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Governor on why he didn’t bring ag officials on Asia trade trip: “There’s no better ag representative than me”

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Illinois

* You’ll recall during Gov. Rauner’s Asia trip, I pointed out that he “did not bring a single representative of Illinois agriculture or agribusiness with him.” Well, the governor spoke to the Illinois Farm Bureau today and some ag reporters showed up for the Q&A…

Reporter: Governor, on your recent trip to Asia, it kind of stood out to me that there was not a strong message or push to talk about strong agriculture exports to Japan and China…

Gov. Rauner: Oh, no, that was part of our conversation…

Reporter: But you didn’t have any ag industry members on the trip, did you?

Gov. Rauner: Well, we had business development folks. And I’m, I’m a, there’s no better ag representative than me. And I’m talking about our agriculture sector wherever I go.

Reporter: But no grain deals signed, no business and farms…

Gov. Rauner: I’m sorry, no business and farms? I did not visit any farms in Japan or China.

Reporter: And buyers or [unintellible]…

Gov. Rauner: Nope. Nope. All government leaders and business leaders about investing in Illinois and me talking to them about how we can expand exports. Obviously, a lot of the export work is done at the federal level. I want to make sure we keep expanding our trade and make sure it’s a two-way benefit. And Japan and China are partners for the state of Illinois.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 11:50 am

Comments

He certainly has the “spreading manure” part of agriculture down.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 11:57 am
==Reporter: But you didn’t have any ag industry members on the trip, did you?

Gov. Rauner: Well, we had business development folks.==

That’s a really telling exchange, right there.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 11:59 am
“There’s no better ag representative than me.”

This quote mixed with the damage he has done to ag communities would make a great ad for downstate.

Comment by Dee Lay Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:00 pm
“I learned everything about agriculture growing up on the farm with my immigrant grandparents”

Comment by Out Here In The Middle Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:02 pm
“Obviously, a lot of the export work is done at the federal level.”- Rauner

Obviously he’s lacking knowledge of the state Dept. of Ag work, but then again, he’s not in charge. /S

https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/agr/Assistance/ExportingAssistance/Pages/International-Marketing.aspx

Comment by Anon221 Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:06 pm
China and Japan are our partners? I thought they were our competitors.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:06 pm
Pick a name Anonymous. I would have liked to compliment your comment, but there was no name to applaud.

Comment by Norseman Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:07 pm
== there’s no better ag representative than me. ==

Must be speaking from experience on his ranch … dealing with all the bull.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:08 pm
What on earth does Rauner know about agriculture?

Comment by Flynn's mom Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:13 pm
Governor Rauner’s definition of ‘no-till’: they aint left me any money in the till.

Comment by Blue dog dem Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:18 pm
–there’s no better ag rep. than me…–

I’ve got a cowboy hat.

The sad thing is, Amb. Branstad could have hooked
him up with some real live wires for corn, beans and pork.

Branstad worked it for years as governor of Iowa and has known Pres. Xi since he was an exchange student in Muscatine.

A “trade” trip to China and Japan that doesn’t put ag at the top is a vacation on the taxpayer dime.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:20 pm
I guess wearing the Carhartt garb makes him a farmer and a knowledgeable advocate for one of Illinois
greatest export assets. Farmers, please pay attention.

Comment by illini Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:20 pm
No one can accuse Rauner of conflict in representing THE special interest in IL.

Comment by Vole Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:45 pm
“Gov. Rauner: Well, we had business development folks. And I’m, I’m a, there’s no better ag representative than me. And I’m talking about our agriculture sector wherever I go.”

He’s gone full Trump. Never go full Trump. I suppose he has one of the great memories of all time, right?

Comment by illini97 Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:56 pm
-Gov. Rauner: Well, we had business development folks. And I’m, I’m a, there’s no better ag representative than me. And I’m talking about our agriculture sector wherever I go.-

This coming from the man that said the Director of Agriculture had to be a farmer and there were too many political hacks at the Department of Agriculture. Oh, how things “change” in just a couple of years.

Comment by Sigh Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:56 pm
== Director of Agriculture had to be a farmer ==

He just needed an excuse to “buy” a House seat that might have opposed his plans.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:13 pm
The price of perfidy is……….
yep, trust.
Nobody trusts a guy who lies
to a bishop.
Nobody trusts you Bruce Rauner.
You lied for political advantage.
Now you’re going to pay for it.
In every way.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:28 pm
– ” there’s no better ag representative than me” –

This guy.

Eating steak doesn’t make me a rancher.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 2:32 pm
I’m sure Governor Junk learned a lot about agriculture from gutting his grass and planting a garden in his backyard. Oh wait, he lives in Winnetka, no gardens allowed there. Maybe he walked through a grocery store produce section. Maybe that’s where he became an ag expert. That’s probably it.

Comment by Big Joe Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 2:36 pm
What he really meant to say was, “I control the purse strings of DCEO and EDGE. If you want some of that free tax payer money, you have to deal with me.”

Comment by blue dog dem Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 3:30 pm
Big Joe.. wait.. maybe Bruce is an ag expert now that he is livin’ full time in the house at the fairgrounds.

Comment by Sigh Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 3:33 pm
Now he knows all about agriculture and is a farmer. The Village People caricature strikes again.

Comment by Huh? Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 4:00 pm