Stepping back from his “logic”, then goes Raunerbot Talking Point - 17.L.423.”r”…”
“Trial Lawyers”? I thought the logic was simple, now you want to add…trial lawyers…and workmans’ comp? lol.
Next you’ll say the judges are corrupt…
BTW, you never answered my question, with that “logic”;
Are employees here in Illinois making too much?
Please, get out another Raunerbot talking point if you need the help.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:16 am
In the Amanda interview Rainer falls back on when he cuts bureaucracy and “big government” then these social services can be funded. The truth is Illinois state government and the bureaucracy has already been substantially downsized under his two predecessors (lowest number of state employees per capita in the nation etc) and other than pensions most state government spending goes to local agencies for service delivery or particularly to the health care providers for Medicaid patients.
Comment by Hawkeye in Illinois Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:18 am
What a stupid question Willy workers in Illinois do not make too much. A strong economy will drive up wages because if there is a labor shortage employers will pay more
The labor participation rate is at a 30-40 year low right now which hurts wages
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:22 am
===What a stupid question Willy workers in Illinois do not make too much.===
Welp, you may want to check with “your guy” Bruce Rauner.
He’s got slides, he’s got graphs. He’s got comparisons, he’s got wage comparisons!
You may want to know what you’re supporting, before you fall off the cliff.
===The labor participation rate is at a 30-40 year low right now which hurts wages.===
Rauner believes lower, competitive wages will increase employment. He says so.
More homework for you, less pizza and video games in the dorm room.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:29 am
Nobody said anything about trial lawyers except me that is the point. Illinois is friendlier to trial lawyers than businesses and the results speak for themselves.
Illinois needs reform to be competitive. Trial lawyers are blocking workers comp reform. Rauner is not just talking about taxes, he is talking about unemployment reform and workmens comp all are being blocked.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:31 am
Willy you are just talking about State workers I am not
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:32 am
- Lucky Pierre -, you’re bordering on Troll status…
===Rauner is not just talking about taxes, he is talking about unemployment reform and workmens comp all are being blocked.===
Logically, you are all over the board. Logically, you are stringing talking points to defend what you seem to lack knowledge about.
Logically, you may need to read up on what you’re really saying, and what Rauber means, and is actually doing.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:34 am
===Willy you are just talking about State workers I am not===
Right to Work Zones ain’t state workers.
Dope.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:35 am
Amanda did a really good job of trying to pin Rauner down on his contradictions. I kept hearing a lot of stock campaign responses from Rauner. A couple of the pauses from Rauner before answering were very telling also.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:37 am
Ok so Illinois is competitive and unemployment here is not a problem. Thanks for reassuring me, no reform is needed we should just do everything the same and not change anything. Sorry got to get back to work lunch is over
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:40 am
===no reform is needed we should just do everything the same and not change anything===
Who’s saying that?
Argue like an adult, please.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:40 am
==all are being blocked==
How exactly are they being blocked? You can’t block something that doesn’t exist. You need legislation to actually be able to block something.
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:41 am
– trial lawyers are blocking workers comp reform–
Really? Is that what happened last time out? I thought it was the docs who refused to take a haircut and pulled the House GOP off what had been a bipartisan deal.
– … if there is a labor shortage employers will pay more. The labor participation rate is at a 30-40 year low right now which hurts wages.–
Your self-professed logic is failing you with those back-to-back statements, but your ability to handle the cognitive dissonance is tops.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:43 am
Rich Willy drags the discussion into the gutter with mocking and no consideration of the other side. I am sorry but I don’t see a lot of support from the democrats for reform to make Illinois more competitive, people think all we need to do is raise taxes on the wealthy and everything will be ok. I disagree but am in the minority at least here.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:49 am
==people think all we need to do is raise taxes on the wealthy and everything will be ok==
Are you done with your whining yet? Not one of the sane people here thinks that and if you paid attention to what is said you’d know that.
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:51 am
=== Willy drags the discussion into the gutter with mocking===
Most bring that mockery upon themselves.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:52 am
- Lucky Pierre -,
If you are utterly clueless to what you are supporting, and who you are supporting, and what they are actually… saying… that’s on you. I can’t help what you say.
===I am sorry but I don’t see a lot of support from the democrats for reform to make Illinois more competitive, people think all we need to do is raise taxes on the wealthy and everything will be ok. ===
Where in this Post and Comments following did you read that.
===I disagree but am in the minority at least here.===
It takes more effort here to play a victim here, then to actually learn what’s going on and commebt on what is really happening.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:54 am
LP, your victimhood is duly noted.
- Here’s a couple of grown up tips: Bring something to the table behind simple-minded talking points.
- Dont argue “I guess you all think….” something when no one has actually said it.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:57 am
Are talking points just ideas you don’t agree with?
Do you really believe Rauner only cares about millionaires and the 1 percent and wants everyone in Illinois to make less money. I do think he wants to lower a State worker pay but that is it.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 12:13 pm
===I do think he wants to lower a State worker pay but that is it.===
LOL. Really? That’s…”about it”
Rauner wants RTW Zones to drive wages down, because, according to the Governor, lower wages means more competition for Illinois, at the cost of workers
Rauner wants to eliminate, ultimately, collective bargaining, and cripple/destroy public and private unions. Yeah, Local 150, for example, are just over the moon with RTW Zones and collective bargaining being bantered about, they shoukd agree with you, the Governor really isn’t agaist them.
That’s just the two, very major, points you fail to see, with your logic and all.
How all these fronts Rauner has going will make Illinois better is a head scratcher, given the state is corrupt and broke, but more than able to give $100 million in EDGE.
That last part was snark.
Please pay attention.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 12:21 pm
LP, “talking points” are shallow platitudes masquerading as insight or knowledge.
And I think Rauner’s actions speak for themselves.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 12:31 pm
- LP -
It’s OK to have your own opinions, but you don’t get to make up your own facts.
The way you build cred here is by citing facts and making logical arguments.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 12:44 pm
Rauner does not force Right to work zones he would like to allow local control of the issue. Repeat LOCAL CONTROL.
I assume the areas that would vote for this would be areas with high unemployment. Wages would actually go up in these areas for many people from zero.
If it made sense to unionize people would vote for that.
If unions were as great as you say everyone would want to join the union and it would not be mandatory.
He also wants local control of what can be collectively bargained. as Tip O’Neill said all politics is local. Government closest to the people is best.
Of course those in Springfield would resist this but why is it such a bad idea?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 2:42 pm
===If unions were as great as you say everyone would want to join the union and it would not be mandatory.===
You argue like a 12 year old. Seriously. That’s your logic?
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 2:44 pm
===I assume the areas that would vote for this would be areas with high unemployment. Wages would actually go up in these areas for many people from zero.===
1) What makes you assume that areas of high unemployment would more likeky be the ones voting for this? Where did you come up with this?
2) You are a Dope… “Wages would actually go up in these areas for many people from zero.” Making them the working poor, puts a greater strain, given the hoops of what can/can’t be made to cover areas of need.
3) So “Wages would actually go up in these areas for many people from zero.”. That mean you agree with the governor that the minimum wage doesn’t need to go up. I mean, you’re compelling argument is “…wages up from zero.”
You seem to know very little, that’s ok. Pretending you’re adding to the discussion with dorm room thoughts and grade school “arguments”, you’d be better served learning that regurgitating useless platitudes.
Pathetic.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 2:57 pm
== it would not be mandatory==
Is there some sort of law somewhere that I’m unaware of that forces somebody to take a union job or to stay in a job where union membership is required? Don’t like the union? Don’t take the job or quit your job. Or, better yet, don’t take the pay and benefits the union negotiates for you.
==He also wants local control of what can be collectively bargained==
They already have that. You don’t vote for your local government officials now?
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 3:02 pm
- Lucky Pierre -,
===I guess the towns like Rockford that want RTW are run by 12 year olds. Union rules must be a problem or they would not vote for it.===
These are non-binding resolutions.
Do you know how government works?
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 3:07 pm
I believe a few here have some misconceptions about Bruce Rauner and his wealth. In 2012, he withdrew as partner of GTCR, the investment firm he co-founded and led for 30 years. He no longer has an ownership interest in the firm, although some of his investments are managed by GTCR. As he is no longer a partner or employee of GTCR, Bruce Rauner is accurate in saying that he makes no money off state contracts or business with the state. While GTCR manages Illinois pension funds, Bruce Rauner no longer has an equity interest in the firm. Even if he did, the investment in Trans Healthcare, the nursing home company, was disposed by GTCR years ago. GTCR is completely out of the nursing home business.
Comment by Muscular Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 3:51 pm
Muscular, what’s your opinion on someone who contributes millions to politicians of both parties while hustling government business?
Would that constitute a corrupt special interest?
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 4:58 pm
==I believe a few here have some misconceptions about Bruce Rauner…. I’m pretty sure most peeps here know he lied when saying he had no bidness dealings with the State. Calling it a bad buff job.
Comment by anonlurker Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 6:38 pm
Wordslinger,
It sounds like you are describing the activity of a lobbyist. Bruce Rauner has pledged to seek campaign finance reforms, including limiting the contributions of people and firms that do business with the state. Yes, very large donors are a special interest. However, the Supreme Court’s citizen’s United decision allows the wealthy to create funds, not disclose donors and spend unlimited amounts of money.
Comment by Muscular Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 7:35 pm
Muscular, I was describing the actions of GTCR chair Bruce Rauner.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 8:19 pm