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Rauner called MWRD and those like it “a little kingdom for a politician”

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* Back in March, Gov. Rauner talked about one reason why property taxes are so high in Illinois…

(W)e have more bureaucracy, we have more government than any other state in America. We have seven thousand local units of government in Illinois. Two thousand more units than the number two state. Thousands and thousands.

And these are small, you know, mosquito abatement districts and water reclamation districts, and – we have dozens. And you’re paying taxes on all of those. And they’re redundant. No other state has as many as we do.

They overlap with each other and each one is a little fiefdom, a little kingdom for a politician. Where they have their buddies, and their cronies, and they do their – we’ve got to get rid of those. And we need to free it up, so your local community, you can get rid of some of these layers, so we can bring down your property taxes. That’s what we’re working to, advocating for every day.

Emphasis added because of Rauner’s appointment of his ally Ken Dunkin to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District board.

No hypocrisy at all, though. Nope. None.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 21, 18 @ 1:26 pm

Comments

Of course the guy Bruce appointed says his “record of service” speaks for itself.

Given Ken’s arrest record, maybe he meant someone with a history of “being served” - as in a subpoena.

Comment by low level Monday, May 21, 18 @ 1:34 pm
“Good, you’ve pinpointed it. Step two is washing it out.”

Ray Zalinsky

Comment by the Patriot Monday, May 21, 18 @ 1:35 pm
More govt. does not necessarily = more taxes. Connecticut has only cities (towns) and the state.It is a high tax state.

If you “eliminate” layers of govt. you better make sure another unit can provide the services at a lower cost. If not, then you didn’t do anything but transfer services from one unit to another. That may not be efficient.

Let eliminate cities. Municipal govt. are the one’s that are typically the most bloated. Let’s do that.

Comment by Try-4-Truth Monday, May 21, 18 @ 1:38 pm
Water reclamation districts are small??? Where does he think his sewage goes? And they are staffed by professionals who protect the health and safety of the public. I invite him to go live somewhere without sewage and water treatment.

Comment by NoGifts Monday, May 21, 18 @ 1:42 pm
===I invite him to go live somewhere without sewage and water treatment.===

I think he is asking counties or cities to suddenly absorb the infrastructure, staff, policies, and responsibilities of sewage treatment.

Which can, of course, be done — but if only some person of some leadership responsibility could introduce some kind of document to do that.

Comment by Anon Monday, May 21, 18 @ 1:44 pm
This is why corruption is so prevalent and so insidious. When you’re doing a corrupt thing, you don’t think “I am taking advantage of the taxpayers,” you think “I’m just paying back an honestly earned favor” or “I’m helping a good guy.” Our government, on all levels, is fundamentally made up of bad people who think they are the good guys, which is far more dangerous than if they were just comic-book villains.

Comment by Chris Widger Monday, May 21, 18 @ 1:45 pm
I’m not sure that I understand. Was he supposed to leave the slot open?

You can criticize the game while still playing it.

Comment by Anon Monday, May 21, 18 @ 1:47 pm
==No hypocrisy at all, though. Nope. None.==

So, in your world, Rauner should NOT have appointed anyone to the open vacancy?

Comment by Occam Monday, May 21, 18 @ 1:50 pm
Not a politician

Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 21, 18 @ 1:52 pm
===I’m not sure that I understand. Was he supposed to leave the slot open? ===

Please, try harder.

He could’ve made a blue chip appointment. He chose instead to appoint Ken Dunkin.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, May 21, 18 @ 1:55 pm
@ Occam, are you being intentionally obtuse? Rauner was taking a swing at cronyism, at patronage jobs, not specifically water reclamation districts themselves, and then he turns around and gives a patronage job to an ally. It’s textbook hypocrisy. And please don’t tell me you think that Dunkin is the most qualified candidate.

Comment by Perrid Monday, May 21, 18 @ 1:55 pm
He says, “We’ve got to get rid of those.” Does he have a plan?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 21, 18 @ 2:10 pm
Rauner’s words and his word are meaningless. He’s proven that time and again.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 21, 18 @ 2:10 pm
If the appointee weren’t a political crony and friend, then there wouldn’t be hyprocisy from a governor who had specifically identified water rec districts as havens for political friends and cronies.

Comment by anon2 Monday, May 21, 18 @ 2:29 pm
Rauner didn’t just appoint a completely unqualified crony in Dunkin. He’s also fighting the electoral victory of Cam Davis, who would be the most qualified person to ever serve on the MWRD board, with his other recent appointment. I guess he practices what he’s preaching, he really does think that the MWRD is his little fiefdom where he should choose the commissioner and not voters.

Comment by TopHatMonocle Monday, May 21, 18 @ 2:44 pm
===And we need to free it up, so your local community, you can get rid of some of these layers, so we can bring down your property taxes. That’s what we’re working to, advocating for every day.===

Speaking of raw sewage, Rauner is starting to smell worse than Stickney on a hot summer day.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, May 21, 18 @ 2:46 pm
– Rauner is starting to smell worse than Stickney on a hot summer day.–

Careful you don’t find yourself parked at the bottom of the Lyons Quarry. Lot of problems parked at the bottom of the quarry.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 21, 18 @ 2:54 pm
question?? Does serving on the MWRD for 6 months help Mr. Dunkin game his pension a little??

Comment by Not Rich Monday, May 21, 18 @ 2:55 pm
=Careful you don’t find yourself parked at the bottom of the Lyons Quarry. Lot of problems parked at the bottom of the quarry.=

Alternative version, same outcome:

Careful you don’t find yourself parked at the bottom of the Shipping and Sanitary Canal. Lot of problems parked at the bottom of the Canal.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, May 21, 18 @ 3:51 pm
== “They overlap with each other and each one is a little fiefdom, a little kingdom for a politician. Where they have their buddies, and their cronies, and they do their – we’ve got to get rid of those. And we need to free it up, so your local community, you can get rid of some of these layers, so we can bring down your property taxes.” ==

Is Rauner referring to eliminating townships or something else? Does he understand the services townships provide the local communities? Will the city or county be able to provide the necessary services that the townships currently provide without hiring more staff & buying more equipment?

Comment by M Monday, May 21, 18 @ 4:37 pm
More proof that deep down, Rauner does not plan on winning this fall.

“Appointed a convicted felon to lead a $1 billion agency.”

McCann will have so much material to work with.

Comment by Juvenal Monday, May 21, 18 @ 4:50 pm
Rich’s comment at 1:55pm - “He could’ve made a blue chip appointment. He chose instead to appoint Ken Dunkin.”

I’ll go further. A blue chip candidate wasnt needed. Many would have been happy to see someone at least qualified to manage a McDonald’s restaurant. He chose instead to appoint Ken Dunkin…. :/

Comment by low level Monday, May 21, 18 @ 4:50 pm
Or go with “convicted Democrat politician”, Sam.

Methinks MWRD appointments ought to require Senate confirmation.

Comment by Juvenal Monday, May 21, 18 @ 4:53 pm
Haven’t heard much of Reverend Meeks since Rauner gave him a sweet gig. What has he accomplished?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 21, 18 @ 4:55 pm
=Haven’t heard much of Reverend Meeks since Rauner gave him a sweet gig. What has he accomplished?=

Absolutely zip.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, May 21, 18 @ 5:21 pm
=Haven’t heard much of Reverend Meeks since Rauner gave him a sweet gig. What has he accomplished?=

Absolutely zip.–

JS, there’s a story there, I’m sure. I thought Rauner would dump Ev and put Meeks on as lt. gov.

Now that the secretary of redundant-position-big-money-contract is gone. how’s the Supe of Education doing? Does he have to show up for work now?

Who’s in charge?

Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 21, 18 @ 7:31 pm