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Whether the money will be effective in helping to move Mr. Rauner’s agenda is an open question. The governor last year poured millions of dollars into the Illinois Republican Party, local committees and legislative races, and the GOP didn’t make a dent in the Democratic majority even as Republicans gained in states nationwide.

And Mr. Schwarzenegger’s series of ballot initiatives all failed despite an infusion of millions from his personal coffers.

Already there are concerns that the recent fundraising concentrates influence over public policy in the hands of a small group of wealthy individuals.

“I’m certainly not going to claim under the old system the average Joe got fairly represented. What I’m saying is this may be an even more unfair system,” said David Melton, executive director of Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

[h/t: Henry Bayer]

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 10:10 am

Comments

===The governor last year poured millions of dollars into the Illinois Republican Party, local committees and legislative races, and the GOP didn’t make a dent in the Democratic majority even as Republicans gained in states nationwide.”===

Macro. Micro.

Rauner closed gaps in districts, but the districts didn’t flip.

The “goal” of the $34 million to be effective?

Literally break it down district to district and make the message fit what makes absolute sense in the micro-district audience.

You have $34 million, so it’s worth the cost to do it that precise.

If it’s just macro, cookie-cutter, “call your representative”, “bad for Illinois” laziness, it won’t work.

It’s about drilling down, district, town, precinct. Anything less, it’s like burning cash in a fireplace.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 10:17 am
Wait, Henry reads the Wall Street Journal? Who knew?

Comment by Juice Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 10:20 am
=He has inherited a projected budget shortfall for the coming fiscal year of more than $6 billion that needs to be closed in the coming weeks.=

Good article but the “inherited..” is not entirely true. He wanted the income tax rollback which is responsible for a big piece of the $6 billion. More like he encouraged the creation of part of the $6 billion.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 10:20 am
Results?

Rauner has a 60-40 chance it really works. I wouldn’t bet against Rauner.

“Why?”

The unions specifically, and moderates and Indies collectively, gave Rauner a pass before, and worse, were too late and underestimated him when it mattered.

So far, nothing really has shown me that the groups that should have aligned to defeat Rauner are any more organized now, then when they needed to be 15 months or so ago.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 10:20 am
A WSJ news story raising concern over public policy being concentrated in the hands of a few wealthy individuals, soon to be followed by a WSJ editorial celebrating the same set of facts.

Did you catch the part where Rauner has already banked in his campaign fund more than the combined contributions of the 30 other governors who have taken office since 2011?

There’s a new sheriff in town and he’s dressed in diamonds, not rhinestones.

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 10:21 am
Comparing what happened in California to Illinois is apples to oranges. California is a solidly blue state with several large, expensive media markets.

In Illinois, the electorate is far more moderate (and angry) and there is only one major expensive TV market, and it pushes out to the moderate, movable suburbs.

Everything downstate is comparable to pennies.

Comment by Gus Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 10:23 am
Gus, Illinois more angry? Didn’t California recall Governor Davis?

Comment by Truthteller Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 10:28 am
Governor Rauner forced this budget crisis by not reinstating the income tax increase in January. Rauner thought by threatening bankruptcy in Illinois he would force the Dems hand. He has used every underhanded bullying tactic he has accused the Dems of. So how is he a reformer? All his programs are to help the wealthy and corporation owners. there has not been one proposal that has demonstrated how it would save money in the budget. (at least not without the lengthy process of changing constitutional law in Illinois). Governor Soundbite.

Comment by CABR Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 10:30 am
What a riot.

Everyone has conveniently forgotten that the majority of House Republicans voted against the pension reform bill.

And that Rauner’s on pension plan is unconstitutional.

Or that “tort reform” has been ruled unconstitutional numerous times.

Or that Rauner’s proposed changes to the union contract are unlawful.

Or that his budget cuts violate federal decrees.

Even IF Rauner’s grand scheme were successful, h’ed end up passing a budget with $3.5 billion in tax hikes and $3.5 billion in budget cuts and end up in the same graveyard as Schwarzenegger.

Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 10:36 am
The elephants are dancing in the chicken yard.

Comment by Austin Blvd Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 10:37 am
Effective use of the pac money could have an impact on the 2016 elections for legislators. Targeted mailings and robo calls are what is needed. Just the knowledge of this money has to make some of the Democrats nervous and concerned, which is a good thing.

Comment by Apocalypse Now Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 10:39 am
OW is right on. Micro works much better than Macro, for the legislature.

However, the Republicans have such a money advantage, they could waste half of it generally badmouthing Illinois, and touting a frustrated Saviour, and still outspend the Dems five-to-one with local focus.

Comment by walker Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 10:47 am
Rauner will not be a candidate in 2016. He will be the sitting governor. Republicans will need Rauner’s money to run as far away from him as they can get.
Do you believe his program is popular? Judging by the greeting it received in cities and counties across the state, I don’t think there will be many candidates hitching their stars to his wagon.

Comment by Truthteller Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 10:51 am
===However, the Republicans have such a money advantage, they could waste half of it generally badmouthing Illinois, and touting a frustrated Saviour, and still outspend the Dems five-to-one with local focus.===

Absolutely true.

Also true for taking on Dems too.

Part of that spending must be;

Recruitment, operatives, “volunteers”, and complete organization and marshaling of resources.

Ok, you have $34 million on the table, “now what”

Can’t be someone with no one, just for openers….

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 10:54 am
Some readers have a problem that the voters won’t have- distinguishing populism from plutocracy

Comment by Truthteller Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 11:01 am
“Already there are concerns that the recent fundraising concentrates influence over public policy in the hands of a small group of wealthy individuals.”

We should be very wary of this, and how it affects democracy, when power is concentrated in the hands of a very few multimillionaires and billionaires. This is the outcome that follows our current economic growth. As wealth accrues more and more to the top, we get more and more of this type of politics.

This is also a reason why I’m adamantly opposed to right to work. We need strong unions to help counterbalance economic and political power. Unions are some of the last powerful organizations that have the resources to oppose the very few super-wealthy people. They know this and that’s why they want to finish off unions as powerful institutions.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 12:45 pm
=== We need strong unions to help counterbalance economic and political power. Unions are some of the last powerful organizations that have the resources to oppose the very few super-wealthy people. ===

And who “counterbalances” them? For instance, when they act no differently than management with too much power. It’s a pendulum. Always has been. And what moves the pendulum is populism. It can and does go both ways. And it’s not swinging toward unions at the moment.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 3:01 pm
===And it’s not swinging toward unions at the moment.===

“If you ignore all the Rauner Resolution failures…” lol.

Yeah, the Unions and their issues…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 5:20 pm
Union members and other concerned citizens of Illinois who do not want to see Illinois Governed in the interests of multimillionaires will eventually have to stand up and demand fairness and equity across this state. We cannot allow anyone to send more Illinois residents into poverty and severely damage our state’s capacity to grow in the future.

Comment by REE Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 8:55 pm