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Democrats react to Rauner’s non-campaign campaign tour

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Illinois

* Chris Kennedy…

Kennedy to Rauner: Explain why your “Turnaround Agenda” is more important than passing a state budget

Chris Kennedy, Democratic candidate for governor, issued the followed statement today in response to the news that Governor Rauner will tour Illinois on a two-day swing throughout the state.

“Governor Rauner is a failed governor who has turned a budget problem into a statewide economic crisis that has hurt people across Illinois,” said Kennedy. “As he flies around the state, we hope he will finally give the people of Illinois an explanation as to why, by virtually every measure, Illinois is in worse shape than when he took office.”

Today and tomorrow, Governor Rauner is traveling to Bloomingdale, Rockford, Rock Island, Peoria, Springfield, Quincy, East Alton, Marion, Robinson, and Champaign.

“Rauner owes it to the people of Illinois to explain why his Turnaround Agenda is more important than a state budget. While he plays politics, our schools continue to go without the resources they need, the social safety net is being shredded, and violence has become the norm in neighborhoods across the state. We ask him to put his agenda aside and give the people a budget. It’s time we get to work to fix this mess,” added Kennedy.

* Pritzker…

Bruce Rauner Chooses Politics Over Governing (Again)

As Rauner Hits the Campaign Trail, Another Campus Forced to Shutdown

Chicago, IL — Today, as Bruce Rauner chooses to hit the campaign trail instead of working to pass a much-needed budget, Northeastern campus is shutting down again. This is the second time in three weeks that Northeastern Illinois University has had to shut down due to the two-year deadlock over a new state budget.

“Today, Bruce Rauner is once again choosing to put politics over doing his job as Governor,” said JB Pritzker. “While Rauner heads out on the campaign trail, our state still doesn’t have a budget and Northeastern campus is shutting down again. This is devastating. Illinois families have had enough of Bruce Rauner’s failed leadership and they are ready for a progressive leader who will fight for what’s right and actually get things done for our state.”

* Pawar…

Ameya Pawar to Governor Rauner: ‘Put politics aside and govern’

CHICAGO — Ameya Pawar, 47th Ward Alderman and Democratic candidate for Illinois governor, issued the following statement today in response to Governor Bruce Rauner’s first campaign tour of the 2018 election cycle:

“Instead of working on passing a state budget that is now more than 21 months overdue, Governor Rauner is out campaigning in an attempt to distract us from the 22,000 seniors outside of Chicago who have lost access to services, the 130,000 low-income college students who are not receiving tuition grants, the nearly 47,000 children whose parents are without affordable child care, and the 80,000 people who have lost access to mental health services in Illinois. Earlier this morning, I joined students, faculty and staff at Northeastern Illinois University to protest Gov. Rauner’s $2.3 billion in cuts to higher education.

It’s past time for Gov. Rauner to put politics aside and govern. Our state can’t afford to wait any longer.”

* IWT…

Rauner puts campaigning ahead of doing his job
Gov. Rauner should put the people of Illinois first

Illinois Working Together Campaign Director Jake Lewis released the following statement in response to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s “campaign tour”:

“With the state in the midst of a fiscal emergency and Election Day more than 18 months away, it is downright shameful that Gov. Rauner would rather campaign for his re-election than do his job. Rauner’s refusal to compromise has hurt students, seniors, and the Illinois economy.

“The question Illinois residents should be asking is: why is Rauner campaigning for re-election when he has failed to propose a balanced budget, his most basic responsibility as governor? Instead of campaigning, the governor should drop the political games, propose a balanced budget, and do his job.”

Nothing from the other candidates as of yet.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 2:26 pm

Comments

Rauner was back on with Steve Cochran this morning - did they address the whole Susana Mendoza kerfuffle?

https://twitter.com/BruceRauner/status/851794800823152642

Comment by Grand Avenue Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 2:28 pm
*IDP…

Comment by Earnest Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 2:31 pm
These are the messages that can, “collectively” allow ALL Democrats to get to a simple and powerful Rauner reality.

“Bruce Rauner failed, Rauner is campaigning instead of what we elected him to do; Rauner refuses to do his job”

They ALL need to realize, attacking each other in April, that’s not helping themselves or Democrats. Raunerism needs to be THE issue, at least until September.

Glad to see them these. Good stuff. Now make the case for the narrative.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 2:32 pm
No statement from the Scott Drury Exploratory Committee yet?

Comment by Grand Avenue Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 2:35 pm
==Ameya Pawar to Governor Rauner: ‘Put politics aside and govern’==

Wait I like Pawar… but isn’t it a bit hypocritical that he is a elected official who is going around the state politicking and at the same time is saying Rauner isn’t allowed to do the same?

Comment by Annyong Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 2:37 pm
I just turned on KMOX ( never listen to the previous 3 hours of Rush ) and only heard the last part of his interview with Mark Reardon.

Once again ( and from a sympathetic host ) - softball questions and no delving, questioning of his statements or any follow up.

Imagine how surprised I was to hear that BVR was supportive of the efforts in the Senate to arrive at a budget compromise and how we can only “grow” our state out of this problem by enacting term limits, property tax reform and all the rest of his agenda! Income was not the problem but “Tax Hike Mike” and al those Chicago Dems were to blame.

Comment by illini Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 2:42 pm
I would award the daily messaging trophy to the Kennedy team here:
“As he flies around the state, we hope he will finally give the people of Illinois an explanation as to why, by virtually every measure, Illinois is in worse shape than when he took office.”

“Rauner owes it to the people of Illinois to explain why his Turnaround Agenda is more important than a state budget. While he plays politics, our schools continue to go without the resources they need, the social safety net is being shredded, and violence has become the norm in neighborhoods across the state.”

That’s a sharp narrative imo.

Comment by chi Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 2:53 pm
I will wait for someone to tell me when was the last time politics was put aside to pass a budget.

The budget process is completely political and has been so forever.

“Hostage taking” otherwise known as leverage to produce compromise has also been around forever.

Mike Madigan does not understand compromise or he would start by working with the minority party in the house and the Governor. If that is too much for him he could compromise with the democratic supermajority in the Senate

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 2:53 pm
Hey Lucky, for some reason on my computer your post reads; Blah, Blah, Blah Blah Blah.

Comment by don the legend Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 2:58 pm
===Hostage taking” otherwise known as leverage to produce compromise has also been around forever===

Then you agree, Rauner is indeed hurting, purposely, his hostages of higher education and social services. Got it, thank you.

===If that is too much for him he could compromise with the democratic supermajority in the Senate===

Rauner, personally, blew up the Senate “Grand Compromise”

This is the first time today you are reminded of the fact Rauner blew up the Grand Compromise, a fact you have been told numerous times.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 2:58 pm
===“Hostage taking” otherwise known as leverage to produce compromise has also been around forever.===

Just ask DB Cooper!

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 3:01 pm
–“Hostage taking” otherwise known as leverage to produce compromise has also been around forever.–

Whoa, whoa, whoa, who’s taking hostages? The governor is not — he said so.

Control-Alt-Delete and reboot, son. You’re off message.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 3:05 pm
Willy and LP - you might both be surprised to know the BVR told KMOX less than an hour ago that he was very encouraged about all the progress being made in the Senate negotiations and was hopeful that they could work out the issues.

And here I thought he put an end to these negotiations - how did I get this so wrong?

Comment by illini Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 3:07 pm
–you might both be surprised to know the BVR told KMOX less than an hour ago that he was very encouraged about all the progress being made in the Senate negotiations and was hopeful that they could work out the issues.–

Is that for real? If so, the duplicity is way creepy.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 3:12 pm
- illini -

Maybe KMOX needs to have Leader Radogno call in and ask her about all the Senate Compromising…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 3:12 pm
@Willy and @Word - I only heard part of the interview. Sometimes they post interviews with some guests. If I can find it I’ll send the link to Rich.

Comment by illini Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 3:16 pm
Budget-making with compromise by political leaders? Well the Ryan, Thompson, Edgar yearly budgets all come to mind.

What make this situation unprecedented, is that one side seems to think that not having a budget at all for years, is a viable option, regardless of the damage it does to the state government and its public.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 3:18 pm
IWP put it even more simply on Facebook today:

==
THINGS GOV. RAUNER IS DOING TODAY:
- Campaignin’
- Runnin’ TV ads
- Blamin’ everyone else

X His job
===

Comment by Succinct Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 3:21 pm
And right on cue,Lucky comes in to defend Rauner.

Comment by btowntruth from forgottonia Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 3:23 pm
Tell me what Madigan will compromise on, I say zilch. I guess that has already been proven.

Comment by Arock Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 3:25 pm
===Tell me what Madigan will compromise on, I say zilch. I guess that has already been proven.===

Tell that to Thonpson, Edgar, and Ryan.

There’s even recent quotes you can find where these governors plead with Rauner to find 60 and 30 and understand what isn’t possible and doing the doable.

Also - Arock -…

When Rauner shows he has 60 House votes, 60 House members on the stairs and Madigan is stopping a compromise like Rauner did in the Senate, you just point those thigd out. K? K.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 3:29 pm
Lucky Pierre to Bruce Rauner is as Lambchop is to Shari Lewis.

Ummm does this qualify as sock puppetry?

Comment by Former hillrod Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 3:30 pm
Rauner is crossing the state with a message of hope, showing off success stories such as NOW foods which has had explosive growth over the past few years. It might be political but he is also promoting Illinois in a positive light. Both houses are on “Spring Break” so any budget talks are on hold till after Easter anyway.

Comment by Texas Red Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 3:31 pm
Yes one thing Madigan will comprise on is pushing the problems on to the next generation who either can’t vote yet or is not in power (tier 2)

he is very good at that

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 3:33 pm
What is new is calling the usual give and take of politics hostage taking.

Madigan sure does understand the take, he need work on the give

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 3:36 pm
I think LP just proved my point

Comment by Former hillrod Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 3:40 pm
- Lucky Pierre -…

Former 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.”===

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 governor and you’re not doing the doable, you don’t understand Governors Own and drive the bus…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 3:41 pm
===Madigan sure does understand the take, he need work on the give===

Rauner’s vetoes of an evtire budget less K-12 makes clear, Rauner understands what hostages are, that these hostages are his, and Rauner isn’t concerned who is hurt.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 3:42 pm
Maybe it is too much inside baseball, but I wish the D candidates would hit him more specifically on scuttling the bipartisan compromise that included some of his desired reforms.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 3:48 pm
It was Bruce Rauner’s explicitly stated intention to hold state government hostage to his demands and to put financial pressure on Democratic constituencies to force a wedge between them.

It’s unfortunate that each of these statements omits this detail. Rauner has no success to run on so he needs the benefit of the doubt from the voters to not wear the blame. If the Democrats can erode that trust they can defeat him, eroding the trust is the key point.

If voters better understood that Rauner intentionally made the state’s financial position worse that would go a long way towards eroding that trust. Missed opportunity.

Comment by The Captain Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 3:51 pm
–I will wait for someone to tell me when was the last time politics was put aside to pass a budget.

The budget process is completely political and has been so forever.

“Hostage taking” otherwise known as leverage to produce compromise has also been around forever.–

LP, I find your new programming fascinating.

Gov. Rauner is just doing things like those bad ol’ guys have forever? He’s just like all those other governors, doing things the way they used to?

Well that’s a new tune.

At what point of historic and unprecedented willful destruction that’s happening right now did your programming kick in and change to “meh, that’s how everyone’s always done it, forever. We’re just like those old guys.”

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 4:00 pm
Rauner’s messaging must be seeping into my brain today, because I find myself frustrated with Madigan. Not the Speaker of the House one, but the one that is the leader of the IDP.

Wouldn’t take a lot–one brief, cohesive message which resonates with the anti-Rauner themes taken up by the gubernatorial candidates. Could be something for the legislative candidates to build from. Could help his image (slightly) to be seen as focusing on something that matters to people.

He’s probably busy playing that 3D chess though. I”m imagining a flyer accusing Rauner of supporting predators because someone on the registry lived in one of the nursing homes managed by his companies one time. I saw a draft or something like it the last election or three.

/s, or maybe crabbiness. apologies

Comment by Earnest Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 4:28 pm
The unity of theme here kinda lends credence to my theory that Democrats weren’t lacking an anti-Rauner message, they were like a Gubernatorial candidate.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 4:32 pm
““Hostage taking” otherwise known as leverage to produce compromise has also been around forever”
So…since Madigan has been around forever, and Rauner is just doing what has been going on all along, you admit that Madigan is doing it right?

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 4:34 pm
–The unity of theme here kinda lends credence to my theory that Democrats weren’t lacking an anti-Rauner message–

They were lacking a state party apparatus with any messaging strategy or capabilities.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 4:35 pm
Madigan was willing to compromise by offering more workers comp reform and property tax relief legislation, both nonbudget items. Neither went far enough for Rauner. Property tax reform didn’t include stripping collective bargaining and repealing the prevailing wage at the local government level. That’s an impossible ask, and Rauner must know that. That’s one reason I believe this crisis is willful on Rauner’s part.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 4:39 pm
=Grandson of Man: That’s one reason I believe this crisis is willful on Rauner’s part.= You are being kind by not listing the other dozen reasons or so as to why it is willful.

Comment by don the legend Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 4:54 pm
What are the results of do the doable?

We are leading the nation in all kinds of bad things because of this philosophy

Quoting “successful” ex Governors one of whom went to prison and the other who was bragged about surplus budgets while ramping pension contributions to the next generation are hardly a good road map to follow

Nothing is doable with Speaker Madigan

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 5:01 pm
Hmm. His non-campaign tour promoting his non-existent Balance Budget…

Comment by d.p.gumby Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 5:09 pm
===What are the results of do the doable?===

Rauner has no budgetary results working within the doable…

===We are leading the nation in all kinds of bad things because of this philosophy===

No.

No, we lead the nation in having no budget for 2 years running, going on 3 years. No state has done that.

===Quoting “successful” ex Governors one of whom went to prison and the other who was bragged about surplus budgets while ramping pension contributions to the next generation are hardly a good road map to follow===

… and yet, Rauner begged and pleaded for Edgar to campaign with and for him the last weekend, and it has been suggested that Ryan, who had a working relationship with Madigan to get things passed, try to help Rauner understand how to find a workable relationship with Madigan.

I can’t help Rauner is yet to learn 60 and 30.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 5:10 pm
LP, you may be largely right about Speaker Madigan. “You’ll get nothing and like it!” is what I’ve seen from Madigan for the entirety of the Rauner administration. I think Madigan’s tenure has largely been bad for the state, before and during Rauner.

But two points for your consideration.

1) Figuring out how to work with Madigan should have been quite high on Gov. Rauner’s to-do list when he took office. It isn’t as if the Speaker’s power and style are surprises. Rauner failed there.

2) We’ll never find out for sure what Madigan would compromise on, unless Rauner changes course, and fully endorses and works for the Cullerton-Radogno solution. If Rauner did this, I’d expect republicans in the house to fall in line, and the success of the budget/reform compromise would then be up to Madigan.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 5:12 pm
LP, are you a professional troll or just working on your pro-am status? Pretty much every former GOP governor has called out the current occupant for failure to lead and failure to force a compromise. Your ability to deny the obvious would be admirable if it wasn’t so mind-blowingly disingenuous.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 5:20 pm
“Nothing is doable with Speaker Madigan.”

Well he worked with Speaker Madigan to bail out a Fortune 50 company with BILLIONS in ratepayer money. So there is that.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 5:21 pm
“I can’t help Rauner is yet to learn 60 and 30.”

EXACTLY. As they say in Hamilton, “you don’t have the votes, no, you don’t have the votes.” With or without Speaker Madigan, Rauner isn’t remotely close to either for any of his agenda.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 5:23 pm
For what it’s worth (from the Governor who paid down the backlog of bills while maintaining the safety net): “I think it all begins and ends with arithmetic. You’ve got to have enough revenue to equal your expenditures. And I think that’s the first job of the governor is to propose a budget that has adequate revenue to pay for the important expenditures of, not only education, but health care and housing and public safety and social services. So that’s, you know, a real failing of Bruce Rauner.”

Comment by 37B Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 6:01 pm
Kennedy’s question is the thing that will take toll on the Gov. He has nowhere to hide. Keep asking what budget did you propose, where are your jobs that you promised, how is it that other surrounding states are doing well and we’re not? Yes MJM is a pain and a problem but other Govs. have worked with him why didn’t you. Colleges and Universities are in crisis, Don’t you care? His reactions should be classic.

Comment by Ginhouse Tommy Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 6:02 pm
But in more positive news, he is running ahead in the Rauner v Madigan for Speaker 2018 race.

Comment by peon Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 6:17 pm
I’m not surprised your out campaigning Bruce everything up to this point has been an epic failure so you need all the help you can get

Comment by Big jack Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 6:20 pm
2 things come to mind. I looked at polls and the top 10 worst Governors puts Rauner at #6 as the worst. Then thinking in the campaign mode right now I see he loses all the votes of State Employees or most. I think that the percentage of state employees voting is pretty high. Any candidate who would be mindful of State employees is going to pick up a huge voting block.

Comment by Cleric dcn Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 6:36 pm
I was proud so see Kennedy jump into this race but IDK anymore. His downstate coordinator was a former Blago/Quinn guy who was fired by CMS for lying on a job application. So is Kennedy a good judge of character? I sure have questions now!!!

Comment by ShawneeCoal Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 6:43 pm
A good first salvo for Kennedy. I’m no fan of MM, but any objective assessment of BR’s first term leads to one conclusion: Planned Failure. I can’t think of any political figure in recent memory who is less deserving of reelection. Is it naiveté or hubris? Maybe a lot of both.

Comment by veritas Tuesday, Apr 11, 17 @ 8:12 pm
They’re all saying a similar thing, as though it hadn’t been said before.

Kennedy’s version is best.

But I won’t be able to tolerate another year. Geez, I already tired myself out, reading it in my comments a year ago.

Cut to the chase guys. Tell us how many BILLIONS Rauner wasted not doing his job. Don’t tell us that he can’t campaign and gover - tell me how many BILLIONS IN WASTED TAX DOLLARS he’s blown!

Focus on Rauner’s waste. Make the message Rauner’s anti-business administration is costing us.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 3:20 am
What is the General Assembly doing the next 3
weeks to pass a budget ?

Comment by DMAN Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 8:05 am
===What is the General Assembly doing the next 3
weeks to pass a budget ?===

They may be waiting for Rauner to fulfill his obligation under Article VIII, Section 2 (a).

You have no point when Rauner proposes grossly unbalanced budgets, phony and a sham to the Comstitution.

Rauner said he wasn’t part of the Status Quo.

Well…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 8:10 am
Legislators think they deserve a two week vacation even though they have accomplished nothing unless you are a fan of bacon and cycling

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 8:48 am
===Legislators think they deserve a two week vacation even though they have accomplished nothing unless you are a fan of bacon and cycling.===

… and yet, Rauner refuses to submit a balanced budget, refuses to fully fund all of higher education, refuses to pay bills, refuses to honor signed contracts… refuses to be a governor…

… while parading around Illinois in costumes these two days, paid for out of the $50 million in his campaign fund, a fund he uses to hold legislators hostage when Grand Compromises exist. Then? Then Rauner blows up a Grand Bargain.

So, you the the Raunerites taking off these two weeks are at fault too? That’s fun.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 8:59 am