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* Gov. Bruce Rauner’s campaign reset speech was ready-made for editorial board meetings. Here he is with the Pantagraph…
He admitted, however, he might have pursued “smaller wins” rather than push so hard that the state went more than two years without a budget — and said he’s now better equipped to handle Madigan, a Chicago Democrat.
“What’s different is two things. One, I’ve learned to work with him and also around him. That’s how we got a lot of things done in the last year, 18 months,” said Rauner. “Two, he’s weaker in his strength in the General Assembly than at any time I’m aware of. … There are now so many more legislators who will stand up and say, ‘I’m doing this because it’s right.’”
Rauner said that approach will help grow businesses and address the state’s budget problems. He said that’s a better approach than a graduated income tax, which makes the wealthy pay more — a proposal Pritzker has made central to his campaign but Rauner opposes.
“We can all have our dreams, but we’ve got to deal with reality,” said Rauner. “More taxes are not going to give us a better future.”
As we clearly saw during the impasse, less taxes won’t balance the budget.
Also, what did he get done in the past 18 months by going around Madigan? I can’t think of anything offhand. Just the other way around, in fact. Also, those Democratic legislators who are standing up to say they’re doing something “because it’s right” are mainly liberals who have few policy agreements with the governor.
He also talked extensively about “right to work” and even claimed that the Toyota plant we lost to Mississippi will be staffed by union workers. I seriously doubt that. He claimed, as well, that factory workers in Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin make more than factory workers in Illinois. Not true.
* Anyway, speaking of editorial boards and Madigan, the Kankakee Daily Journal’s editorial board pressed former Rep. Lisa Dugan (D-Bradley) about whether she’d be voting for Madigan for House Speaker. Dugan is trying to regain her former seat after her 2013 retirement. She’s running against freshman Rep. Lindsay Parkhurst (R-Kankakee)..
Asked whether she would vote for Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, to remain as speaker, Dugan made no commitment. She noted that much of the GOP’s advertising ties her to Madigan. And she acknowledged she voted for Madigan four times during her nearly decade as a lawmaker.
“I worked with Michael Madigan for nine-and-a-half years and fought with him for nine-and-a-half years,” Dugan said.
As an example, she said she worked against Madigan’s transit bill because it took money away from the local transit district.
“What you have to do in Springfield is work with 117 other legislators and one of them is Michael Madigan. You have to work with leadership on the Democratic and Republican sides,” Dugan said.
Parkhurst, however, said her first vote in Springfield was against Madigan. She said Dugan voted for Madigan’s proposed tax increase and pension holidays, meaning the state delayed payments into the pension systems.
“(Dugan) will vote for Mike Madigan. Don’t let her fool you,” Parkhurst said.
Dugan was no shrinking violet when she was in the House. But she was also very popular with her colleagues on both sides of the aisle. The Republicans claim the Madigan stuff is damaging this year, though. We’ll see.
Also, the process is the two caucuses privately choose their candidates for House Speaker and then there’s a formal public election between a Democrat and a Republican. I’m not sure the Daily Journal gets that.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 28, 18 @ 12:29 pm
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==There are now so many more legislators who will stand up and say, ‘I’m doing this because it’s right.==
Like the ones who stood up to you on the tax increase and budget? Those legislators?
Rauner seems to be under the impression that Democratic legislators are going to stand up against Madigan and pass his agenda. He seems to live in this fantasy that the only reason he can’t get what he wants is because of Madigan. When it comes to many of his “turnaround agenda” items, even if Madigan were gone they wouldn’t pass. Right to work? Not happening, Madigan or not.
Contrary to the Governor’s proclamations he hasn’t learned anything.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Sep 28, 18 @ 12:39 pm
The only reason anything got done this year is because it is an election year and Rauner wouldn’t dare create another crisis this year because of that.
If he is reelected, based on Rauner’s recent comments at his reset speech, I expect him to revert to who he was during his first 3 years. He will create more crisis, continue to run up more debt and thwart any effort to rejuvenate our economy unless his laundry list of non budget items are met.
Comment by The Dude Abides Friday, Sep 28, 18 @ 12:43 pm
==That’s how we got a lot of things done in the last year, 18 months,==
And, I would argue the way things have gotten done was by working around the Governor, not the other way around.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Sep 28, 18 @ 12:44 pm
If the overall case is…
“I’m not in charge, but I’m trying to get to be in charge… Madigan is still powerful, but weaker… “
Who would give that governor another term?
It’s the jibberish that Diana Rauner then complains that the messaging isn’t resonating.
No one likes Bruce.
Bruce speaks jibberish.
Yikes, this is awful to think an incumbent governor is going out of their way to sell themselves like this for a second term.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 28, 18 @ 12:45 pm
Also… it’s been said… I’ve said it too… it’s also true…
Things got done “in spite of” Rauner, not “because of” Rauner.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 28, 18 @ 12:46 pm
So Rauner is back with his tired turn around agenda except possibly in moderation. Didn’t Rauner get the nickname of 1.4% because that was the expected growth rate of his turn around agenda? Although he really hasn’t even substantiated that growth rate.
Rauner does not know how to grow Illinois’ economy. Four years of Rauner have proven that.
Comment by A Jack Friday, Sep 28, 18 @ 1:08 pm
===the expected growth rate===
It was the expected state budget growth.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 28, 18 @ 1:10 pm
Shows what a pathetic campaign Rauner is running. Voters aren’t swayed by editorials in many elections at the Governor level or the Presidential level. Trump got next to zero editorial endorsements : it doesn’t really matter. Even if Rauner got every major newspaper endorsement in Illinos, he still wouldn’t win.
Comment by Steve Friday, Sep 28, 18 @ 1:33 pm
==I’m not sure the Daily Journal gets that.==
I don’t think anyone in Illinois gets that. They all seem to be under the impression that the first vote taken when session begins is a motion to determine whether or not Madigan is a good dude.
Also, anyone have any idea why these dems can’t bring themselves to answer “no” when asked this question? What do they care if Madigan is Speaker and not some other dem? All are trying to get elected, if voting against Madigan is what’s need to do that, then do it. Get there, then worry about where re-elect funds are going to come from.
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Friday, Sep 28, 18 @ 1:43 pm
===Get there, then worry about where re-elect funds===
Usually costs more to get there than to be reelected. So, if they say no to MJM, they won’t raise much $
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 28, 18 @ 1:57 pm
==Usually costs more to get there than to be reelected. So, if they say no to MJM, they won’t raise much $==
Maybe, but perhaps they can go to Pritzker instead for funds? Besides, you’d think Madigan would rather have a dem who votes absent when the speaker vote comes up than a republican. Is the guys ego just that darned big, he’d rather have Breen in the seat instead of a dem who doesn’t vote fo him as speaker?
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Friday, Sep 28, 18 @ 3:30 pm
Sorry, meant Parkhurst - not Breen.
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Friday, Sep 28, 18 @ 3:38 pm
This is the consequence of running the constant “Madigan” message and claiming not to be in charge. It doesn’t create a compelling reason to vote for Rauner so he now has to create an alternate universe to convince us that things would be different going forward.
Comment by Pundent Friday, Sep 28, 18 @ 3:44 pm