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Rauner rewrites history

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Illinois

* In some ways, the post-debate press conference was more interesting than the debate. Check this out…

MALDONADO: Will you continue with your strategy, attacking Mr. Madigan and the status quo that is in there? That is going to continue if you’re re-elected? How can assure the voters that we’re not going to go into a next gridlock and no passing a budget and we’re going to be in the same situation we were in for four years?

RAUNER: So Erica that is a great question and the answer is we can now build on the progress and the success we’ve had. We now have a balanced budget. When I became Governor the state was in a $2.7 billion deficit at that time. We fixed that. Now it didn’t get done the way I’d like, but it got done.

Now we have a balanced budget and now all the changes can be incremental. We can take small steps of reform and improvement. We got this done with Speaker Madigan in place. We got education funding reform, criminal justice reform, healthcare reform, the Future Energy Jobs Act. We got tax relief for adoption services, for our veterans.

We can do incremental changes. And I’ve already agreed with Democrats in the General Assembly, not yet Mike Madigan, but many of the Democrats on pension reform using a consideration model. We can do that in my second term and we’ve already proven we can do it. We got it done already. Now we can make incremental change every year going forward.

So… he talked about the 2015 stopgap budget deal (accomplished with no “reforms” and lots of Rauner reticence), skipped over the long impasse and his killing the grand bargain and his 2017 tax hike veto and “Now we have a balanced budget and now all the changes can be incremental.”

Unreal.

Also, he vetoed education funding reform and spent months traveling the state to blast it as a “Chicago bailout.” Had it not been for House Republican Leader Jim Durkin and Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady dragging him to the finish line, he would’ve vetoed it again.

And, by the way, that’s how the budget deal got done this year. Durkin and Brady used the same playbook. Rauner was never in the room with the Democrats after some initial meetings went nowhere and Rauner demanded an official revenue estimate before he’d agree to talks. The two leaders handled him and made sure he signed it - without an official revenue estimate, by the way.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 10:13 am

Comments

The budget is balanced?

Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 10:19 am
if Rauner’s lips are moving, he’s lying.

Comment by Truthteller Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 10:21 am
Where did he get that $2.7 billion figure from?

For years, he has been saying it was $1.6 billion.

And even that was wrong because it included $950 million for inter-fund borrowing that he said he wasn’t going to do but then did it anyways.

Comment by Juice Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 10:24 am
==We got tax relief for adoption services, for our veterans.==

He really is toutin’ that tax credit for adoptions. He really doesn’t have much of any accomplishments to tout, does he?

And tax relief for veterans? I know of 13 who no longer have to pay taxes. Is that how he is now trying to spin it?

Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 10:30 am
Funhouse mirrors and loaded tetter-totters… welcome to the Rauner Sideshow.

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 10:36 am
I thought the paper work on the last bond issuance was clear: Illinois has a $1.2 billion operating budget deficit. This dispite a massive 67% tax increase and three and a half years of superstar management by the Best Team in America.

Comment by Al Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 10:38 am
This level of disrespect for reality and the intelligence of the voters is why he has to go.

Comment by Jibba Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 10:41 am
===we can now build on the progress and success we’ve had===. In spite of you Governor.

Comment by XDNR Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 10:52 am
At this point, like “Lucky Pierre”, discussing honesty to the actual history is pointless with both.

Rich makes points… based on actual history Rauner wants ignored.

Rauber is grossly disingenuous to the dame he (Rauner) has personally caused, and the reality the damage was the feature, not the bug to Raunerism.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 10:53 am
The governor is not a well man.

Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 10:55 am
So for veterans is Rauner talking about SB107? That increased the property tax exemption for veterans that had already existed since 2007. The bill had a multitude of Democrat sponsors in both the House and Senate, but only one GOP sponsor. The bill passed with a veto proof majority. So it’s not really something Rauner can take credit for signing or even pushing given the lack of Republican sponsors. And the exemption only applies to disabled veterans which Rauner should have specified. That certainly won’t change my vote given Rauner’s atrocious record on Quincy.

Comment by A Jack Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 11:05 am
“That is going to continue if you’re re-elected?”

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 11:06 am
By the way, SB107 was under the 99th GA if you want the details.

Comment by A Jack Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 11:08 am
I listened to the clip. Rauners voice is dripping with righteous indignation that JB is a criminal, and another governor is going to jail. He says “this election is all about ethics.” Yep. But not the way he thinks.

Comment by Langhorne Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 11:09 am
There’s really no point in listening to anything Rauner says. Just watch what he does.

He’s earned that, more than most.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 11:11 am
He’s said multiple times I believe that the current budget is unbalanced. Now it’s balanced?

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 11:47 am
Bizarre world. Up is down, black is white and dogs and cats are looking living with one another! No wonder I’ve been having headaches alot lately with the words coming out of politicians mouths

Comment by Mongo Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 1:22 pm
Precinct Captain - Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 10:55 am:

The governor is not a well man.
==================================================

He’s healthy.
He’s just lying because he knows that most of the state media won’t fact check him on his lies.

Comment by btowntruthfromforgottonia Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 1:58 pm
===We got it done already===

He also saved a deer.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 2:24 pm
He’s said multiple times I believe that the current budget is unbalanced. Now it’s balanced?

I really think he chooses which “fact” suits his purpose in the moment. I know politicians lie, but Rauner is compulsive about it.

Comment by Ole' Nelson Thursday, Oct 4, 18 @ 5:07 pm