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* Chester, Illinois, January 1st…

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner has arrived in southern Illinois to assess flood damage for himself. […]

Rauner says Illinois can do little but offer encouragement to businesses and residents most affected by the floods. The state has minimal funds to help with damage, due to state deficits and the budget impasse, Rauner said.

* From a January 1st KMOV report…

“Right now we don’t believe that the lack of a budget is affecting services and support for people affected by the flood,” Governor Rauner said. “We’re going to do everything we can to make sure the communities get the support they need.”

Rauner said he is working with the Department of Commerce to free up available funding, but added the majority of the help will hopefully come from federal relief.

Hat tip: IO.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 9:34 am

Comments

1) Governor Rauner is an absolute mess on his feet answering questions and making points on the fly.

2) Governor Rauner lacks. He lacks at comprehending the office in which he’s been elected to, and the tools in the toolbox and/or options any governor has. Any governor.

3) Again, a complete Press Shop failure in prepping the governor as to the simple. The Press Shop didn’t anticipate questions as to “what will the governor do” and “what are the governor’s options”? Pathetic.

Stop with the boiler plate nonsense and actually “work” at being Flacks. Seriously. It’s getting embarrassing.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 9:40 am
“This terrible problem isn’t my fault. And there isn’t a problem.”

Leadership!

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 9:41 am
The second story contains a direct quote, while the first story segment is the journalist’s report and interpretation. Perhaps the first reporter got it wrong?

Comment by Too Little Too Late Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 9:42 am
- Too Little Too Late -

Perhaps if the governor knew the duties of the office and/or the Press Shop was less inept, there would be one clear message.

You are quite the apologist for the governor, and a cheerleader too, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 9:45 am
Tragic! How can our governor and other political leaders let this happen to our state? Is this the new definition of political leaders … “serving the people”?

Comment by forwhatitsworth Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 9:45 am
Remember Olive Branch and the buyouts held up by the impasse????

http://www.stltoday.com/news/national/the-latest-woman-won-t-return-to-flood-threatened-home/article_149909a6-a598-58a3-a981-63daa5064219.html

3:30 p.m.

A rural southern Illinois woman says she and her husband will never return to their flood-threatened home.

Vella Friedman’s family is among more than 100 Illinois families who agreed to sell their homes to the government after 2011 flooding but are still waiting for the buyout money. The funds are tied up because Illinois’ Republican governor and Democratic-controlled Legislature are at odds over the state budget.

The Friedmans’ property a few miles from Olive Branch is threatened by the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Friedman says she sold her kitchen cabinets to a contractor and put other possessions in storage.

Gov. Bruce Rauner visited Olive Branch on Saturday to survey flood damage. Friedman didn’t see him but says she’d like him to settle the budget issues or release money for flood buyouts.

And some other Olive Branch news: http://thesouthern.com/news/rauner-tours-flood-damaged-communities/article_69e685b3-7915-5f28-9bc6-e7a48ec1462c.html

Comment by Anon 221 Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 9:48 am
From the first story:

“Illinois has never really had significant pockets of money to support natural disasters. We’ve just never had that,” Rauner said.

But to be fair, Bruce likely defines “significant pockets of money” much differently than the majority of us.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 9:49 am
Yes, as Willy points out Rauner is not good without a script. State help is not a surprise question. The flacks should have provided a briefing paper for the media that covered this point.

C’mon CK, educate us as to the true state of Illinois’ capability to provide aid.

Comment by Norseman Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 9:53 am
The Gov. had the same “lame and lacking” response when he appeared in Carlyle. Local paper gave it front page coverage yesterday, but it was obvious that he was out of his comfort zone when trying to talk about the responsibility he has to the people he should serve.

If he could have shifted the blame to Madigan, I’m sure he would have tried!

Comment by illini Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 9:53 am
The Department of Commerce (sans the Economic Opportunity?) has typically had federal funds that could be used to address some of the flood victims’ needs. But Mr.JM makes an excellent point on what Bruce Rauner considers to be “significant pockets of money”.

Comment by Henry Francis Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 10:00 am
Pass his turnaround agenda - and there will be future money for flood assistance /snark

“We at the state of Illinois don’t have real dedicated financial resources to help in terms of financial reimbursement,” he said. “It’s nothing to do with the budget; we just have never had that in Illinois. That’s maybe something we get a look at changing over time, once we get our act together… and we start growing the economy again.” - Bruce Rauner

Comment by Joe M Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 10:07 am
Man, this governor has been failed by his staff — But at least they’re good at picking fights on twitter.

Comment by Anon Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 10:13 am
Rauner:If these counties were right-to-work zones the flooding would never have happened. Now let’s adopt my agenda and get some cheap labor in to clean it up.

Comment by Truthteller Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 10:18 am
Which jacket did he wear? His Carhart? His motorcycle vest? Or his sandbagging jacket?

Comment by Austin Blvd Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 10:18 am
OW seems to have the story right. Rauner should not go out like this unprepared but he is the smartest guy ever to hit Springfield. Same guy that can’t submit a balance budget way baack when…..

Comment by scott aster Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 10:21 am
The magic number for federal aid looks like $18.1 million in damages.

http://www.illinoishomepage.net/news/capitol-news/states-process-in-declaring-a-flood-disaster

Past FEMA aid to states:

http://www.fema.gov/data-visualization-summary-disaster-declarations-and-grants

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 10:23 am
Anonymous - Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 10:23 am: was me

Comment by Anon 221 Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 10:24 am
I did a lot of thinking about this over the break. There is something that I haven’t been able to either correctly describe or I’ve gotten tangled in hyperbole. I used to think is was lack of empathy but that’s not it. I think it’s more a particular flavor of amorality when it comes to governing and government. It’s as if government and governing is such a depraved entity and activity that it can only be treated with disdain and active negligence at best. Problem is that the governor and his aides seem to form a critical mass of this amoral phenomena. Maybe I’m still struggling to describe it. But amorality in government and governing seems to be getting closer. I’m not saying the Governor is amoral as a person. But in his attitudes and behaviors towards government and governing he exhibits amorality. It’s like morality goes out the window. I’m hoping this post won’t be the first to be “edited” by Rich. Venture capitalism is amoral in its attitudes and behaviors. Is this running Illinois like a business to Gov. Rauner?

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 10:28 am
Both. Figuring out a way to lever some funding out of DCEO, likely designated for other business development, is grasping at straws — both for something to do, and something to say.

Comment by walker Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 10:30 am
Where did Quinn find $45 million to help out the City of Washington after their tornado? If Quinn can find the cash, why is rauner so dense?

Comment by Huh? Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 10:31 am
It’s all the fault of Madigan and the floodwaters he controls.

Comment by IllinoisBoi Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 10:38 am
No big deal, just more short term pain.

Comment by SAP Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 11:31 am
Honeybear may well be on to something. There are those of us who pick up on his words, actions, or lack thereof, and comment accordingly. This puts some of the past year in a different perspective. Thanks

Comment by illini Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 11:37 am
The chutzpah.

The lack of an FY16 budget and the massive deficit it’s producing is the governor’s willful choice of a political strategy.

This is the leverage, folks. This is the pain for the undefined gain. This is the plan in action.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 11:46 am
Is there Governor School that we can send him to since we’re stuck with him?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 11:58 am
BR–i can give you encouragement. And sand bags. For free. Other than that, tell your legislators to support my agenda. Im outta here.

There is always a pop quiz after a vacation, to see if you did the reading assignment. Grade: F. At least it was a smaller media market.

Comment by Langhorne Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 12:11 pm
Rauner appears to be a Deadhead
“Line up a long shot maybe try it two times, maybe more,
Good to know you got shoes to wear when you find the floor,
Why hold out for more?

Here comes sunshine, here comes sunshine.”

From the album Wake of the Flood

Comment by Captain Trips Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 12:31 pm
Langhorne forgot to mention the mic drop.

Ugh! Couldn’t Bruce just say “Ditto” to whatever Jay Nixon said? Heck, Dixon had a FEMA request on Obama’s desk before Bruce called his travel agent.

Comment by Jocko Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 12:42 pm
Bruce Rauner is a part-time governor because he believes government should be a part-time business. That is, when he isn’t completely anti-government. Those crocodile tears are sincere!

His big challenge is to ensure that societal needs fit his part-time, amateur-hour, government model. If there is a way to keep everyone on part-time and on minimum wages without benefits - then he believes that there would be an amazing amount of money to make our state grow!

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 12:44 pm
Who would be surprised if he were with Rahm in Cuba?

Comment by Union Man Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 1:41 pm
When speaking at Carlyle Lake it almost sounded like the RAUN Man thought he was in Alexander County. Am I getting old, or did anyone else think the same?

Comment by Blue dog dem Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 2:56 pm
Blue Dog - I never heard that the Gov. was coming to Clinton County, and I only live 15 miles from Carlyle. I am only going by what the Sentinel reported. Only wish I could have been there to hear his mindlessly meandering excuses!!!!

I doubt that he really had to field any tough questions. The local media is not known for asking any tough questions, but are fairly good about quoting what is said.

Comment by illini Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 3:40 pm
(Tips cap to - Norseman - and - scott aster - )

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jan 4, 16 @ 7:55 pm