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Today’s quotable

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Illinois

The governor, holding his first public office after years as a private equity investor, said voters are fickle when it comes to the government they want versus the government for which they want to pay.

“Voters want conflicting things. They want a lot of government spending, but they don’t want higher taxes,” he said. “So what do unprincipled politicians do? Give ‘em what they want, stay in office long enough and bail when the crisis hits. Well, that’s what’s happened.”

Hard to disagree with most of that. It’s exactly what has happened at the federal and state levels for decades. Except, in Illinois, some folks don’t ever leave office.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:49 pm

Comments

Well … he understands the disconnect.

As he said, the choice is less services or higher taxes. Looks like he has already chosen less services but refuses to own that choice.

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:54 pm
@ Gov Rauner - “Dishonest Governors want conflicting things. They want to promise a lot of education spending, but they don’t want to have higher taxes so they lobby the GA to sunset the tax hike,” he said. “So what do unprincipled Governors do? Give ‘em what they want and blame Madigan”.

Fixed that for you Bruce.

Comment by How Ironic Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:56 pm
Wait, I thought the guy who promised to spend more money on education and federal parks while cutting the income tax to 3% just announced he’s running for reelection.

Comment by Juice Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:57 pm
“So what do unprincipled politicians do? Give ‘em what they want, stay in office long enough and bail when the crisis hits.” Rauner

*****
And, who’s to say if the state it gets too hot to handle, Rauner won’t do just that. There are no consequences for him if the State of Illinois is destroyed by politicians just like him, either.

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:58 pm
The general consensus for at least the past 8 years in Illinois has been overwhelmingly for less spending and higher taxes.

Unprincipled politicians distort this message.

Comment by Vole Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:58 pm
Rauner’s comment sure applies to RM Daley.

Comment by anon Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:59 pm
“Governors want conflicting things. They want a lot of government spending, but they don’t want to be blamed for raising taxes.”

#Fixedit

Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:59 pm
He understands the problem and yet he spent a whole bunch of his and other peoples money to buy the job. You bought the seat sir, you own the problem, it’s time to stop pretending you’re a victim and start GOVERNING!

Comment by Gruntled University Employee Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:00 pm
“What do unprincipled politicians do?”

They misrepresent themselves during their campaigns and then show their true selves when elected.

Comment by Sir Reel Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:03 pm
and term limits would make this better? does this not fly in the face of term limits?

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:04 pm
Is it Friday? I need another something.

Comment by Vole Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:07 pm
===voters are fickle when it comes to the government they want versus the government for which they want to pay.===

It is clear to me that Rauner is not ‘fickle’ on this matter. He clearly wants less government and is a strong supporter of lower taxes.

Comment by Hit or Miss Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:07 pm
“A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.”

Comment by Colin O'Scopey Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:07 pm
=== Well … he understands the disconnect.

As he said, the choice is less services or higher taxes. Looks like he has already chosen less services but refuses to own that choice. ===

You’re close RNUG. But he also knows he needs a tax increase in addition to cuts “but refuses to own that choice”, because, like all unprincipled politicians, he doesn’t want to take the electoral wrath for that choice.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:09 pm
Waiting for a moment of clarity when he says “Quinn had it right. He was honest, and I exploited it for my own political gain.”

Comment by Handle Bar Mustache Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:11 pm
==Give ‘em what they want, stay in office long enough and bail when the crisis hits. Well, that’s what’s happened.”==

Rich, who bailed???

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:11 pm
Term limits will not solve the problem with the voters wanting to do it all, but not wanting to pay for it via increased taxes.

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:14 pm
Methinks the Governor just read the Simon Institute paper, and learned something new.

Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:15 pm
Term limits would make it easier for this practice to continue. Legislators can spend money now and then let their successor figure out how to pay for it!

Comment by Concerned Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:17 pm
Be very skeptical of the words following these words from unprincipled politicians:

“Voters want”.

Comment by Vole Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:21 pm
“What do unprincipled politicians do?”

They refuse to own.

Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:23 pm
Kinda like what unprincipled investment partners do when sued, file for bankruptcy. What do you think Rauner will do when Illinois continues it downward spiral?

Comment by State Worker Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:31 pm
There is a huge difference though between “Give ‘em what they want,” - OR - not giving them anything - OR - being an astute elected official that can figure out what is really needed for the welfare and prosperity of all the citizens of the state - and not just the wealthy ones.

Comment by Joe M Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:33 pm
Different voters want different programs.

Legislation is passed more quickly for some programs that benefit some voters than others.

….and Bruce is driving up the cost of borrowing every day.

Comment by Kasich Walker, Jr. Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:36 pm
“Give ‘em what they want, stay in office long enough and bail when the crisis hits.”

Doesn’t apply to Madigan, but most certainly does to Richard M. Daley.

Comment by RH Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:42 pm
Businesses want conflicting things. They’ll complain that they can’t find enough qualified workers to compete in a global market, but they’ll fight tooth and nail to avoid paying for the infrastructure and education that provides them with such workers. They want to pay less than subsistence wages, but they’ll call you a socialist if you force them to raise wages to get their workers off of public aid. So what do unprincipled businesses do? Soak up public benefits and elect an “all in” CEO as governor when the tax bill comes due.

Comment by anon123 Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:31 pm
Sure, but didn’t he do any research before he ran for the job. He’s not stupid. He’s had a world-class education and a highly successful business career. He’s not evil either, despite all the hype. But why did he take the job if he didn’t have a plan for dealing with the problem. Or is this going to be another pol who gets frustrated and blames everything on the clueless, “low-information” voter. How about looking at, er, oneself.

Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:35 pm
– Looks like he has already chosen less services but refuses to own that choice. –

On the contrary, during his time in office, the governor has signed contracts and taken delivery of goods and services far beyond what he knew to be the state’s ability to pay for them.

He just refuses to pay for them, after delivery.

That’s “conservative,” “Republican,” and “economic freedom” in Illinois, Summer of 2016.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 6:20 pm
Do you think it has anything to do with the fact republicans say a huge percent of our spending is waste, fraud and abuse? Maybe people believe this and think we can get more service for the same amount of taxes!

Comment by NoGifts Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 6:43 pm
==Maybe people believe this and think we can get more service for the same amount of taxes!==
Chicago magazine ran an article a few years back about a $25 hamburger being sold downtown. But you can buy a whole sack full of hamburgers for that same $26 in most any town in IL. Maybe Illinois needs to stop paying for downtown hamburgers when fast-food burgers will get the job done. (Metaphor alert - prevailing wage equals hamburgers).

Comment by Tom K. Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:26 pm
Tom K, and when your hamburger metaphor doesn’t work and the state financially collapses, what then? State finances are not individual finances.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jun 22, 16 @ 6:24 am
Ms. Bear, with all due respect, it works perfectly. About thirty years ago, the movie projectionsists’ union had rules keeping a highly-paid operator in the booth of movies being shown, well after technology had eliminated the need for it. When was the last time you saw a movie and missed having a guy up in the booth? If you believe the union losing that battle was “bad for the middle class”, then you must want AFSCME to start building pyramids. You and I are at odds, I believe state work should be eliminated, cut back, or outsourced whenever and wherever it makes sense to do so. Who does not want that? Why, the self-interesed, of course.

Comment by Tom K. Wednesday, Jun 22, 16 @ 7:12 am