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Here we go again

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Illinois

* Chris Kaergard and Nick Vlahos…

Last week while addressing the annual Innovations in Construction, Asphalt and Transportation conference, [Gov. Bruce Rauner] uncorked one of the old classics, telling folks there (many of whom worked for or with the Illinois Department of Transportation) that the state doesn’t even have computers in a lot of departments.

We get that the state can sometimes be behind the times on its technology, but not having any computers seems … unusual.

As we’ve said, he’s offered up similar versions of this tale before, never with any specific example — like naming the department or agency and its union and bringing public pressure to bear.

So, we asked him Tuesday after his remarks which ones he was talking about.

His answer? “Haha. So, because it’s a negotiation with some of the unions, I don’t want to get into too much publicly. I’ll be walking through that list at the right time, but not right now.”

(Political columnist and blogger Rich Miller has noted several times that such a laugh at the beginning is a Rauner “tell” before a statement that may not exactly be accurate.)

* From 2015…

But, as Rauner related it, the employees said [digitization] wasn’t possible. Why? Because — wait for it now — the unions won’t allow it. Specifically, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. […]

“The governor used this as an example of state government that can be streamlined and made more efficient to save money, which could then go to the state’s most vulnerable citizens,” spokeswoman Catherine Kelly said. “The project the governor mentioned is in the works, so it would be premature to provide additional details because they are in the early stages of development.”

An AFSCME spokesperson said at the time that there was no such union work rule.

* From February of this year…

“Come on, guys, I heard they invented computers a couple years ago,” Rauner recalled saying. “We could actually digitize this. And they said, ‘Oh, you’d have to get permission from AFSCME.’ … I said, ‘C’mon.’” […]

I asked the Rauner administration this week if the stories were about the same visit, and if they would identify the agency. Rauner spokeswoman RACHEL BOLD did not specifically answer — instead saying the governor’s streamlining efforts “go far beyond any single agency,” and she mentioned three agencies, including the Department of Public Health, where she said “84 percent of plumbing professionals are now renewing their license online.”

Lindall was skeptical then and remains so. “Bruce Rauner lies regularly and repeats lies even when he’s been caught,” Lindall said. “I can’t imagine what he was talking about, then or now, and highly doubt it ever happened. In any event, nothing in the union contract prevents the state from purchasing computers, and it does so routinely without our knowledge or approval.”

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 10:40 am

Comments

He’s a chronic liar who keeps telling the same lies even after he’s busted for them.

Is that a character flaw or a personality disorder?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 10:46 am
His lack of honesty is well-accepted by now. Can even Ron and Lucky Pierre admit the Governor is a chronic liar?

Comment by Ole' Nelson Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 10:47 am
Our environment of blatant lying is so mind numbing that Rauner doesn’t care if he’s called on his lies.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 10:50 am
opening his mouth is the real tell.

Comment by Homer J. Quinn Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 10:52 am
The Governor wouldn’t know the truth if he sat down next to it. He is habitual at the lying game. I have never understood his need to tell tall tales. ‘Don’t tell the people what you think they want to hear, tell the truth and we the people, will deal with it.” Not a hard concept to understand.

Comment by Retired Educator Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 10:52 am
My understanding is that not only does IDOT have computers, but they are getting all new computers. How do I know this? Because “we” are hoping to get some of the hand-me-downs from IDOT.

Comment by Incognito Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 10:53 am
I’ve heard these computers can be used for this thing called email, something Rauner claims to not use, because he’s oh-so modern.

So you’re left with the question of whether he’s a Luddite or a liar.

I suppose that tops “crook or idiot” but not quite the turnaround we were promised.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 10:56 am
Psychology Today gives 6 reasons that people lie when they don’t need to.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/women-who-stray/201701/6-reasons-people-lie-when-they-don-t-need

#6 seems like the most likely reason in this instance to me

“6. They want it to be true. Finally, the liar might want their lie to be true so badly that their desire and needs again overwhelm their instinct to tell the truth. “Be the change you want to see in the world,” Gandhi never actually said. But sometimes, liars hope that they can make something come true by saying it over and over, and by believing it as hard as they can. In today’s environment of “alternative facts,” it’s hard not to see this as somewhat justified.”

Comment by Ole' Nelson Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 10:58 am
He makes Blagojevich look honest by comparison.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 11:04 am
“So, we asked him Tuesday after his remarks which ones he was talking about.”

I suspect it was the Speaker’s office.

Comment by Bigtwich Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 11:12 am
Perhaps Rauner is running for President.
Trump has had great electoral success with his repeated lies.

Comment by Truthteller Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 11:16 am
When will Rauner realize that as governor since 2014, it was his job to make things better?

He’s running for governor like he’s a challenger, not the incumbent.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 11:18 am
Rauner uses email. One of his recently departed appointees tweeted about it.

Comment by Al Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 11:28 am
Speakin’ of Blagoof, BlinkyJim Edgar got his nickname due to the rapid rate of eyelid flappin’ when he was fibbin’.
GovJunk always laughs before the lies. Sometimes he laughs before makin’ a truthful statement, which according to independent/ middle of the road think tanks (like us,) suggests he continues to lack the most basic understanding of the governments he has run for nearly 4 years. Yikes.

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 11:33 am
Simple solution.

Every newspaper should start their stories with “Rauner lied again today …” Or “Today Raunet lied about …”. He’s a public figure, so minimal worries about libel. Put him on the defensive and make him prove he didn’t lie.

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 11:34 am
Obviously, he can’t help himself. He lies all the time, even telling the same lies he’s been busted on.

Creepy problem.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 11:45 am
If the Governor were Pinocchio his nose would stretch halfway around the world by now.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 11:46 am
So Ron does Rauner have a plan to cut down on lying? What should Rauners lying rate be?

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 11:55 am
Rauner’s lie is a varitation of the ols “work rules” falsehood used in government and private industry. It’s been used by executives, managers, and their followers when they are unwilling or incapable of following agreed-upon processes.

Comment by Deadbeat Conservative Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 12:26 pm
I’d like to be very explicit about
Why
Municipalities want bankruptcy
It’s to get out of pensions

This ruins lives of retirees
You cannot
Cannot cannot
Say that you honor
Our police officers or firefighters
Don’t you even dare say
Blue lives matter
Or have a police/firefighter sticker on your car
If you willfully
Want to destroy their retirement and senior years
Seriously
Bankruptcy takes away those pensions
Entirely
Those who daily risk their lives for us
Deserve a decent retirement
Bankruptcy robs them of that.
What is your plan Ron for saving the retirements of police officers and firefighters?
And don’t say 401k’
401ks don’t do anything about pension debt
401ks shift fees and costs and risk to the pensioner
401ks are an easy way for financial companies to bilk retirees for fees.
401ks would be vastly more expensive to put in place in the short term

So what is your plan Ron?

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 12:32 pm
===Every newspaper should start their stories with “Rauner lied again today …” Or “Today Raunet lied about …”. He’s a public figure, so minimal worries about libel. Put him on the defensive and make him prove he didn’t lie.===

Rather than oppose it, there’s plenty of evidence that corporate newspaper editors support Rauner and Durkin’s lying, it’s a new GOP “value”.

How about at least a neutral stance; for example: Newspaper headline:
“Rauner wants full year budget.” - counterfactual changed to factual:
“Rauner says he wants full-year budget.” = factual. They don’t even need call Rauner the liar that he is, they just need to stop broadcasting his lies.

Comment by Only Blocked Once Today Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 12:37 pm
Someone might point out to Rauner that there are working surplus computers at the CMS warehouse being sold to the public. According to CMS, if an agency needs surplus property they can ask for it before it is put up for bid.

Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 12:58 pm
“Haha. So, because it’s a negotiation with some of the unions, I don’t want to get into too much publicly. I’ll be walking through that list at the right time, but not right now.”

Rauner sounds very… presidential. /S

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 1:03 pm
“a statement that may not exactly be accurate”

It’s spelled el eye ee.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 1:27 pm
==So, because it’s a negotiation with some of the unions, I don’t want to get into too much publicly.==

You would think the man who publicly hammered AFSCME for not wanting to change from 37.5 to 40 hours a week or to give up any holidays would love to identify an AFSCME contract provision requiring the use of quills and parchment in the workplace.

Comment by Whatever Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 1:47 pm
“I have said it thrice: What I tell you three times is true.”

from, appropriately enough, Lewis Carroll’s The Hunting of the Snark, (or his new work, Bruce in Wonderland).

Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Apr 17, 18 @ 3:30 pm