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* Mike Mahoney, the governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Legislative Affairs, resigned this morning. I’m told the parting was amicable.
* Here’s Sneed from last week…
The big question: Will Mike Mahoney, the governor’s policy chief, be told to leave?
“Mike was the guy who kept the troops together, but the expectation is that there is a lot more to come in the cleaning house department,” a Rauner source said.”
It almost goes without saying that this is yet another big loss for the administration. Mahoney was a key player and both House Republican Leader Jim Durkin and Senate GOP Leader Bill Brady reportedly asked the governor to do what he could to keep Mahoney on the payroll. In the end, however, he really had no choice but to leave.
I’m told that more resignations are expected as early as today, so stay tuned.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Sources close to the governor’s office confirm that the governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Engagement Phil Rodriguez has also resigned. Rodriguez worked for Comptrollers Topinka and Munger and ran both of their campaigns. He’s moving over to the Tollway.
*** UPDATE 2 *** The govenor’s body man, Kyle Haevers, has been told his services were no longer needed and was asked to find an agency to move to. His replacement is Ben Tracy, who has already begun traveling with the governor. Kyle was a loyal Raunerite and has been part of Rauner World since 2014 and helped on the Rep. McAuliffe race last fall.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Digital Director Bridget Davidson and Deputy Press Secretary Olivia Munson also resigned today. Davidson came on board last October from a TV station in Milwaukee. I’m told that under Davidson’s direction “Facebook followers grew organically (no paid or sponsored posts) by 300 percent” in seven months.
*** UPDATE 4 *** Kathy Lydon, who runs the state’s Washington, DC office, has left. I’m told her deputy left as well. Lydon previously worked for Judy Biggert and goes all the way back to the Chuck Percy days.
*** UPDATE 5 *** Bob Stefanski, Director of House and Senate Operations, has departed. The House and Senate Republican leaders both wanted the governor to keep him around.
*** UPDATE 6 *** Whew…
TWENTY ONE staffers have left or been fired from @GovRauner's office since last week#ShakeUpSpringfield https://t.co/eVsjQLoYy5
— IL Working Together (@IllinoisWorking) July 17, 2017
*** UPDATE 7 *** Anyone paying half attention to the RadicalCandorIL Twitter account today could’ve guessed this was coming…
The new "body man" doesn't last one day! @GovRauner fires him #chaoshttps://t.co/tkp1Ij5H0U
— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) July 17, 2017
*** UPDATE 8 *** Like I said, anyone following “Radical Candor” would already know this…
Illinois GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner’s new “body man” — the government staffer who spends long days with governor — has a history of writing racially-charged, homophobic and sexually explicit tweets.
“I’d f— her teeth straight,” said one. “To the Indian people in the library: SHUT THE F— UP!,” said another.
The Twitter account belongs to Ben Tracy, who was just hired as Rauner’s new body man, the person who travels with the governor, handles scheduling and other duties.
After another social media account started flagging the tweets, Tracy’s account was put into a private, protected mode.
*** UPDATE 9 *** Sun-Times confirmed…
The administration on Monday confirmed Tracy’s termination.
“These tweets are unacceptable. The individual in question is no longer an employee of our Administration,” Rauner’s Director of Communications Laurel Patrick said in an email.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 8:38 am
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So, is the Governor’s new inner-circle to bring people in, or keep people out?
Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 8:46 am
Apparently, with Rauner, the buck, so to speak, doesn’t stop anywhere near him, or he would’ve been the first to resign.
Comment by PublicServant Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 8:46 am
The sad part in all these resignations is that they have no choice, given the option is to sit by quietly and watch the RaunerS systematically tear down the political apparatus, the governing levers, with the end game to take down a whole state.
You are loyal to the Crew that brought ya, and when you turn on them and the goals they thought you all shared, you have to walk.
All the best to Mahoney.
With Z, Goldberg, “ck”, Lance, now Mahoney… the IPI couldn’t have imagined a better takedown of the governing.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 8:48 am
Sinking ship manned by Captain Ahab and Lt. Bligh.
Comment by Free Set of Steak Knives Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 8:48 am
Wheels have come off
Comment by Alex P. Keaton Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 8:49 am
In baseball, the manager gets fired. In politics, it is the team. Play ball!
Comment by illinois Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 8:49 am
It’s all so weird - as soon as his re-election chances start to look up (he gets to campaign against Madigan’s tax hike plus no more “where’s the budget?”), he makes a series of unnecessary decisions that severely lower his odds of re-election.
If he was going to do a hard right turn, why couldn’t he wait until after his potential re-election? He’s not going to be able to pass any of the IPI agenda for the next 18 months, so why do this now?
Comment by Fax Machine Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 8:54 am
- Fax Machine -
Diana and Bruce have had enough of the phony, and are betting being callous and thoughtless, through the IPI Crew brought on board will be enough to win in 2018, or enough to destroy what they want gone, if they do lose.
It’s ideology now, not politics.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 8:57 am
CapFax commenters are almost entirely insiders. The Governor hired a bunch of inside business as usual staff for the last 2.5 years. They’ve failed to bring the radical change he promised because they were groomed by the system that needs to be changed.
The Governor is finally delivering on his promises. “Shake Up Springfield.”
None of these people will be missed outside the small bi-partisan clique that has ruined Illinois for 40 years.
Comment by Phil King Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:03 am
Phil - what are they going to Shake Up in the next 18 months with a Dem GA & Comptroller?
Comment by Fax Machine Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:07 am
Phil King, it’s not just that he’s hiring the IPI, it’s that IPI will craft his message.
They’re going to be putting Rauner into ad-ready quotes for the next 16 months. For both sides.
Comment by illini97 Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:14 am
Fax Machine,
Governors have a lot of unilateral power. And now that Madigan has made clear he will never compromise on anything, and 15 Republicans have shown that they will sell out on everything, I would expect a turn towards what he can do on his own.
Comment by Phil King Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:15 am
Fax Machine
Not to mention the republicans that rebuked him. Rauner and his staff can’t do anything to them in the next 18 months.
Comment by Real Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:16 am
Phil King
Saving the state is not selling out. If Rauners agenda was so good he would not be holding the budget hostage to have it passed.
Comment by Real Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:17 am
===And now that Madigan has made clear he will never compromise on anything===
Four year property tax freeze got zero Republican votes.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:20 am
Governors do have a lot of unilateral power, but a lot of that depends on appointees who need Senate confirmation.
True, he can decide not to spend money appropriated to agencies under his control, but since the Comptroller is a Dem he can’t hold independent agencies & units of Government hostage.
Comment by Fax Machine Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:20 am
==holding the budget hostage ==
This never happened.
He made clear he would accept two outcomes:
1) Balanced budget with current revenues
2) Tax hike budget with significant reforms
The reforms were not leverage for a budget. The GA wanted a tax hike and Rauner told them what they had to do in order to earn his signature.
Governor’s have no obligation to hike taxes just because the GA wants it.
Comment by Phil King Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:23 am
Ducky. Zero Republican votes tell you that the established Republican party loves taxing the working poor and middle classes as much as the Dems.
Comment by Blue dog dem Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:25 am
Rauner is inexperienced in politics, and he reasserted his ideology after he failed to deal with members of his own party. This shows an arrogance which may be acceptable in business but which are not compatible with US politics. In the last analysis, he gambled and he is losing.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:26 am
Phil King
Nobody is accepting Rauners agenda but the simple. Tax hike with reforms such as term limits but no canpaign finance reform?
Term limits help Rauner buy more seats.
Campaign finance reform prevents that.
We see Rauner is in it for himself.
Comment by Real Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:27 am
Oh - Phil King -, lol…
===2) Tax hike budget with significant reforms===
You can’t give a required element.
Either you’re willfully ignorant or blissfully unaware.
Rauner’s own budget required, (not optional) a revenue increase.
===Rauner told them what they had to do in order to earn his signature.===
… so they override Rauner with first 16, then 11 in the end to override.
“Why?”
Rauner was holding the state hostage and the GA had enough… Bipartisanly.
===Governor’s have no obligation to hike taxes just because the GA wants it.===
… except Rauner’s own budget required a revenue increase, so there’s that, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:29 am
==The Governor is finally delivering on his promises. “Shake Up Springfield.”==
Heh. With staffers from a 15-year-old political think tank. How revolutionary! He’s finally getting away from *those* political insiders and now picking *these* political insiders!
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:30 am
@9:23 and he cravenly refused to offer up an honest budget proposal based upon then current revenues and his agency heads were unable to identify what cuts could be made to meet them. Try again.
Comment by Hieronymus Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:31 am
@Phil King
You must love Pat Quinn. You see, he actually proposed two budgets before the 2011 tax hike, one that included new revenues and one that didn’t. Rauner only proposed budgets that were billions out of whack.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:32 am
==I would expect a turn towards what he can do on his own.==
You might expect that, but by your account he’s hiring a bunch of “political outsiders” who can’t pull that off.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:33 am
Kudos to the 11 Republicans who voted to override. Often it takes years or decades for the courageous to get vindication. For them it took a week.
Comment by Fax Machine Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:40 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ7RvRPCSWM
This reminded me of the state of the State if Goldberg was Mufasa
Comment by Howwastheplaymrslincoln? Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:45 am
==… except Rauner’s own budget required a revenue increase, so there’s that, lol ==
His second introduced budget, not his first. GA never even touched his first budget.
Rauner was trying to be reasonable and play by their rules. That was his mistake.
==Pat Quinn. You see, he actually proposed two budgets before the 2011 tax hike, one that included new revenues and one that didn’t==
A political stunt attempting to show the “necessity” of a tax hike, because his no tax hike plan intentionally gouged key Democratic constituencies.
Rauner also had his “Budget Stabilization Act” to give himself emergency powers.
If we’re counting one, let’s count the other.
Comment by Phil King Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:45 am
===His second introduced budget, not his first===
LOL
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150507/BLOGS02/150509877/civic-federation-rips-unrealistic-rauner-budget
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:50 am
For the staffers that are leaving, some by choice while others less so, my biggest regret for them is the bubble they’ve had to operate in for the last few years. This Governor’s office was much more insular than most recent ones. The Governor has criticized Republican legislators for socializing with Democrats after hours in Springfield and in this administration that mindset led to seeing fewer executive branch staff at social events. Now that many of them find themselves in need of a new job it’s unfortunate that their networking opportunities were limited during their time in the administration, relative to staffers who performed similar roles for previous administrations. Hopefully they land on their feet.
Comment by The Captain Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:52 am
Phil King
I’m not going to expose this i
Illinois house republican that was one of the 15 that voted on Madigan’s budget, but he/she told me that Rauner’s own budget should not be called a republican budget. I got the message through facebook messenger.
Comment by Real Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:52 am
Phil King aka IPI?
Comment by Well then Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:52 am
@Phil King — You and your ilk mimic the Stalinist mindset perfectly. All that matters is ideological purity, fealty to a set of abstract principles. The reality of governing, of checks and balances, of making a government work … to complicated.
Comment by Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:52 am
Say what you will: the man still has unlimited funds and will be a tough out. The Dems can’t just mail (pun intended) it in.
Comment by Snucka Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:52 am
Phil King, both Rauner’s first budget and his “Budget Stabilization Act” made the budget appear balanced by reducing the pension contribution by billions of dollars, thus kicking the can down the road. So not sure why that should be counted.
Comment by Juice Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:53 am
Too complicated. (Correcting above.)
Comment by Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 9:54 am
Snucka - he was in such a good spot for re-election - he was going to be able to campaign on a simple message he truly believed in, and now he’s throwing it all away with these unforced errors. It’s absolutely inexplicable to any rational person.
Comment by Fax Machine Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:01 am
Juice, how many actual voters will know what you posted at 9:53? Few, and most post here….
Rauner will be able to run against the “Madigan” income and gas tax increaes, without the pain of no current budget.
Comment by Anony Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:02 am
Shorter IPI spin: “Rauner was held back because he surrounded himself with people who knew how things get done in Springfield. Now that they’ve been purged, and he’s assembled a team of people with no governing experience whatsoever, there’s nothing standing between Rauner and his pure & perfect success.”
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:06 am
===Rauner will be able to run against the “Madigan” income and gas tax increaes, without the pain of no current budget.===
Meh.
A very smart, nimble, wise campaign would from now until July 2018 remind everyone.
“You like that. Rauner vetoed it”
“More troopers? Rauner vetoed that.”
“Social services being paid? Rauner vetoed that”
“Higher Ed getting a full year of funding? Rauner vetoed that.”
Where o where can Rauner go and say “I support this” with a budget he vetoed and overridden?
A whole year now… Rauner can’t claim a single thing (SB1 and K-12 funding still hanging out there, but I digress… ) that requires a budgetary dollar.
So, there’s that.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:06 am
Asking out of ignorance. Why would a body man be forced out over the budget outcome? What impact does the body man have on furthering the Gov.’s agenda? This just seems like the Gov. being vindictive.
Comment by Just Observing Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:08 am
>It’s all so weird - as soon as his re-election chances start to look up (he gets to campaign against Madigan’s tax hike plus no more “where’s the budget?”), he makes a series of unnecessary decisions that severely lower his odds of re-election.
This has been my reaction too. I see some good comments in response to Fax’s observation. I think Rauner’s way too smart and strategic to simply be reacting, but this seems more like preparation to win a primary, not a general election in Illinois.
>1) Balanced budget with current revenues
Phil, my beef with this one is that he would never give us any inkling what he’d want that to look like, not even through his department heads. It makes me doubt it is something he wanted or would support.
Comment by Earnest Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:10 am
=CapFax commenters are almost entirely insiders.=
LOL. Not true, but truth may not be an obstacle for you.
=He made clear he would accept two outcomes:
1) Balanced budget with current revenues
2) Tax hike budget with significant reforms
The reforms were not leverage for a budget.=
1) The governor proposed three budgets.
2) Every proposed more spending than revenue.
3) The governor is not a King, he does not get whatever he demands when he demands it. he isn’t a CEO either, which in the current culture seems to function much like a monarchy.
4) Governing requires skill not demands followed by tantrums.
5) “Reform” does not mean what you think it does and has become one of the most abused terms in the English language by politicians like Rauner.
6)Rauner’s economic policies have not “worked” anywhere in the last 36 years.
7)Kansas,Kansas,Kansas,Kansas. We are not Kansas unless Rauner gets his way.
The biggest issue is that IPI “insiders” like you need to go and find a little qualified data that would demonstrate that Rauner’s/IPI’s economic vision has worked. Anywhere. I would accept a foreign example within the last 100 years.
He had worker’s comp.
Wrong as it is for the state to touch local government, he could have had something with property tax.
Pensions do not need to be “reformed”.
We need to pay our bills even though many of you IPI “insiders” want to welch on our commitments.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:12 am
OW - that’s what that should do. But the spending on those things is still happening. The only “pain” from the budget (to the average voter) is the tax increase.
Comment by Anony Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:15 am
By Rauner hiring top IPI staff he only hurt his chances for reelection. His dem opponent now has years worth of IPI articles to look through and use against Rauner.
Comment by Real Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:17 am
===But the spending on those things is still happening.===
lol, tell that to the universities. Good try thou.
===The only “pain” from the budget (to the average voter) is the tax increase.===
Tell that to the downstate GOP legislators that voted to override.
They said different. The ones with universities knew better too.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:21 am
OW - yep, Rauner’s not gonna run any commercials in the next election. Lol. Actually, he’s going to run thousands of them, saying the things I posted and others. I’ll mark you down as unswayed. We’ll see if it works on others.
Comment by Anony Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:26 am
Rauner’s slogan for the remainder of his term: “Kill the survivors!”
Comment by Michael Westen Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:26 am
Really? His body man? If I were his Carhart distributor, I’d be plenty worried right about now…
Comment by Soccermom Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:27 am
===We’ll see if it works on others===
58% Rauner “disapproval”
That’s before Rauner holds K-12 hostage from opening. That’s before the HB40 veto. That’s before Labor galvanizing Rauner at the ballot box.
Meh. Again, Rauner is a failed governor, not unlike the failed governor Candidate Rauner defeated.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:30 am
–”Pensions do not need to be “reformed.”–
Delete your account.
Comment by Lance Mannion Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:31 am
OW - is that 58% a poll of adults, registered voters, or likely voters?
You could very well be right that he’ll not be re-elected. But his electoral strategy is likely close to that described. He’s going to run against Madigan.
Comment by Anony Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:36 am
==and was asked to find an agency to move to==
This is the kinda thing that they hammered Pat Quinn. And look, I don’t want Heavers to be out on the street, but Rauner’s perpetuation of the Springfield status quo is quite something.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:36 am
- Anony -
http://bit.ly/2uAxPzr
===But his electoral strategy is likely close to that described. He’s going to run against Madigan.===
Funny thing is, Madigan won’t be in the ballot.
With a 58% disapproval, Rauner needs to find positives, and no signed budget for three consecutive fiscal years ain’t a good base to jump from to make those numbers move.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:40 am
Rauner understands what he is doing. He just has not figured out Illinois politics yet. Sadly with his new crew he most likely never will. I have said this several times. What BR does any more does not matter. He has taken himself out of the conversation here in Illinois.
Comment by Whoelse Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:43 am
I hope, for Kyle’s sake, he didn’t sign anything.
Comment by From the 'Dale to HP Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:43 am
== Why would a body man be forced out over the budget outcome? ==
I’m guessing he was brought to the dance by Z/Goldberg. Don’t think the IPI team wants any of their holdovers in the inner sanctum.
Comment by Roman Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:45 am
OW - thanks for the link. Registered voters.
Madigan is never on the ballot, except in his district. I’d submit that his large presence has had an impact on races in the past. Rauner will run against him.
When the “outsider” Democrat wins the primary, s/he is going to have to answer the Madigan question and state independence from Madigan. When that happens, Rauner’s stance will be…do you believe this outsider is really independent of Madigan?
Comment by Anony Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:52 am
I now think that Rauner knows he can’t win re-election.
Z was allowed to move on with blessings.
He needs a heartless new crew to cause as much damage to the “administrative state” as possible. It is dark Bannonism.
Destroy the workforce.
Destroy the agencies.
It will take s decade to rebuild
Perfect environment for big business profit
The big companies are just fine.
IPI crew is not to govern
IPI is for Malum in se.
Layoffs ,closings, geographical transfers
Downsizing and a bit of outsourcing.
And most of all
The great labor war
Comment by Honeybear Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:52 am
Firing everyone who knows anything about anything is… it’s not smart and a horrible way to run a business.
Comment by From the 'Dale to HP Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:53 am
===When the “outsider” Democrat wins the primary, s/he is going to have to answer the Madigan question and state independence from Madigan. When that happens, Rauner’s stance will be…do you believe this outsider is really independent of Madigan?===
Nope.
See: Munger, Leslie v Mendoza, Susana
I’ve seen this movie.
Statewide, running Madigan v. Rauner, with turnout factored in, Rauner isn’t looking all that great to statewide voters, when choices are upon them.
Then there’s Trump, his number in Illinois, and Rauner’s 58% disapproval.
Rauner needs Trump voters, but there aren’t enough to win solely with them, but can’t alienate them by ignoring Trump with Rauner continually ignoring Trump.
Munger-Mendoza set the table.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 10:57 am
That’s before Rauner holds K-12 hostage from opening. That’s before the HB40 veto. That’s before Labor galvanizing Rauner at the ballot box.
Meh. Again, Rauner is a failed governor, not unlike the failed governor Candidate Rauner defeated.
=====
That’s also before Rauner veto’s the minimum wage hike bill. More voters voted for a minimum wage hike than those that voted for Rauner.
Comment by Real Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 11:06 am
Does anybody know whatever happened to Rod’s old “Reform and Renewal” banner? Maybe Rauner could start using it…
Comment by Soccermom Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 11:12 am
When Brady and Durkin as the Gov. to keep Mahoney on and he leaves anyway it means that the lines of communications with the Governors office have been cut off completely. Don’t expect to see anything accomplished in the next year and a half. This also means that discipline within that office just went out the window.
Comment by Ginhouse Tommy Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 11:12 am
OW - I’ll note again…..I’m stating what I believe will be Rauner’s strategy in the next election. Your responses seem focused on whether this strategy will be successful. Two different things….
Do you have a different take on what Rauner’s strategy will be?
Comment by Anony Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 11:20 am
What’s Madigan’s move next year? Make sure every R has a D running against them? Maybe even the “safe” districts? Minimal outlay just to get a D on the ballot just in case voters decide “anyone but an R”?
Comment by CharlieKratos Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 11:21 am
The tactics and desired outcomes are different, but this looks more and more like Mitt Romney’s time in Massachusetts every day.
Comment by EVanstonian Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 11:39 am
Looms like Rauner’s new body man endorses strong arm tactics with reporters:
https://twitter.com/btracy11/status/867970381516124160
That should go over well as an ice breaker on the road.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 11:48 am
===Digital Director… and Deputy Press Secretary… also resigned today…===
The messaging Staff is now walking.
Rauner can out some of the IPI or state party messengers there(?)
If this is a total takeover, overt and transparent, might as well consolidate early.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 12:00 pm
This is real life, not a position paper? Can the IPI deal with real world issues or just theories?
Comment by Flynn's mom Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 12:02 pm
PK, what’s your day job, writing Civil War textbooks for the Texas public schools?
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 12:06 pm
PK, I want your drugs.
Comment by Lt Guv Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 12:58 pm
Mr. Tracy seems to be busy deleting and blocking his Twitter account. The internet is forever, Ben.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 1:08 pm
What’s the tally up to? Firings? Resignations?
Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 1:22 pm
Rickert is gonna bring in her own people, leaving now with a shred of dignity is smart.
That said, she came on board in 2016, long after the petals was off the rose.
Comment by Free Set of Steak Knives Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 1:24 pm
I wonder if Rauner is giving some of these people the option to resign or be fired so that he doesn’t look so heartless in the public eye. It seems he wants the IPI to run Illinois govt.
Comment by Real Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 1:34 pm
I saw the call-outs on Ben Tracy from Radical Candor. What is he blocking and deleting? Sounds like a bunch of racist and homophobic stuff from the context. Anyone?
Comment by pawn Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 1:37 pm
Hey Lucky Pierre, how do you feel about Rauner now?
Comment by ILGOV2018 Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 1:40 pm
I wonder if we’ll see agency heads leaving?
Comment by Honeybear Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 1:43 pm
Rich, is Randy Pollard still around?
Comment by Southern Guy Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 1:57 pm
Holy cow this is quite a housecleaning. All sales final- everything must go.
Comment by Johnny Gianni Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 2:35 pm
It appears Rauner is the new Trump.
Comment by Mama Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 2:49 pm
=- CharlieKratos - Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 11:21 am: What’s Madigan’s move next year? Make sure every R has a D running against them? Maybe even the “safe” districts? Minimal outlay just to get a D on the ballot just in case voters decide “anyone but an R”? =
CharlieKratos, challenge every Republican in the election is exactly what the Dems need to do.
Comment by Mama Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 2:52 pm
How soon til Radical Candor claims its first victim?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 2:57 pm
So the new body guy apparently has racist and homophobic tweets. What’s the record for shortest duration as a personal aide?
Comment by The first to go? Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 3:02 pm
21 out of how many? Still not seeing why the Gov not getting his way was these people’s fault. It’s his policies and wants that are wrong. IPI staffers won’t make his policies and wants any less wrong.
Comment by Thoughts Matter Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 3:23 pm
That’s 21 gone because a governor thought holding a hostage state made sense in dividing the Democratic Party by dividing social service and labor….
… that and never understanding when a win was there for the taking… and that building off wins makes an Administration a winner.
That’s 21… so Rauner won’t take the blame.
“Whew” indeed.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 3:26 pm
21…and counting
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 3:32 pm
–21–
Three more makes a full case. Volume, volume, volume.
It will be worth watching where the new peeps land on the payroll. Rauner has been known to ghost personal staff members in the agencies.
I mean, I’m sure they will be radically candid about it.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 3:33 pm
A lot of institutional knowledge walking out the door. Hope they newbies can find the washrooms and coffee machine in the Dome. Oh and the 3rd floor back offices. Havers is a good guy deserves better than “find a spot” SMH
Comment by the Cardinal Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 3:40 pm
=–”Pensions do not need to be “reformed.”–
Delete your account.=
Bite me.
Pensions are doing exactly what they were designed to do.
The past ILGA’s and governor’s made calculated decisions not to fund the pensions.
Tier II reduced the costs short term and long term.
Since Tier II the annual cost of the pension (not debt payment) has gone down nearly 25%.
That is huge.
From nearly $2 billion to $1.5 billion.
It is just math “Lance”.
Again, bite me.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 3:58 pm
22. It looks like the newest one is the first IPI to go. That didn’t take long
https://twitter.com/maryannahernnbc/status/887053830143266817
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 4:03 pm
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/17/bruce-rauner-ben-tracy-homophobic-tweets-240640
Comment by Anon E. Moose Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 4:15 pm
@RadicalCandorIL - 1
Rauner / IPI - 0
So there’s that.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 4:18 pm
Is young Mr Tracy who was hired & fired a member of the Tracy family (Jill, Don, etc)?
Comment by Fax Machine Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 4:20 pm
Was Tracy on the job long enough to qualify for a pension?/s
Comment by G'Kar Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 4:21 pm
The Night of the Long Knives continues.
Comment by Bootleg Carhartt Designer Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 4:21 pm
=@RadicalCandorIL - 1
Rauner / IPI - 0
So there’s that. =
Ouch, that is gonna leave a mark.
Especially for the governor without a social agenda.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 4:21 pm
As soon as the 2nd update was posted, I clicked on Ben’s Twitter and scrolled down a little bit and thought to myself, he’s going to get in trouble real fast. Does anyone check social media before they make hires anymore?
Comment by Clark Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 4:44 pm
Nice how the new hires are spinning Tracy’s firing. The “tweets are unacceptable” is their line, which implies, to me, they are not acceptable because of spelling errors and grammar usage or just general poor quality. Laurel Patrick’s response to Politico on the firing seems to be seeking a pat on the back for firing the dude.
Comment by Swift Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 4:46 pm
does not working for the administration mean he is on the campaign payroll?
Comment by Spliff Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 4:53 pm
The Senate keeps trying to deliver SB 1 to the governor’s office only to find everyone’s been fired … again.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 4:54 pm
Never understood folks who tweet inappropriate stuff…don’t they know that only POTUS can get away with that stuff?
Comment by Veil of Ignorance Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 4:54 pm
Nice to see IPI draws the line on decency and civility at some point… RE Tracy’s record hire/fire day. /S
Comment by Anon221 Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 5:11 pm
It would be interesting to uncover who vouched for the body man’s character.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 5:17 pm
Governor is competing against trump for biggest joke in the country.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 5:36 pm
Re The Body Man updates:
There are a lot of former Rauner insiders now out on the street plus other GOP types disgruntled by the way things have been going down who might have all sorts of “insight” into the new hires and the way the administration operates.
With so many, I’m guessing some will now want to share.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 5:41 pm
State Senator Jil Tracy has a son named Ben according to her bio. Not saying it is the same person, just staying she has a son named Ben.
Comment by Thinking Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 5:50 pm
Word - I was thinking the same thing, but I would assume if any of them do share, it would be anonymously. They know better than anyone what the Guv is capable of doing to people who cross him. Just ask Christine Kirk.
Comment by Henry Francis Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 5:56 pm
Ben Tracy is no relation to Jil Tracy or any of the Tracys from the prominent family in Western IL.
Comment by CookR Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 6:15 pm
I am supposed to be working, but I am obsessed with all this. What the actual heck?
Comment by Soccermom Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 6:16 pm
Quick question, he was fired from Rauner’s team but does that mean he goes back to IPI? Seems IPI didn’t care about this prior to him being hired by Gov so he can have his job back there right?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 6:32 pm
Randy Pollard is a dud….If Rauner fires Pollard Rauner has a better chance of carrying downstate Counties.
Comment by Lemon&Lime Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 7:21 pm
Randy Pollard is a great man.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 8:09 pm
(Over) Due Diligence
Jeez, checking a Twitter feed is beyond basic.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Jul 17, 17 @ 8:45 pm
Is it too late to get Kyle Haevers back?
Comment by Da big bad wolf Tuesday, Jul 18, 17 @ 7:55 am