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* Brian Mackey…
In the week since his budget address, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has done little to promote his plan or defend it from attacks by Democrats.
That’s a significant departure from last year. Back then, Rauner toured the state, highlighting his call for greater funding of public schools. This year, he took a ski vacation in Utah.
On Wednesday, Rauner made a brief speech at an education conference in Springfield. Afterward, he refused to answer questions from reporters.
The ski trip was reportedly to celebrate his birthday, but Rauner would not say which — until an aide told him, “You can answer how old you are.”
He’s 61. Wikipedia lists his age as 60, so there was some confusion.
* Mackey was not as kind on Twitter yesterday…
Chasing @GovRauner, who was ignoring questions from Springfield press corps. Reminds me of covering Gov. Blagojevich. pic.twitter.com/BRjBM1Rs1W
— Brian Mackey (@BrianMackey) February 22, 2017
A bit harsh.
Rauner spoke at three separate events across the state, starting his morning in Chicago, where he addressed the Illinois State Board of Education. The governor’s official schedule listed him as not doing a media availability at that stop, but indicated he would field questions from the media at later events in Bloomington and Springfield.
That didn’t happen. Press aides cited a change in plans due to the governor’s busy schedule. Reporters asked some questions anyway as Rauner entered and exited a gathering of school administrators at a Springfield convention center.
“How are you and CK getting along?” Rauner asked a Chicago Tribune reporter, referring to his spokeswoman Catherine Kelly. […]
Rauner also riled up lawmakers by posting a campaign video shortly after his speech touting “a grand bargain” to end the budget. That’s the same term the Senate has adopted for its plan, and some felt the governor was trying to take credit for work done by lawmakers.
On Wednesday, Rauner did not answer when asked if he felt his speech ultimately would help or hurt the Senate’s efforts to strike a budget deal, nor did he respond when asked what feedback he has received from lawmakers. The governor also remained silent when asked about criticism of the campaign video.
He has an event scheduled at his office today at 11:30, an hour after AFSCME announces its strike authorization vote results, so he is expected to talk to the media today.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Feb 23, 17 @ 8:55 am
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Don’t think Mackey was “a bit harsh” at all. The parallels are clearer every day.
Shameless dishonesty.
Delusional self-righteousness.
Heartless disregard for those he harms.
Comment by Handle Bar Mustache Thursday, Feb 23, 17 @ 9:00 am
Oh that rascal “ck”… Now a prop so Rauner doesn’t have to ask questions.
The things “Superstars” have to be, lol.
To the Post,
Harsh, not harsh, real, or phony…
Rauner is doing this “dodging” thing because he can get away with it.
Not a single news outlet I saw in Chicago televised media made any deal that Rauner is avoiding questions. It’s just a sentence, as benign as the B-Roll it’s talking over.
If I were Rauner’s Crew, I’d avoid the Press too.
There’s zero downside.
It’s worked, it continues to work, and props like “ck” around to joke and pivot off of to defect, why would Rauner ever take questions?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 23, 17 @ 9:06 am
You got that right.
Comment by Red rider Thursday, Feb 23, 17 @ 9:07 am
Not harsh so much as it is a factual observation. The man is avoiding defending.
Comment by Stark Thursday, Feb 23, 17 @ 9:13 am
==Reminds me of covering Gov. Blagojevich.==
C’mon, man. Have you ever once heard Gov. Rauner bad mouth “Speaker Madigan and his republican allies in the House” for obstructing his programs?
Comment by Whatever Thursday, Feb 23, 17 @ 9:17 am
Oswego Willy @ 9:06, for the win.
Come on, news media (our host, who always does, excepted): Do. Your. Job.
Comment by Northsider Thursday, Feb 23, 17 @ 9:19 am
11:30 announcement - “we are extremely disappointed that Mike Madigan and the union bosses he controls tricked their members into authorizing an illegal strike against the taxpayers. We urge the union to work with us to implement our terms like drug testing, 40 hour work week, and bereavement leave. We will pursue all options to keep the state running in the event of a strike.”
Comment by Anon Thursday, Feb 23, 17 @ 9:19 am
This is the type of media navel gazing that actually hurts the media’s reputation. Better to focus on what’s actually happening - or not happening - in state government than type up self important diatribes about how often a politician talks to you. It would have merit if Rauner was never answering questions but he’s been making rounds of hour long editorial boards, doing ask the governor on WBEZ and gaggles more than most governors. More credible to wait for a real scandal than look out of touch by comparing any governor to Blago just because he didn’t answer your question one day.
Comment by Whatever Thursday, Feb 23, 17 @ 9:29 am
=Not a single news outlet I saw in Chicago televised media made any deal that Rauner is avoiding questions.=
Oddly enough, one Peoria station dinged him a little this morning with a line about Rauner sticking to the script. They were clearly sarcastic in their tone.
Normally the give him a lot of love.
I doubt the story makes much of a dent but I found it interesting.
I at the School Management Alliance Leadership Summit when Rauner spoke. 10 rambling minutes on his love and support for education and programs for kids. No questions though..His Secretary of Ed did take questions earlier.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Feb 23, 17 @ 9:30 am
didn’t talk yesterday, will talk today, why is this the end of the world?
Comment by jim Thursday, Feb 23, 17 @ 9:36 am
== so he is expected to talk to the media today ==
Talk, or make a speech and lecture?
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Feb 23, 17 @ 9:39 am
Clearly Rauner is the only grown up; on the ski slopes.
Comment by Chicago 20 Thursday, Feb 23, 17 @ 9:39 am
Has he run out of schtick? or is he coming to the realization that campaignin’ is easy while governin’ is hard?
Brian and Monique need to keep reminding Bruce that his missing 12 billion isn’t going anywhere.
Comment by Jocko Thursday, Feb 23, 17 @ 9:39 am
===Better to focus on what’s actually happening - or not happening===
When the governor says he’ll talk to the media and doesn’t, that’s news, particularly in this context.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Feb 23, 17 @ 9:54 am
How often does the Speaker stop and talk to the media?
Comment by Not It Thursday, Feb 23, 17 @ 10:03 am
===didn’t talk yesterday, will talk today, why is this the end of the world?===
Since Rauner continues to dodge questioning and when he will or won’t take questions, it a big deal to transparency.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 23, 17 @ 10:31 am
He has to be told by an aide that he can tell how old he is?
Comment by DuPage Saint Thursday, Feb 23, 17 @ 10:38 am
Rauner isn’t hiding in the basement as Blagojevich did.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 23, 17 @ 11:50 am
You know what I want to hear more about the excited job creators you cited I can ask, who are they?
Comment by Rabid Thursday, Feb 23, 17 @ 2:16 pm
Ask no questions get no lies
Comment by Rabid Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 5:05 am