Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

* UPDATED x1 - Mendoza responds * Rauner claims Mendoza “works for Speaker Madigan”

Posted in:

Illinois
Updated Posts

* Gov. Rauner was asked yesterday why he hasn’t spoken to Comptroller Mendoza since she was sworn in…

No need to talk with her directly, my team is talking to her all the time. I can tell you [crosstalk] this is important. We put a tax hike on the people of Illinois. I vetoed it, but it went in anyway. We’re still running a $2 billion deficit. The fiscal irresponsibility of the folks in charge, Speaker Madigan, is outrageous.

We have to fix this. Our unpaid bills are still going up. And we can’t invest to grow jobs. We can’t invest to invest enough. We got a federal grant for this [off-road vehicle trail system on reclaimed Saline County strip mine], but we could be doing more if we had balanced budgets. And we could be doing more if we grew our economy.

And, and the, the comptroller and the Speaker, who she really works for Speaker Madigan, they don’t get that. They, they just think taxes, more taxes, higher taxes are the answer. It’s not the answer. We gotta grow. Grow good paying jobs in southern Illinois. Don’t tax people and push the jobs out. [Crosstalk] Thanks, everybody.

…Adding… It should be noted that Rauner’s hand-picked comptroller, Leslie Munger, now works for the Rauner administration. And the new comptroller candidate backed by Rauner, Darlene Senger, is on Rauner’s payroll as his chief legislative liaison.

*** UPDATE *** From Comptroller Mendoza…

Governor Rauner has no accomplishments of his own to boast of, so he resorts to patronizing and condescending attacks on me.

He’s struggling with the fact that he has been outworked, outperformed, and beaten at every turn by a strong and independent 5’3” woman. Last week’s bipartisan 164-3 rebuke on the override of the Debt Transparency veto must still sting.

To be clear, I was elected by 2,676,244 voters, which is 852,617 more votes than Governor Rauner received, to work for the 12+ million people in the State of Illinois. I am accountable to them, and it is time that the Governor be as well.

Absent the pleasure of a meeting with the Governor, I’d like to ask him this: What did you spend the $2.8 billion in unauthorized deficit spending on, and how do you plan to pay for it? How much will your Rauner Tax cost the people of Illinois?

[ *** End Of Update *** ]

…Adding More… Check out the not so subtle trolling of Gov. Bruce V. Rauner on the comptroller’s website…

…Adding Even More… Aviva Bowen makes a good point on Facebook…

Why is it SO hard to believe that a tenacious, smart woman can’t be impressive in her own right, that she must be doing the bidding of a man?

Rauner really needs to rethink these attacks in the current climate.

* Meanwhile, from the same press conference…

In broad, vague terms, he also called for rolling back the “Madigan income tax hike,” lowering property taxes and restoring good government. “I’ve got, actually, dozens of companies who want to come to Illinois. They want to come to Southern Illinois,” Rauner said. But he said Illinois is losing out on that potential to neighboring states such as Indiana where “the property taxes are one-third, the workers’ comp costs are one-quarter.”

“They’d love to be in Illinois but the costs are prohibitive,” Rauner said.

An aide to Rauner cut off questions from media six minutes into a question-and-answer session following his announcement of the ATV park.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:12 am

Comments

She definitely admires him, that much we know.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:16 am
Let’s see that list of companies, Gov. I don’t trust that there is such a list. He has lied so much and blows smoke so much, how can anyone trust him to be truthful about anything?

Comment by Nearly Normal Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:18 am
Rauner hasn’t accomplished anything and that’s not Madigan’s fault. This guy is toast next November..

Comment by Mouthy Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:19 am
This guy is a like a broken record with the same name-calling over and over. I seem to recal that the bill backlog was getting paid down under Quinn until Rauner insisted on the state income tax expiring. Rauner never seems to remember that. And what are the dozens of companies that are wishing to come to Illinois? Never mentions any specific names. So sick of this guy.

Comment by Big Joe Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:21 am
According to the Go bond documents the current operating deficit for this year is projected at $1.5 billion. When did it ecome $2 billion?

Comment by Rod Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:22 am
I really would like a Governor who isn’t constantly bad-mouthing the state.

There’s a difference between a realistic assessment of the challenges and just dragging the state any chance you get.

Comment by ChicagoVinny Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:22 am
- the folks in charge, Speaker Madigan -

Not exactly Alexander Haig, is he?

What, exactly, would you say it is you do here, Bruce?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:22 am
Mendoza to Rauner:
“Be afraid. Be very afraid.”
She’s got his number. He knows it. He’ll spend lots of money to undermine her.
Watch.

Comment by 37B Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:23 am
==We’re still running a $2 billion deficit. The fiscal irresponsibility of the folks in charge, Speaker Madigan, is outrageous. ==

Article IV, Section 9(d) of the Illinois Constitution:

“The Governor may reduce or veto any item of
appropriations in a bill presented to him. Portions of a bill not reduced or vetoed shall become law. An item vetoed shall be returned to the house in which it originated and may become law in the same manner as a vetoed bill. An item
reduced in amount shall be returned to the house in which it originated and may be restored to its original amount in the same manner as a vetoed bill except that the required record vote shall be a majority of the members elected to each
house. If a reduced item is not so restored, it shall become law in the reduced amount.”

If you wanted a balanced budget, governor, all you had to do is pick up your pen and start scratching off numbers and replacing them. It was fully in your power.

Comment by Whatever Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:34 am
That’s all the Governor ever say, “grow jobs” is he so naive to think that all we have to do is water and spray magic pixie dust and people will be put to work? Meanwhile, his stalling on declaring Lake County a disaster area hurt jobs for those in the business of flood cleanup, and his stalling on easing weight restrictions for hauling crops out hurt those in the commodities market. His inaction and indifference has caused too many jobs to be lost.

Comment by Cable Line Beer Gardener Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:35 am
=I vetoed it, but it went in anyway.= Because even though I went 2+ years without a budget, starved higher ed and social services, and ran the backlog up to $16B, I wasn’t done squeezing the beast.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:36 am
OK GovJnk worried about costs. Let’s review. Work comp cost costs more because IL workers earn MORE that IN workers and IL insurers will not share the savings with IL insureds.
GovJunk could have signed the bill to create the Not For Profit Insurance Co., but he sided with the insurers — surprise. But remember he did that over the bill to force the industry to pay out death benefits.
Clearly GovJunk is losing it.

Comment by Annonin" Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:40 am
There are any number of theories regarding the number of times a person needs to hear something before it resonates. Rauner obviously believes that the number is somewhere north of a million. We get it Bruce. How about focusing on a few issues that need solving.

Comment by SSL Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:49 am
I’m looking forward to his concession speech. The Crappola Meter will go off the chart. What a thoroughly unlikable person.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:51 am
Who does Governor Rauner represent? Bond houses like Citadel Fortress the 800 pound gorilla of munibond trading, issuing and investing? If looks, walks and quacks like a duck, maybe it is a duck.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:52 am
when will the lies stop? Rauner has such a exaggerated sense of self worth. He hasn’t spoken to Mendoza cuz she works for Speaker Madigan, ummmm.. no Gov, she works for the residents of Illinois. Have you forgotten your failed Comptroller and your current hand picked candidate? Currently, they both work for you. Sheesh

Comment by Honeybadger Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:53 am
I think that’s just the way he describes people he doesnt like. If someone inconveniences him in traffic, they’re working for Madigan. If he doesn’t agree with a court decision, they’re working for Madigan. Is the weather unpleasant today? Mother Nature is working for Madigan. We’ll know if he’s truly unhappy with Proft when he says Dan Proft is working for Madigan.

Comment by AC Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:56 am
The “governor’s” Because Madigan security blanket makes Linus’ blue blanket seem positively normal.

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:57 am
The lies won’t stop Honeybear.

Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:58 am
Translation: “God, my job was so much easier when I could just make Leslie hide the amount of taxpayer money my administration is spending”

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:58 am
Madigan and Cullerton went out of their way through a blatantly corrupt process to create the special election for Mendoza. In my mind she owes both of them her very existence. Of course she works for them.

Comment by Not It Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:58 am
Governor Rauner has great reverence for the truth – – that’s why he saves it for special occasions.

Comment by Langhorne Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 10:58 am
===Madigan and Cullerton went out of their way through a blatantly corrupt process to create the special election for Mendoza===

Huh?

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 11:01 am
So on his campaign tour in southern Illinois, he tells the residents, he has dozens of companies that want to relocate there? When will it stop? Sheesh

Comment by Honeybadger Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 11:05 am
37B: He will do his worst to attack Mendoza, but her star is rising because she is gutsy, smart, and has a good nose for political winds and how to capitalize. Rauner has the deft touch of a chainsaw, the honesty of carnival barker, and the charisma of Mitch McConnell.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 11:06 am
=Madigan and Cullerton went out of their way through a blatantly corrupt process to create the special election for Mendoza. In my mind she owes both of them her very existence.=

Did you fail your HS Government class? Must be a great fantasy world - In your mind.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 11:14 am
Since Rauner is adamant that he is not in charge of the State, can we quit referring to him as “Governor” now?

Comment by Han's Solo Cup Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 11:15 am
Mendoza is like another Judy, both sided of the aisle like her no-sht style.

Comment by Team Warwick Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 11:17 am
He’s trying to discredit her for the same thing that made Munger weak and will make Senger weak. But his try at this doesn’t work, because Mendoza was independently elected, never appointed nor employed by the executive branch nor the Speaker’s office. Rauner’s two chosen candidates were/are both appointed/hired to work for him, draw salaries from him currently, and will depend on his financial backing for the race.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 11:18 am
The governor has no desire to work with anyone that doesn’t agree with him. It doesn’t matter if it’s Mendoza, any other Democrat, or even a Republican. His answer is not to find compromise, its to find more people that agree with him. That’s what “But Madigan!” is all about.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 11:19 am
Rauner’s only chance to get reelected is to blow smoke and tell lies and point fingers at Democrats. It’s not his fault, he’s just the Governor. The Governor in Illinois is accorded with a lot of power, more power than the Governors in most states. He could have used that power wisely and improved the condition of the state but he used it recklessly and here we are. He may be good at making money but he’s proven to be poor at the job of Governor. The results, or lack there of, speak for themselves.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 11:20 am
Mendoza vs. Ives is the governor’s race we deserve…Pritzker vs. Rauner is what we’re going to get.

Comment by Lunchbox Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 11:24 am
I am trying to figure out what the “Rauner Tax” is…I thought he vetoed all of the taxes.

Comment by northshore cynic Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 11:29 am
Agreed. Every town in SI he visits, somebody needs to ask him, “What are (some of) the dozens of companies that want to relocate?” and catch him on mike in a non-response.

This is really unfair to Southern Illinoisans, really bad.

Comment by dbk Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 11:29 am
The only thing Mendoza’s response is missing is a mic drop at the end.

Comment by Montrose Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 11:29 am
Democratic Senate President John Cullerton said he believes that two vacancies exist — the one Quinn can fill through Jan. 12, and another that begins the same day with the new term that Topinka won last month. That second appointment would last four years.

He sure changed his mind on that one didn’t he?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/chi-quinn-appoints-topinka-successor-but-for-how-long-20141210-story.html

Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 11:30 am
===- Lunchbox - Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 11:24 am:

Mendoza vs. Ives is the governor’s race we deserve…Pritzker vs. Rauner is what we’re going to get. ===

I would absolutely love that race. Mendoza would win big. Instead, we get the Battle of the Billionaires.

Comment by Lamont Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 11:36 am
Subtract Mendoza and Pritzker and we’d still be hearing mostly crickets from the Democratic Party of Illinois.

Comment by Earnest Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 11:43 am
If Gov. Rauner doesn’t think he is in charge of the state, then he needs to: a. Take a civics course, and b. Not run again for an office he doesn’t understand. Mendoza doesn’t create the debt, she just pays it.
The sad part is that he probably will get re-elected and we will have 4 more years of this all talk and no action,

Regarding the special election- it was the right thing to do.

Comment by Thoughts Matter Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 11:45 am
@Team Warwick

I think it might be a little early to compare her to Judy–she was one special politician–but she definitely seems to have that Judy Baar Topinka spark and no-nonsense attitude. I look forward to seeing where she takes her career.

Comment by Chicago_Downstater Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 11:46 am
It would appear that our Governor has met his match and that our Comptroller will call him out every time he tries to make many of those unsubstantiated claims.

He has proven incapable of thinking on his feet, changing his tired predictable pitch or offering anything more than giving his remaining supporters some “red meat” to chew on.

The entire BTIA(tm)is no match for the competence, and fact based messaging, from Mendoza and her “team”.

Comment by illini Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 11:46 am
=To be clear, I was elected by 2,676,244 voters, which is 852,617 more votes than Governor Rauner received, to work for the 12+ million people in the State of Illinois. I am accountable to them, and it is time that the Governor be as well.=

Ouch, that left a mark, a full on broadside from Mendoza.

The best part was brought up earlier- Munger is his pet and the new candiate is owned by him as well.

LP loves him some bought and paid for GOP flunkies,

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 11:51 am
The hyperpartisians are out today

Comment by People Over Parties Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 12:02 pm
Bravo Mendoza! First: a shorter statement. They are learning. Second, totally right to call it the Rauner Tax. After running up the bills, he left the legislature no choice.

Comment by Moe Berg Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 12:13 pm
Bruce might want to check under his nose…he just got tagged by Suzanna.

So much for her becoming Bruce’s wingman. /s

Comment by Jocko Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 12:14 pm
==I am trying to figure out what the “Rauner Tax” is…I thought he vetoed all of the taxes.==

northshore, I believe she is referring to the tax increase passed this summer by both democratic and republican members of the GA. It’s called the “Rauner Tax” because it was needed to start paying off the extra $12 Billion dollars in debt that Rauner has added since he took office.

If Rauner had governed like an person who understands things like responsibility and fiscal conservatism, we could have had a much smaller tax increase, perhaps even a temporary increase, in order to pay down the $3.9 billion deficit that was in place when he took office. But thanks to Bruce Rauner, we now get to pay 4.95% permanently so that we can start chipping away at a whopping $16 Billion in debt.

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 12:22 pm
Bruce, I think that’s called “projection”

Comment by Molly Maguire Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 12:26 pm
==northshore, I believe she is referring to the tax increase passed this summer by both democratic and republican members of the GA. It’s called the “Rauner Tax” because it was needed to start paying off the extra $12 Billion dollars in debt that Rauner has added since he took office.

If Rauner had governed like an person who understands things like responsibility and fiscal conservatism, we could have had a much smaller tax increase, perhaps even a temporary increase, in order to pay down the $3.9 billion deficit that was in place when he took office. But thanks to Bruce Rauner, we now get to pay 4.95% permanently so that we can start chipping away at a whopping $16 Billion in debt.==

Right, this is how people commonly understand causality and you see examples of it everywhere. It’s why the PATRIOT Act is commonly referred to being passed by al-Qaeda, due to their actions being one ostensible rationale for the bill. I am pretty sure if you go on Wikipedia, that’s what it says on the side.

Comment by Chris Widger Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 12:28 pm
What does Two-Face Bruce know about “work”?

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 12:29 pm
“Madigan and Cullerton went out of their way through a blatantly corrupt process to create the special election for Mendoza”
We believe GovJUnk signed the bill

Comment by annonin' Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 12:33 pm
Those graphics on the Comptrollers website says more than words can begin to explain about the Rauner accomplishments.

Comment by illini Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 12:57 pm
Mendoza is the bankruptcy auditor that Raunerite can’t bribe.

Mendoza and her PR team have learned messaging well. Recently, any time they chime in, she has owned the news cycle.

Rauner has more than met his match.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 12:59 pm
=== “I’ve got, actually, dozens of companies who want to come to Illinois. They want to come to Southern Illinois,” Rauner said.===

Name one.

Seriously, the guy goes to the most economically distressed region in the state and tells them he has a secret list of companies that want to bring jobs there and they should do whatever Rauner wants or those jobs won’t come.

That is shameful. Absolutely shameful.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 1:00 pm
>Rauner really needs to rethink these attacks in the current climate.

Or, you know, ever.

Comment by Just a thought Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 1:02 pm
Rauner should really stop poking Mendoza. She pretty much gives him a “spin beat down” every time he utters her name.

Comment by LevivotedforJudy Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 1:07 pm
Rauner better be careful. The closer you get to elections, the closer the actions of an incumbent are scrutinized. When it comes to rolling back the tax hike, even staunch Rs are going to want to know how he will do it and balance a budget, not to mention moderates, independents and the media. When you use the big-boy chair of the governor’s office to do nothing but rack up debt and insult people, you can get bitten pretty hard.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 1:14 pm
===Why is it SO hard to believe that a tenacious, smart woman can’t be impressive in her own right, that she must be doing the bidding of a man?===

Maybe Bruce figures since Munger was doing his bidding when she was Comptroller, then it must also be true for Mendoza?

If so he should really rethink statements like this. Bad form.

Comment by Baloneymous Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 1:17 pm
Back to dozens of companies? It was hundreds for a while.

Can you be a bad pathological liar?

And he’s really running on “Re-Elect Gov. Impotent?”

Didn’t work for Dick Phelan.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 1:37 pm
==Right, this is how people commonly understand causality and you see examples of it everywhere. It’s why the PATRIOT Act is commonly referred to being passed by al-Qaeda, due to their actions being one ostensible rationale for the bill. I am pretty sure if you go on Wikipedia, that’s what it says on the side.==

That is as may be, but I know for fact that the 3.9 Billion debt could have been paid down completely with the tax rate at 3%. I know this because candidate for governor Bruce Rauner told us so himself, on multiple occasions in the spring and summer of 2013.

I also know that Illinois debt at this moment as it stands is right around $16 Billion. It has gone up $12 billion in just three short years and I can’t think of any large projects or new programs that have been initiated in that time to account for $12 billion in new spending. I can only chalk it up to incredibly poor fiscal management by this governor, who while nominally a republican seems to spend money like a Hollywood liberal. I and everyone else here was promised by candidate Bruce Rauner that spending would go down, not up.

Hence, the “Rauner Tax”

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 1:44 pm
She keeps beating him.

Comment by Albany Park Patriot Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 1:47 pm
Reminds me of when Blago said the Attorney General was just “doing her daddy’s work”

That angle worked well for him too.

Comment by poe Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 2:09 pm
Cheryl44@ 10:58. Didn’t you mean, “The lies won’t stop, Honeybear”. Watch your p’s, q’s and comma’s.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 2:50 pm
I’m mortified

Comment by Rabid Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 3:35 pm
Are these gubernatorial assertions yhe work of Patty Schuh? Seems like not much has changed in Rauner’s messaging.

Comment by My New Handle Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 4:21 pm
At this rate … an over / under until the Gov claims Madigan controls Dick Durbin.

Comment by Smitty Irving Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 5:53 pm
The tired bromide- I Bruce good-Mike Bad in the context of no accomplishments does not sound like a path to reelection.

Comment by Jaxon Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 7:29 pm
But how is that ATV park?

Comment by Sonny Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 7:53 pm
The Rauner Tax is simply the increase in revenue required by each of Rauner’s own official budget “proposals” to get close to balanced.

Comment by walker Thursday, Nov 16, 17 @ 8:03 pm
It won’t be hard to undermine Mendoza. Look at her voting record all those years in the legislature. It will be interesting watching her defend those votes.

Comment by Mockingjay Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 7:45 am
===It won’t be hard to undermine Mendoza. Look at her voting record all those years in the legislature. It will be interesting watching her defend those votes.===

I guess since she’s comptroller now, those votes that you think are so damaging to her, well, weren’t, when she handily beat Bruce’s “wingman”, and got almost a million more votes than Bruce did when he squeaked by on his fact-light platform.

Comment by PublicServant Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 8:51 am
Creating an off-road vehicle trail system on a reclaimed Saline County strip mine is an accomplishment? It sounds more like post-apocalyptic desperation.

Comment by IllinoisBoi Friday, Nov 17, 17 @ 9:19 am