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Yeah, we’re so pro-business now

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Illinois

* Oy…

A trucking company that leases semis to the Illinois Department of Corrections is taking the vehicles back after the state failed to pay its bill because of the ongoing budget dispute between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats who control the legislature.

The Larson Group agreed to a six-year contract in 2010 to lease five semitrucks to the prison agency for $68,000 a year. The vehicles were used by Illinois Correctional Industries, an offshoot that has inmates make a variety of products ranging from food and clothing used in prisons to dishwashing soap and Adirondack chairs sold to outside customers.

While the contract was good for another year, the company decided to walk away after the state racked up what the department says is an outstanding balance of $17,010.30.

The trucks have been parked at a warehouse in the central Illinois town of Lincoln, and the corrections agency is scheduled to turn over the vehicles Thursday, corrections spokeswoman Nicole Wilson said. The agency owns other vehicles that can be used to transport food between prison facilities, she said.

The governor has said that business owners support his decision to hold the budget hostage to his anti-union agenda. One wonders whether that particular business owner is of the same mind.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:02 am

Comments

“Governor Rauner, the business community is behind you… as long as we’re not required to do business with your Administration.”

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:05 am
What happens come the new year and the 2016 tax season if an agreement isn’t reached before then. Can DOR operate if the Lottery can’t?

Comment by Tatler Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:07 am
I always wonder why the ‘Republicans who don’t control the legislature’ seem to get a pass.

Comment by Austin Blvd Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:07 am
=== because of the ongoing budget dispute between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats who control the legislature.===

because of an ongoing budget hostage crisis caused by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, Republican legislators, and Democratic Rep. Ken Dunkin.

There. Fixed that for you.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:10 am
Paraphrasing “OW”…..Governors own failures.

Comment by Jack Stephens Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:10 am
OW, perhaps in the next installment of “Dads Home State” his personal automobile can be repoed, hilarity ensues when Diana can’t get to her Ounce meeting.

Just a suggestion from a fan. Of course you have ultimate directorial discretion.

Comment by How Ironic Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:15 am
So the company is walking away from a contract because they’re about 90 days backlogged (not unusual for Illinois bills) and they’re paid interest of what, 9% for being behind?

Methinks there is something more behind this apparent business stupidity than a budget impasse.

Comment by Arizona Bob Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:15 am
- How Ironic -

No worries, I just don’t want to go Dave Bakke on you and take your idea and… I said too much, the WGA are looking into things, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:18 am
The Gov has Ben telling us that Illinois is a terrible place to do business.. Practicing what he preaches

Comment by NotRMiller Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:18 am
How does one recover from all this? Even when the budget does get settled, does this stuff magically get fixed? Do vendors say, well, okay, you’ve got money now — we’re back where we were? We trust you now.

And what about the time and money involved in getting these trucks back — assuming that’s plan?

Comment by Macbeth Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:19 am
I don’t think the administration quite understands how many businessfolks are aghast at the way the Governor is handling the budget impasse and “turnaround” demands. A regional business development leader with whom I recently spoke was expressing utter disgust, and said several colleagues feel likewise.

“Who does this guy and his people listen to?” was one question they shared. “Who do they think they are?” was another.

Comment by Linus Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:20 am
Ducky@10:10

I see the “ongoing budget dispute” referring to the fact that Madigan (and lease holders/rating organizations) want one and Bruce doesn’t.

Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:22 am
Just introduce a proclamation supporting prison food trucks and this will all be better.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:24 am
IDOT employees have paid the water bill out of their own pocket at some maintenance yards in order to keep the service on. Just another example of the disfunction.

Comment by sonny chiss Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:30 am
Does Bruce think destroying Illinois will cause Democrats to cave? What mental gyrations must one go through to reach that absurdity? How does it all end? IL is whacked by him, Madigan retires, and Bruce moves to the Caymans?

Comment by Union Man Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:31 am
OW - I release all ideas to you free and clear. Of course a small walk on part might be nice. You know, maybe I could be the repo assistant with some witty one-liner. Just sayin’

Comment by How Ironic Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:33 am
Illinois is not a terrible place to do business. Illinois government is terrible to do business with.

Comment by thechampaignlife Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:35 am
“The governor has said that business owners support his decision to hold the budget hostage to his anti-union agenda. One wonders whether that particular business owner is of the same mind.”

Hi, Rich!

Together,
more or less in line.
Just keep truckin’ on.

Best,
ck

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:36 am
==The governor has said that business owners support his decision to hold the budget hostage to his anti-union agenda.==

And I say all the women in Illinois think The SC is the dreamiest guy on the planet.

But that doesn’t necessarily make it true.

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:40 am
I believe the Governor would rather cut the baby in half rather than share it.

Comment by Anon 2 Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:40 am
Just to be clear — These trucks weren’t used to haul the raisins will be taxin’?

Comment by WhoKnew Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:41 am
Now Jack Stephens is quoting OW, which means another shot!

Comment by anon Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:47 am
AB, who do you think is really behind this company’s decision to drop a deadbeat customer? Teachers or Madigan?

My crazy tinfoil hat says they’d rather just lease their trucks to paying customers.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:47 am
To - Jack Stephens -, thanks.

- anon -,

Aren’t you better than trying to troll me?

I’ll leave that there.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:51 am
I think that the Governor is OK with all of the havoc because (in his mind) the voters will blame it all on the Democrats.

Comment by Omega Man Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 10:52 am
Bingo, Omega Man.

The governor is #winning because passing a budget and growing our economy are not his priorities.

Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 11:00 am
- How Ironic -

A walk-on? Sure, those are fairly “easy”.

If you want an actual line, we’d have to check with SAG. lol.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 11:06 am
Guy I know does stone. Used to deliver gravel and crushed stone for road projects several years ago. As soon as a pattern of paying late developed he stopped, even calling back trucks from work sites. Told IDOT they were CIA — a polite way to tell them to buzz off.

Maybe if more providers did that…

Comment by Touré's Latte Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 11:07 am
==So the company is walking away from a contract because they’re about 90 days backlogged (not unusual for Illinois bills)==

That’s true. But, they also know this isn’t ending anytime soon. They aren’t the only business telling the state to go fly a kite right now and they won’t be the last.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 11:34 am
Hey Rich, why did you remove my post? No profanity, no insults, no rumors nothing but truth. I know first hand what I stated, you don’t want truth here or what?

Comment by Rob Roy Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 11:37 am
All state vendors need to do the same thing. Recent article about CWLP being owed $2 million for Capitol Complex power, etc brought “TURN IT OFF” to mind…it is going to take desperate acts to end the gridlock..

Comment by Way South of I-80 Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 11:49 am
You haven’t seen nothing yet,wait till idot snow plows start breaking down and they all do during the snow & ice season

Comment by Foster brooks Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 12:03 pm
If DOC already had trucks that could be used, why was this contracted out in the first place?

Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 12:04 pm
It’s the small businesses that are being hurt by the nonpayment. Too small for Rauner and his financial backers to care. Otherwise they may have set up a loan program.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 12:11 pm
== Too small for Rauner and his financial backers to care. ==
Exactly right. The only businesses Rauner and his ilk are concerned with are those businesses belonging to the one per-centers. He has varying degrees of disinterest for everyone else based on your rank in his elitist caste system.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 1:08 pm
I have heard that one agency has had their office supply supplier cancel their arrangement with the state over non-payment and their replacement is almost 4 times as expensive.
I guess that business is happy/

Comment by Anonish Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 1:24 pm
Anonish- Is their replacement supplier Uline?

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 2:25 pm
The Trucking Co. must of heard the governor tell the college not to count on receiving reimbursement for expenses which incurred after June 30th. The contractor knows he won’t get paid for the past 4 months.

Comment by Mama Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 3:13 pm
Channel 20 didn’t do the blaming, the Governors office blamed the majority party. I didn’t mean to mislead. CHannel 20’s slant was the Governor owns this. And He does!

Comment by Retired Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 6:23 pm
As we wander through the vagaries of this personal agenda tne governor has blessed us with, are we cool that IDOC is operating at tne height of security for both employees and inmates?

Prisons ain’t a place for Frat Boy “leadership.”

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 28, 15 @ 6:45 pm