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Does Rauner really want a deal?

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Illinois

* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…

As the Senate’s two leaders tried again to find the votes to pass their “grand bargain” last week to end the state’s two-year governmental gridlock, Gov. Rauner began spending over a million dollars on two new TV ads that portray him as an every-man “duct tape” hero in the fight for Illinois’ future.

“Illinois is broke and broken,” Rauner says to the camera while standing in a well-kept garage and wearing a plaid flannel shirt. “And the politicians that got us into this mess, their solution is this,” Rauner says as he holds up a roll of duct tape. “Higher taxes,” he says as he yanks out a piece of duct tape, “More spending,” he says with another jerk on the roll, “No real reforms,” he says as he takes one more strong pull.

“After decades of ignoring problems, it’s time someone fixes ‘em,” the governor says. A list of bullet points appears on the screen in front of a line of tools neatly arranged against the garage wall as Rauner says: “Our balanced budget plan freezes property taxes, caps spending, creates jobs and puts term limits on politicians.”

Rauner is then shown sitting on a chair in the garage. “Our plan brings real reforms to Illinois,” he says as he grabs the roll of duct tape. “Their duct tape solutions won’t work anymore. We will fix Illinois together.”

The second, shorter ad, begins with Rauner peeling off duct tape from a piece of glass over the camera. “Springfield politicians don’t want you to see what they’re up to,” the governor begins, wearing the same flannel shirt in the same garage. “‘Cuz their duct tape solutions just cover up Illinois’ problems. They don’t fix ‘em,” he says with a smile on his face. “Fix Illinois,” an announcer says.

The governor’s people firmly believe that they have staked out a comfortably poll-tested platform. “What we oppose, the public opposes,” a Rauner official said last week. “What we support, the public supports.”

The public hates tax hikes and Rauner is gearing up for the 2018 campaign with a message that he saved the state from ruinous Democratic tax increases without his demanded job-creating reforms, which include the above-mentioned balanced budget, property tax and state government spending freezes, term limits and other awesome stuff.

Trouble is, he’s never once proposed a balanced budget and can’t get anything else passed. Rauner is heading into a reelection campaign without much of anything to show for his time in office. Hence, the duct tape ads.

Team Rauner is also still opposed to whatever comes out of the Senate’s negotiations because the proposals don’t meet its demands.

Talks have reportedly faltered over a “five and five” proposal to raise the income tax for five years and cap property taxes for the same amount of time. The Senate Democrats are also still refusing to specify major budget cuts (which the governor has refused to do as well), and a dispute has developed over the latest education funding reform bill.

Should the Senate’s plan go down in flames yet again, the Democrats will undoubtedly say that Rauner never actually wanted a deal to begin with. They’ll claim in unison that the Turnaround Agenda was, in reality, a mere ploy to achieve Rauner’s “real” result, which is the slow but very deliberate destruction of “weak” universities and social service programs and the crushing of unions and “the middle class.” And they might possibly even get some backup from a clearly furious Senate Republican leader, who lashed out at the governor and his chief of staff earlier this month for declaring through an unnamed source in a newspaper article that the grand bargain was dead.

Rauner will continue to counter with a campaign based on running against the Springfield “status quo,” and in particular the overwhelmingly unpopular House Speaker Michael Madigan. But after over two years in office, a kabillionaire who conspicuously drops his “g’s” and dons the costumes of the working class in expensive TV ads to claim he’s on the common man’s side may be finally be wearing thin. The governor’s 58 percent job disapproval rating in the latest Paul Simon Public Policy Institute poll didn’t appear out of nowhere, after all.

Instead of constantly worrying about his own political future by producing yet another round of expensive TV ads far away from election day, the governor ought to find another way to improve his state’s future. He has a Republican Senate leader who is firmly committed to getting us out of this horrific ditch. Instead of undercutting her at every turn, he ought to be helping her across the finish line. Doing otherwise will only prove the Democrats’ point that he doesn’t really want a deal.

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 9:05 am

Comments

Well said Rich. If Rauner is actually serious about governing, he’ll stop with the TV ads and sit down with Cullerton and Radogno and get a deal done. It won’t be easy and it won’t be perfect, but governing is never those things.

If that happens and Madigan still blocks it, then Rauner can legitimately point the finger at Madigan. Until then, there’s little reason to believe he actually intends to prioritize governing over campaigning.

Comment by slow down Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 9:13 am
The only deals he knows how to make are take-it-or-leave-it buyout offers. Once he owns something, he doesn’t deal, he dictates. That’s why we’re in the mess we’re in today. Even if his prescription is right, he is not the man to get us there.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 9:21 am
The squeeze the beast plan is going just fine.

If you can get enough people and media to accept nonsensical non-linear thinking like “we won’t pay our normal, contracted, day to day bills unless there’s term limits,” as a reasonable position, you can put a smiley-face on a lot of willful destruction.

The explosion in the backlog of bills will require major haircuts and a new baseline going forward. Judging from previous actions and rhetoric, I’m guessing the next objective will be to go after the munis share of the income tax.

That will ease the fiscal pressure on the state while ratcheting it up on the locals, with the idea that they will beg for Rauner’s rollbacks of prevailing wage and collective bargaining plus the bankruptcy option.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 9:31 am
Harsh, but accurate. Ironically, I recall commenting that I’d had the exact same impression of a column you wrote about Quinn several years ago.

Comment by Earnest Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 9:32 am
Great article, Rich.

“dons the costumes of the working class in expensive TV ads to claim he’s on the common man’s side”

Love this. The dude is such a phony and a panderer that he makes career politicians blush. He’s a lot about manipulating people. It’s another front in his war. When it comes to unionized state workers, he portrays himself as their champion and friend while furiously trying to insert the proverbial dagger in them with his terrible contract terms.

Thankfully lots of state workers see through him. The strike vote sent a clear message and cooled him and JT down. Can you imagine the work emails if the vote outcome was different?

Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 9:40 am
This… And to it…

===Rauner will continue to counter with a campaign based on running against the Springfield “status quo,” and in particular the overwhelmingly unpopular House Speaker Michael Madigan. But after over two years in office, a kabillionaire who conspicuously drops his “g’s” and dons the costumes of the working class in expensive TV ads to claim he’s on the common man’s side may be finally be wearing thin. The governor’s 58 percent job disapproval rating in the latest Paul Simon Public Policy Institute poll didn’t appear out of nowhere, after all.===

Gov. Edgar?

===”He (Rauner) comes from a different background than I do. But I just think it’s very important for a governor, you’ve got to have a good budget and you need it in place,” Edgar told reporters. “You can try to compromise on some issues — and I think there are certain things (Democrats in the Legislature) might give him — but some of the things he’s asking for, they’re not going to give him. They’re just not going to give him.”===

Do the doable. If you’re not, you don’t understand Governors Own and drive the bus… Gov. Ryan?

===“The governor is the top guy. He is the leader. House Speaker Mike Madigan is not. The governor has to make things happen. If he doesn’t get everything he wants, he’s got to figure out how much he can get. To get something done. He’s got to take the wheel. He’s got to have a plan. It’s like everything in life.”===

Former governors know… the Governor is the leader here.

This is “easy”, get 60 and 30 and work honestly to get compromise. This is disingenuous to governing otherwise.

That’s why Rauner, with the phony costumes, dropping “Gs”, and the Ads, to believe that Rauner doesn’t understand Edgar and/or Ryan. Rauner does. That’s why Rauner is phony to the real governing compromise, until Rauner actually applies the governing to his governance.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 9:40 am
I saw that ad about three times in 15 minutes during the evening news in Springfield.

By the third time I was wishing he would duct tape his own mouth. One would hope that one could watch the evening news in April without seeing campaign ads for an election a year and 8 months away.

Comment by A Jack Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 9:43 am
How is it that under a “fiscal conservative,” the backlog has exploded to $13 billion? I honestly don’t see how Illinois is any better than when Rauner started-social services closing, universities on the brink of shutting down, state department heads that last only a year or less.

Honestly, I was walking around my house last night and just thought-this isn’t sustainable policy. I like my house and all, but my first son is going to be born this summer, and I just can’t imagine what Illinois will be like when he’s older. I’ve made Illinois my home for the last 13 years. But by the end of 2020, my wife, son and I will leave Illinois. We’re an educated, $100k+ annual income family, and it even seems tough for us to get by. No lavish Hawai’i trips for us-just the mortgage, some dinners out, groceries, and retirement. We can’t afford to stay here, not because the taxes are too high, but because the future of the state is just abysmal and the value that we get for our taxes is shameful.

Comment by Romeo Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 9:44 am
The fact that he has put more effort into campaigning than he has in governing is telling. It’s looking probable that he will go through his entire 1st term without a budget. So exactly what would be different about a 2nd term?

Comment by Pundent Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 9:44 am
The fact that he’s still doing the Carhartt schtick is mystifying.

If he’s already both barrels into campaigning — doesn’t it make sense to change the campaign’s visual style (as well as its approach)?

I mean, I saw one commercial — and I thought: this is deju vu. You’re kidding. He’s still doing *this*?

Ditto for the stale “turnaround agenda”. Is he really going to run on that title again? Content, sure — he’s not capable of anything new — but the same title. “Turnaround Agenda”?

Go for it, Bud. If you think this endears you to all the folksie folks outside of Chicago. Go for it. Hurts you more than it hurts me.

Comment by Mr. K. Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 9:45 am
What is a kabillioinaire? Rauner is not one of the 17 billionaires in Illinois. Jay Pritzker is however.

Rauner has never once proposed a balanced budget.

Might have been a good idea to point out the budget has not been balanced in the past 15 years. There was a lot of duct tape used in those years.

Rauner is pushing for the budget to balance in 2018.

What is so unreasonable about 5 and 5? The Quinn/ Madigan/ Cullerton 2011 temporary tax increase had a 4 year sunset. This is hardly a precedent.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 9:45 am
Rauner’s three-point “plan”:

1) Destroy Unions.

2) Destroy Unions.

3) Destroy Unions.

Comment by Nero's Fiddle Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 9:46 am
He’s a confidence man, all hat and no cattle.

Words today, different words tomorrow. (”Ooda-loop” is obviously an acceptable principle.)

There’s an absence of any true actions which would correct the damage he has chosen to inflict.

Take away his money, the disturbing stick with which he beats away common sense, and …..

Remember last year when he said he was excited about his messaging? That comment probably came right after some slick ad firm had presented him with options, including “Fix Illinois.”

Rauner is bad for Illinois. Thank goodness nearly 60% who give him a “disapproval” seem to agree with this.

(well written article. Rich does a great job at saying tough things nicely. I sometimes say things too bluntly and don’t get posted. This could be one of those. C’est la vie.

Comment by cdog Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 9:52 am
===Rauner has never once proposed a balanced budget.

Might have been a good idea to point out the budget has not been balanced in the past 15 years. There was a lot of duct tape used in those years.===

No.

You don’t get to complain about ANY budgets of your own 3 phony, grossly unbalanced budgets are the proposals.

Rauner IS the Status Quo for, what did you say… 15 years?

Yes. Rauner is the same.

===What is so unreasonable about 5 and 5? The Quinn/ Madigan/ Cullerton 2011 temporary tax increase had a 4 year sunset. This is hardly a precedent===

Show 60 and 30 on stairs.

Embarrass Madigan and Cullerton.

Why won’t Rauner.

The rest? You want to critique Rich’s word choices while making a point? Ok, good way to argue like a child, but… ok.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 9:53 am
What would one call that six month out of balance budget that Rauner signed last June? Duct tape, perhaps?

Comment by A Jack Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 9:55 am
==Rauner is pushing for the budget to balance in 2018.==

He isn’t doing a very good job considering the budget he introduced wasn’t balanced.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 9:55 am
Or even better, Rauner used duct tape in June to fix the Titanic after he purposely rammed an iceberg.

Comment by A Jack Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 9:57 am
Admittedly, I’m probably better informed than John Q. Public but watching the ad, I was struck by how little Rauner’s “common sense” solutions would fix things.

* Our balanced budget plan - exactly where can I see that in writing with the numbers attached? All I’ve seen is a proposed budget $4B out of whack and actual spending $9B in the hole.

* freezes property taxes - exactly how does that affect the State budget? Please be specific with numbers

* caps spending - exactly which spending does it cap? Right now we’re spending $9B more than we take in; where specifically are you going to save $9B?

* creates jobs - which jobs? In what market sectors? How soon? And how is this going to happen without State spending or incentives?

* puts term limits on politicians - how does this save even one dollar of State money? And aren’t inexperienced people more likely to make mistakes that will cost the State more money?

There is more smoke and baloney in that 30 second ad than there was in the last State budgets that were passed.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 9:59 am
=== Lucky Pierre - Might have been a good idea to point out the budget has not been balanced in the past 15 years. There was a lot of duct tape used in those years. ===

Seems like you are stopping a bit short… According to Rauner’s beloved IPI, Illinois has had only 15 balanced budgets since 1970. That would indicate that the more than a couple of GOP Governors were to blame for our state’s fiscal condition and not just the last two Democratic Governors.

Comment by Longer Memory Needed Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:02 am
Why are you ignoring revenue RNUG?

New revenue is on the table and has been for two years.

To claim revenue would not accompany a new budget deal is being deliberately obtuse

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:08 am
===New revenue is on the table….====

Yeah, I’m going to stop you there. Revenue is a required element. It’s not “on tr table” or a give. Good try thou.

This is the first time today you have been reminded that Rauner has proposed phony sham budgets and revenue is required.

===To claim revenue would not accompany a new budget deal is being deliberately obtuse===

To claim it’s on any table or a give is blatantly dishonest.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:14 am
Why ignore that new revenue is on the table? It is only dishonest to say it’s not on the table but you know that.

Kind of takes away the whole unbalanced budget narrative that is impossible to solve without legislative compromise.

The budget cannot be line item vetoed to balance.

The Governor cannot change the 60 percent of the budget that is locked up by the courts.

The legislature must change the underlying statutes to change the court ordered spending.

All of this is on the table as well, but Speaker Madigan has not pulled up a chair yet. Maybe he will sometime soon

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:21 am
Well, here are the states who have legislative term limits:

Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Maine, Missouri, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota.

I wouldn’t say those states are more prone to budget mistakes than Illinois. If anything, on the whole I’d say they’re doing ok. The big things I think term limits might do is make it easier to vote for unpopular legislation like tax hikes, or buck a party leader.

Regardless, term limits don’t cost a cent and the voters clearly want them - so of course in this quasi-democracy of a state they’re not even on the table (real ones, not the ones in the so-called grand compromise)

Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:23 am
===Maybe he will sometime soon ====

When are you master minds gonna finally figure out that the best and only way to put MJM on the hot seat is to move something out of the Senate?

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:25 am
“Does Rauner really want a deal?”

No. This is too easy Rich.

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:26 am
I wish Rauner would finally give us some definite numbers on any NEW revenue that he will bring to IL.

Comment by Big Joe Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:29 am
The Speaker’s seat is so hot he can’t hold a press conference.

He is capable of sending strongly worded letters to Leader Durkin in the bottom of the 9th inning of negotiations on the State of Illinois building and the I 55 toll deal. Anything to put the game into extra innings.

Talking to the media apparently is impossible. He has farmed that out to Comptroller Mendoza

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:31 am
===Why ignore that new revenue is on the table? It is only dishonest to say it’s not on the table but you know that.===

It’s blatantly dishonest, by you, thinking its a give. It’s not. Not even close. Otherwise, Rauner would support the IPI budget. Why hasn’t Rauner? lol

===Kind of takes away the whole unbalanced budget narrative that is impossible to solve without legislative compromise===

No. People that continue phony narratives like “revenue is a give” and think it’s a compromise aren’t being truthful to the honesty of numbers… like you’re self here.

===budget cannot be line item vetoed to balance.

The Governor cannot change the 60 percent of the budget that is locked up by the courts.===

The governor is required, first, to submit a balanced budget.

First.

If you want to say Rauner is grossly inept at budgetary requirements than who am I to disagree?

===The legislature must change the underlying statutes to change the court ordered spending===

No they don’t.

That’s a want. That’s not a requirement.

Wants don’t count. You can try to get 60 and 30 to try to get it, but it’s a want, not required.

===All of this is on the table as well, but Speaker Madigan has not pulled up a chair yet. Maybe he will sometime soon===

And yet, it was Rauner himself that blew up the Grand Compromise, undercutting Leader Radogno.

This is the first time you are being reminded of Rauner turning and undercutting Leader Radogno and submarining the Grand Compromise.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:32 am
=== When are you master minds gonna finally figure out that the best and only way to put MJM on the hot seat is to move something out of the Senate? ===

Grand slam by Rich!

Comment by Norseman Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:34 am
I’m not being obtuse. New revenue is mandatory; it is not a bargaining chip to get something else.

UNTIL the Governor puts a specific number in his budget, EXPLICITLY calls for a tax increase, and PLEDGES his bought and paid for GOP votes for it, you can’t count on any new revenue.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:36 am
LP says, “Why are you ignoring revenue RNUG?”

I believe RNUG was going point by point from Rauner’s dumb commercial.

Rauner ignored revenue. Got it?

Comment by cdog Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:38 am
Words–”I’ve got a plan to fix this mess”, blah, blah, poll tested numbers of what is popular to be for, or against, blah, blah.

Deeds–no balanced budget, backlog increasing tremendously, starve the beast. He is “energized” by the struggle, and winning, meaning he is just fine w the destruction.

Comment by Langhorne Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:51 am
-cdog-

Yes, I was going point by point down Rauner’s list.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:57 am
=Instead of constantly worrying about his own political future=

This is a good point about a guy who said he didn’t care about that stuff but clearly does.

=Rauner ignored revenue. Got it? =

Yep. Excellent point lost on a few posters here. He talks about things that have no impact or no direct impact on the states fiscal condition, but fails to be honest about something he knows he needs.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 11:01 am
Word’s post is essentially correct. Like Steve Bannon and many other Republicans including Governor Rauner the enemy is seen as the administrative state which requires being deconstructed. So the current stalemate is not a bad thing from that perspective.

Governor Rauner is doing exactly what candidate Rauner promised to do breaking the Democrats no matter what it takes. He plans on being reelected using the same strategy. Given that most of the likely Democrat candidates lining up to oppose him are going to be liberals who can easily be tainted with the tax and spend brush his strategy is not illogical.

Comment by Rod Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 11:02 am
No. You can expand the answer to say that he has never wanted a deal that wasn’t completely in his favor. If you try that theory, you can easily see how we got here. As I keep pointing out, Madigan passed budgets with Blago.

Comment by nearspringfield Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 11:12 am
Re Rauner’s ads and his shirt: I actually wear western-style and outdoorsy shirts. But the one Rauner is wearing is the color and pattern that is marked “clearance” and “80% off” because it is UGLY and nobody buys it. So Rauner bought this cheap markdown shirt and thinks people will buy his words???

Comment by downstate commissioner Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 11:19 am
One thing about Channel 20 and Rauner’s ads: they are just one click down to Channel 17. When Rauner comes on one, I click to the other channel, and vice versa when he comes on the other channel…get most of my news here, anyway….

Comment by downstate commissioner Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 11:25 am
It’s pathetic that both the Governor and MJM coach from the sideline while other people do the work. I guess when you are clueless let others lead so you don’t have to be productive and then take credit.
The Governor and his people have to realize with the blame Madigan campaign that he is not running for statewide office, Rauner is. Other Governors have had to work with MJM to get a budget even if they wanted to choke him half the time. As far as a balanced budget goes maybe is could be reached over 4 to 5 years instead of all at once. It’s like cutting down a tree with an ax. You chip away at it until its done. It’s gonna take time.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 11:38 am
Madigan passed budgets with Blago

Pretty low bar there,nearspringfield.

Rod skipped 1/2 the pension payments in some years and extended the debt by 40 years as part of the 2005 pension holiday deal.

That was before the Great Recession

Not exactly a model for fiscal responsibility

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 11:50 am
Rauner is heading into a reelection campaign without much of anything to show for his time in office…. Rich how wrong you are!

Rauner assured failed comptroller candidate Leslie Monger got a $138,000 tax payer paid job, and his wife got a $100,000 a year part time secretary.

If some one really wanted to paint a accurate picture of Raunerism…. take a look at some of the upper level hiring at many State Agencies….

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 11:58 am
What’s fiscally responsible about Leslie Munger’s made-up, do-nothing position, LP?

Comment by AlfondoGonz Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 11:58 am
First, I was remiss…

Great work, Rich. Thanks for continually bringing forward the realities of the politics and governing that is actually going on, while others seem to keep the discussions to the simplistic views without depth or institutional knowledge. So great.

To this…

===wife got a $100,000 a year part time secretary.===

Other governor spouses has CoS. Please keep up.

You may not like it, but it’s not unique, unlike other things Rauner may do.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 12:06 pm
===Madigan passed budgets with Blago

Pretty low bar…===

… yet a bar Rauner hasn’t hurdled. Or does want to hurdle a budget bar?

Hmm.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 12:09 pm
Deploring the stalemate without strong criticism of Rauner was only enabling Rauner. Even the Tribune knows who pulled the plug on the “grand bargain.” Time to pile on Rauner until he caves or is wiped out in 2018. FAKE GOVERNOR.

Comment by formerpro Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 1:04 pm
“What we oppose, the public opposes. What we support, the public supports.”

“L’Etat, c’est moi.”

The difference being that Louis XIV was a leader capable of governing.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 1:32 pm
Mr. JM, and “après mois, le deluge.”

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 1:41 pm
Rauner is raising our taxes by not presenting a balanced budget. Every day Rauner refuses to govern costs Illinois taxpayers. Anyone who believes any organization can go into a coma, as Rauner has done, and think they’re saving money, doesn’t understand how business or governments survive.

Rauner has bankrupted Illinois taxpayers by not doing his job. Bruce Rauner has been the most wasteful, taxpayer-unfriendly governor in Illinois history.

He hasn’t shaken-up government, he has shaken down government through government inertia.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 3:30 pm
==Rauner has never once proposed a balanced budget.

Might have been a good idea to point out the budget has not been balanced in the past 15 years.==

Well put, LP. Rauner is continuing the failed status quo in Springfield.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 3:32 pm
“When you guys criticize Rauner, how come you don’t mention that he’s doing all the things he campaigned AGAINST?”

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 3:33 pm
My 13 year old saw the commercial and asked why Rauner didn’t just fix it since he’s the Governor and he’s been in office two years.

Comment by CCP Hostage Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 3:33 pm
Yes, very clear when Raunner threw Rodagno under the bus. Which got very little media coverage.

A key issue is that Raunner is not a stakeholder in IL. Regardless of what condition he leaves IL in, HIS lifestyle will change exactly zero.

I still have this question. How is one person able to hold 13 Million Illinoisans hostage with no accountability? He clearly is in legal violation of the IL Constitution, State law and likely his Oath of Office. For 3 budget cycles now.

Blago is in jail for 14 years after far less damage than Raunner has done to IL. How is there no legal recourse here with Raunner? Raunner should be held in contempt of IL. In jail till he decides to produce his mandated balanced budget.

And ran across this: Priebus said: “We can’t be chasing the perfect all the time. Sometimes you have to take the good, and put it in your pocket and take the win.” Also: Chuck Todd on Why Politics is the Art of the Possible. Lessons if he cared to learn.

Comment by sal-says Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 3:47 pm
== How is there no legal recourse here with Raunner? ==

The theoretical recourse is either voter recall or the impeachment process. Both won’t currently work for the same reason. You need members of BOTH parties to sign on to either effort … and Rauner effectively controls one party 50 million times.

Until enough GOP members are willing to go against Rauner, there is no method to remove Rauner.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 4:15 pm
If Rauner were really working class, he would have used WD-40 in the commercial. Duct tape is for when things that shouldn’t move but do. WD-40 is for things that should move but don’t.

But then, if I were really working class, I wouldn’t use the subjunctive.

Comment by Whatever Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 5:23 pm
Is it too much to ask how Governor Kennedy, Pritzker, Pawar, Biss or any of the also rans would solve our budget crisis or is Rauner bashing all that is required to win the nomination?

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:32 pm
===Is it too much to ask how Governor Kennedy, Pritzker, Pawar, Biss or any of the also rans would solve our budget crisis or is Rauner bashing all that is required to win the nomination?===

LOL!!!

“Pat Quinn failed”… Shake up Springfield, Bring Back Illinois…

Now? “Bruce Rauner fails”… let’s look how Bruce Rauner is failing.

Rauner is failing Illinois. Rauner ran on Quinn failing Illinois.

Skyhook, in Reverse.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:40 pm
You made my point OW. Blame the Governor is all that is required for you

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:45 pm
===You made my point OW. Blame the Governor is all that is required for you.===

lol, No, Rauner made your point in 2014.

Keep up.

You seem tired, get some rest.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:47 pm
OW perhaps you think a Democrat would be able to work with the Speaker like Blagoevich and Quinn?

Except they were only successful in piling up debt.

Is it too much to ask for a platform from the Dems other than taxing the 17 billionaires?

Without a comfortable supermajority they can’t change the constitution but they sure can whip up some class warfare

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:52 pm
===…perhaps you think a Democrat would be able to work with the Speaker like Blagoevich and Quinn===

Rauner blew up the Grand Bargain by undercutting Leader Radogno. The Senate is where the deal has been, Rauner refuses to let there be a deal. Ask Leader Radogno.

===Except they were only successful in piling up debt===

Rauner’s own backlog is over… $12 billion, projected to be $20+ billion… all backlog he’d debt. You know this, lol.

===Without a comfortable supermajority they can’t change the constitution but they sure can whip up some class warfare===

Rauner can’t count to 60 and 30.

Edgar could, so could Ryan.

Of course Edgar and Ryan wanted 60 and 30.

Rauner doesn’t.

“Bruce Rauner fails”

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:57 pm
The RNUG.

One more. Why doesn’t the AG take Raunner to court to force him to comply with the Constitution & State law since he’s failed 3 times to submit his balanced budget? Or for malfeasance or misfeasance? Clearly his actions are willful.

Comment by sal-says Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 9:25 am