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Rauner organizes over non-existent Kane/DuPage pop tax push, touts Israel ties

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Gov. Rauner’s campaign website contains a section called an “action center” that contains pre-written petitions which also can be used to provide the campaign with a list of potential volunteers.

But the two predominant issues seeking a call to action appear dated. The site’s “top priority” is a petition against imposing a sweetened beverage tax in Kane County similar to one that is being repealed in Cook County.

The petition drive says “tax-and-spend politicians have already imposed an illegal tax on soda purchases in Cook County, taking residents’ hard-earned money so the politicians can tax their way out of the mess they’ve created.”

Regardless of the statement, the tax was found to be legal. But it was also highly unpopular, and the Cook County Board to voted to end it.

A similar petition exists for DuPage County even though there’s no evidence that anyone there is floating a beverage tax.

That may come as a surprise to the people who run Kane and DuPage counties, but I suppose it can’t hurt.

…Adding… The governor was also advertising this crusade on Facebook in September. So, he’s a purveyor of fake news now?…

A Facebook post by a Gov. Bruce Rauner political organization is asking citizens to sign a petition to stop the Cook County soda tax from “spilling over to Kane County.”

The only problem is, Kane County isn’t considering a soda tax, County Board member Kurt Kojzarek said today (Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017).

“Needless to say, I was more than a little shocked to see this petition from the governor pop up on my Facebook news feed,” he said. “The claim is completely false. Kane County has zero interest in adding to the tax burden. We support our local retailers, and prefer not to place burdens or obstacles on them or the consumers.”

* My personal favorite…

As children across Illinois prepare to return to school in the fall, lawmakers are putting politics before students by holding up the school funding reform bill.

Instead of holding up school funding, legislators should pass a simple and fair amendment that the current bill needs: put funding towards students in the classrooms, not towards paying off Chicago’s pension debt.

Let’s put the politics aside and do the right thing to ensure equitable education funding regardless of zip-code. Support education to set our students up for success.

A little outdated, perhaps? Also, CPS wound up getting pretty much everything it wanted on pensions.

* Meanwhile, from the governor’s campaign…

ICYMI: Gov. Rauner touts Security Cooperation on Official Trip to Israel
While on an official visit, Governor Rauner met with top Israeli officials to discuss mutual security interests

Governor Rauner is on his first official visit to Israel this week, meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top Israeli officials. The governor is leading a delegation of administrators from the University of Illinois, promoting interconnectedness between U of I and Israel’s top engineering universities, with an ultimate goal of making the Illinois Innovation Network a global endeavor.

Take a look at some of the coverage from The Jerusalem Post:

A day after a terrorist attack hit New York, visiting Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner hinted at intelligence cooperation between his state’s law enforcement officials and Israel during an interview on Wednesday with The Jerusalem Post. The Republican governor, who arrived on Monday and will be leaving Friday, said that he had a “detailed discussion” with Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan during his visit.

“We will be exchanging information, will have mutual visits from some of our security people, and leaders from Israel who will come to Illinois,” he said. “We have a very strong, effective anti-terrorist center and task force commission within the Illinois state police based in Springfield. We are constantly monitoring and sharing information both with the federal government, leaders of other states, and we look forward to have a close working relationship with leaders in Israel.”

…Rauner met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week, and said that 80-90% of that conversation dealt with economic issues, though security issues were also discussed, especially cybersecurity.

“We talked about the software and the mathematics and the engineering behind cybersecurity,” Rauner said. “The prime minister is very focused and knowledgeable about that.”

…“I have always been very clear about my strong support for Israel, the Jewish community in Illinois and around America,” he said. “And frankly I believe very strongly in a very powerful, positive relationship between the people of Israel and the people of Illinois, to our mutual benefit.”

…Rauner speaks proudly of the fact that as governor he “sponsored and signed the first anti- BDS legislation that was signed by any state in America.”

…Rauner said Illinois took the measures one stop further, not only barring investing the state’s pension funds in any company that participates in BDS, but also “not contracting or allowing the state government to do any business whatsoever with a company that participates in BDS activities and discrimination – and other states are now following suit.”

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 1:41 pm

Comments

Former Sen. Chris Lauzen is the Kane County board president. I doubt he has a pop tax up his sleeve, and insinuations to the contrary probably aren’t appreciated.

Comment by anon2 Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 1:46 pm
Looking forward to the “Thanks Mike Madigan” commercial from Benjamin Netanyahu.

Comment by Chuck Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 1:50 pm
It’s seems like a ridiculous notion that the state of Illinois and Israel are going to share intel. This is the role of the U.S. government and I highly doubt the state of Illinois can provide anything meaningful in terms of terrorism intel that the feds will not — and vice versa. To think that Israel is going to have ongoing, shared intel exchanges with the Illinois state police (and police of all other states) is so silly. This is nothing more than fluff.

Comment by Just Observing Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 1:51 pm
So is it cyberterrorists putting all that loony stuff up on Rauner’s campaign website?

Who’s in charge of telling BTIA(TM) that school started a couple of months ago and the funding bill is long out of the barn?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 1:55 pm
Completely agree with Just Observing. Rauner either has zero idea how the STIC works or he is clearly making false statements (probably both).

Comment by AnonAnon Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 1:56 pm
He has a petition coming out soon to stop the repeal of votes for women.

Comment by DuPage Saint Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 1:58 pm
Heck of a time for the Governor to be bragging about a bill he signed that was sponsored by Sen. Ira Silverstein.

Comment by Juice Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 2:00 pm
He is taking a page from Madagans Playbook. They always have some petition like this to get a foot in the door. Something almost everybody will agree on. Then you start asking questions to ascertain the likelihood of them supporting the candidate you’re working for. Then you do your pluses minuses and zeros

Comment by Peorgie Tirebiter Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 2:01 pm
Peorgie is right.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 2:04 pm
Is Rauner getting in his security theater reps to campaign for higher office?

Comment by Moderate Condor Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 2:05 pm
Yeah, I’m sure Mossad and Shin Bet are thrilled to tap Secret Agent Bruce’s experience and know-how in dealing with terrorism.

Later, Rauner plans to teach Tom Brady how to throw a tight spiral.

The delusions of the man.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 2:05 pm
===to campaign for higher office===

There’s a decent chance that he will be facing a Jewish opponent next year (Pritzker or Biss). Can’t hurt.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 2:06 pm
So this whole Israel trip is being done with other MW governors, ie. Illinois competitors. So how are we pushing our competitive advantages when our competition is on the trip. One thing that has struck me about Rauner is how pathetically incompetent he is at economic development. Like the Japan trip with no CEOS or Ag companies. And now this? This “businessman” has no clue because he’s really a financial engineer. We need better.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 2:08 pm
Is Rauner wearing his military pin filled leather biker vest and popcorn bowl helmet hoping someone will salute him?

Comment by DeseDemDose Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 2:16 pm
Rauner is using his trip to Israel to appeal to conservatives who usually support Israel.

He will make that trip his opening once he appears south of I-80 again. He’s hoping that they’ll give him the time of day after he raised their taxes to provide free abortions.

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 2:22 pm
I like how Bruce rails against “tax-and-spend politicians” while writing IOUs to the tune of 16 billion.

“Has anyone asked about his note in the wailing wall?” I’m thinking it has something to do with crushing unions or keeping Kip’s lawsuit sealed.

Comment by Jocko Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 2:47 pm
—Rauner is using his trip to Israel to appeal to conservatives who usually support Israel….
He’s hoping that they’ll give him the time of day after he raised their taxes to provide free abortions. —

I doubt that’s the thinking of Rauner or “conservatives.” Israel provides free abortions as part of its universal health care coverage.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/israeli-government-offers-women-aged-20-to-33-free-abortions/2014/01/07/99155cc2-77b7-11e3-a647-a19deaf575b3_story.html?utm_term=.6d771ff6645d

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 2:53 pm
When does the petition to stop Sharia law go viral from the Gov?

Comment by Boone's is Back Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 3:04 pm
“Hello madam — will you sign this petition opposing Democrat Mike Madigan’s proposed Sharia soda tax?”

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 3:56 pm
I guess Rauner doesn’t realize that Bibi and some of his predecessors, notably Ehud Barak, are “knowleledgable..about cyber security ” because they are alumnae of the IDF or Mossad. Really shoulda signed up for ROTC at Dartmouth or something.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 4:18 pm
forget Russia, detailed discussion showing off Diana’s hacked emails

Comment by Rabid Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 11:58 pm