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* Almost exactly four years ago, Crain’s Chicago Business endorsed Bruce Rauner for governor…
Mr. Rauner’s experience as a private-equity investor would benefit Springfield. Government isn’t the same as business, of course. As head of the state’s executive branch, the governor wields real power, but it’s less than that of a chief executive. Still, Mr. Rauner would bring the much-needed perspective of a private-sector leader. And he has a sharp eye for efficiency, something that bloated state government desperately needs.
He is no politician, and that is a good thing.
Mr. Rauner promises reforms that would lessen the burdens on business and promote entrepreneurship, including cutting red tape, making common-sense changes to workers’ compensation and revitalizing the state agency that should be hustling to bring business to Illinois, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. He has said he would become the state’s top recruiter. We believe him.
* By June of 2017, however, Crain’s was having a change of heart…
By nearly every measure, the state is worse off since Rauner took office.
* And today the magazine endorsed JB Pritzker…
That said, he maintains “the wealthy should pay more”—and that includes himself—and argues that a progressive income tax is unlikely to chase well-heeled Illinoisans out of state if the Legislature enacts much-needed property tax reforms. A graduated income tax, he argues, would stabilize the state’s finances and better fund his top priority—education from K-12 to graduate school—while easing the burden on local and municipal governments to fund schools and maintain infrastructure. If he can ease the property tax burden, which is killing some municipalities, the switch to a sliding-scale income tax makes sense for Illinois.
Regarding the state’s most vexing fiscal problem, its underfunded public employee pensions, Pritzker favors cutting the long-term tab by putting in more money now. Again, he’s not long on specifics, but his rhetoric suggests his plan’s contours may follow those long advocated by the Center for Tax & Budget Accountability, which has called for reamortizing the existing debt. “There is really only one good way to do it, and that is to step up payments,” Pritzker told Crain’s earlier this year. “Think about the principal payments on your home. Step up principal payments earlier than they are due and try to flatten out the amortization schedule on an annual basis. Flatten it. The result of that will be that we can manage the budget of the state. Because that is really what is at stake here.”
As a longtime Democrat, Pritzker’s platform reflects much of his party’s orthodoxy. And yet, Pritzker is a known quantity in Chicago’s moderate business community—in many ways, he’s its unofficial mayor—and he’s widely recognized as a no-nonsense problem-solver more likely to reach across the aisle with an open handshake than a clenched fist. As such, we expect him to govern in the vein of similarly middle-ground businesspeople-cum-politicians: Think Michael Bloomberg, not Scott Walker; Charlie Baker, not Paul LePage. He pledges that creating conditions for business growth will be a factor in every decision he makes, and as someone who has grown businesses for his entire adult life, that pledge carries weight. He promises to veto any legislative remap that is not fair, and he favors term limits on leadership positions in the state House and Senate—not exactly the words of a Democratic apparatchik.
Promoting Illinois as a great place to do business—and delivering on the policies that will make that more than just a sales pitch—is Pritzker’s stated goal. Despite “toiletgate,” a property tax dustup that is troubling and embarrassing but not disqualifying, we believe Pritzker will put the needs of Chicago’s business community and the workers who depend on it first and foremost, and will work hard to do what he’s always done: Make deals and deliver value to stakeholders large and small. Pritzker deserves your vote.
* Meanwhile, as expected, the Tribune endorsed Rauner…
Ask yourself whether another dose of unchecked rule by Democratic leaders will restore Illinois to the prosperity and opportunity for which it once was famed.
Then ask whether a second-term Rauner would do exactly what he has tried to do in his first term: deprive those Democratic leaders of their wretched excesses in spending and taxing.
That answer to that is yes, as the Democrats know.
They loathe Rauner. He often stalemates them. Armed only with a veto pen and a bully pulpit, he blocks their exclusive dominion over lawmaking.
Which is precisely why we endorse Bruce Rauner, and urge you to re-elect him governor of Illinois.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 9:04 am
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In 2014 one thing that helped put Rauner over the top was the fact that he swept the endorsements, which pushed-back on Quinn’s attempt to paint him as a monster. In 2018 the same thing may happen with Pritzker - how bad can he be if *Crain’s* is endorsing him?
Comment by lake county democrat Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 9:06 am
Perspective?
Easy… look at the Tribune Editorial Board endorsement of Candidate Rauner, 2014…
===Ask yourself, what does Quinn talk about other than his disdain for Rauner? What does Quinn say he would do with another four years? What new economic solutions does he offer? Why, exactly, is Quinn running?===
Funny, when you’re wholly owned by Rauner, and biased towards Rauner… the Trib Edit Board… is a mere caricature of itself.
Good on Pritzker for never sitting for the Trib Editorial endorsement.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 9:10 am
The Tribune: Partisanship is bad. Also the Tribune: Only Bruce can jam up the Democrats.
Comment by Sonny Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 9:12 am
The Trib has zero credibility. JB skipped their “debate” and other dems will also pass in the future. The gravitas they had in the 80’s is dead. Hopefully, the members of the editorial board will be the first to move out of Illinois after Rauner loses.
Comment by Trapped in the 'burbs Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 9:15 am
Nice to see that Crain’s can admit a mistake when they made one. Rauner is totally unlikable, takes credit for things that were instituted after his vetoes were overidden, and just plain will tell any lie that he thinks people will swallow. I hope the voters just take a look at his record, and not rely on his TV spots.
Comment by Big Joe Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 9:18 am
Crains endorsed JB, who is really surprised?
He now has one Illinois business group endorsement
Best quote of the endorsement - “Again, he’s not long on specifics”
JB is a self described progressive, not a moderate Democrat, with no plan to reform the Illinois business environment
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 9:20 am
It seems to me that Crain’s is applying the same standard to Rauner that they applied to Quinn. If we aside politics and objectively deemed Pat Quinn a failure than the same holds true for Bruce Rauner.
The Tribune Editorial Board on the other hand applies no objective criteria. It was a foregone conclusion that they would support Rauner despite his failures. Pritzker was right to ignore the Editorial Board and other candidates in the future may likely choose to do the same as well. For a struggling newspaper trying to stay relevant that’s not a good thing.
Comment by Pundent Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 9:27 am
Crains believes a Democratic Inspector General’s charge that JB engaged in a scheme to defraud Cook County taxpayers is “troubling but not disqualifying”
Why would that give the business community reason to believe that JB will work to reform the most distrusted state government in America?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 9:30 am
–deprive those Democratic leaders of their wretched excesses in spending and taxing.–
Is that what happened? The backlog of unpaid bills went from $6B to $16B in 2.5 years.
Among those selected to opine by the Zell/Ferro bustout schemers for their “wisdom,” it’s not really “spending” if you never plan on paying what you owe.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 9:31 am
–By nearly every measure, the state is worse off since Rauner took office.–
Clearly, the collectivists at Crain’s have joined with the infamous Pritzker Bolsheviks to bring capitalism to its knees.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 9:35 am
“Armed only with a veto pen and a bully pulpit”
Looks like Trib the forgot to add… and the ability to propose a balanced budget, a veto pen that can reduce spending or eliminate line items completely to their list of the meager powers our poor weakling Governor has to fend off those mean old Democrats.
Comment by Concerned Dem Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 9:35 am
=Why would that give the business community reason to believe that JB will work to reform the most distrusted state government in America?=
LP - Pat Quinn failed. Bruce Rauner failed. Some things are self-evident.
Perhaps the better question is why would someone support a failed governor?
Comment by Pundent Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 9:37 am
===Crains endorsed JB, who is really surprised?===
Crain’s…
===By nearly every measure, the state is worse off since Rauner took office.===
Can’t endorse a candidate who made the state worse off…
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 9:38 am
==Hopefully, the members of the [Trib] editorial board will be the first to move out of Illinois==
Comment of the year
Comment by Handle Bar Mustache Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 9:43 am
So basically the Chicago Tribune said we’re happy that we had a 2 year budget standoff and we hope it happens again.
So what do we have to expect from another 4 years of Rauner? More complaining and victimhood. Who wouldn’t want that?
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 9:43 am
LP
What has the Governor accomplished and why do you believe a second term would be any different? You can keep spouting off your “reform” talking point but saying it over and over won’t make it happen. Unless the Governor has a plan to do the doable in a second term he will be a complete failure once again. I suspect, though, given his comments that he’s going to follow the same formula he has for four years. Demand he gets what he wants as is, no changes, and whine and play the victim if he doesn’t get it. That’s not governing.
He’s a failure and I don’t expect anything different in the future.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 9:46 am
How many reforms championed by the business community in Illinois to grow our economy and jobs doe JB support?
As Mike Ditka would say ZERO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCOsnlY-oZs
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 9:47 am
==blocks their exclusive dominion over lawmaking==
I’m not sure they got the words right here. How do you block “exclusive dominion?” Perhaps a little less ranting and more thoughtfulness might have been better.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 9:55 am
So you still won’t answer the question. You’re only capable of your bot talking points. Sad.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 9:56 am
How many reforms championed by the business community in Illinois to grow our economy and jobs has Rauner accomplished in 4 years?
As Mike Ditka would say ZERO
Fixed it for you LP.
Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 10:00 am
“Lucky Pierre”… you talk of the business community…
From Crain’s endorsement;
===In his most recent interview with Crain’s, in late September, the governor rejected the idea that fiscal stability has value in the eyes of the business community. Our business readers know better.===
“Our business readers know better.”
Oh, “Lucky Pierre”… no one fooled.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 10:04 am
Illinois has been failing since long before Governor Quinn and Governor Rauner were elected.
That is indisputable, look at how our economy has lagged the rest of the nation since 2003 and how many people have left our state. From 2000-2010 the population grew 9.7% nationwide but with all of our natural advantages Illinois grew only 3.3%- only 8 states were worse
https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-01.pdf
Why do so many Democrats accept this and support leaders who admit they are not “change people” while blaming those people that are for all of the state’s problems?
If you think just raising taxes and government spending is all that Illinois needs to thrive, you have your perfect candidate in JB Pritzker.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 10:06 am
Lucky, please make sure you read the previous post about Brucie saying he did nothing wrong regarding the Quincy Veteran’s Home disaster.
You never seem to have a Raunerbot comment on those threads.
Comment by don the legend Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 10:16 am
Don, do you think the failure to maintain the Quincy Veterans’s home that was founded in 1886 and housed Civil War Veterans over the many years it has been open is 100% on Governor Rauner?
Of course you and so many other people do
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 10:27 am
Great, and a little surprising, endorsement by Crain’s. This gives strength and a positive voice to a progressive income tax, burden-shifting away from property taxes and the CTBA’s pension debt reamortization. It gives strength to Pritzker’s business experience and claim of willingness to reach across the aisle.
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 10:28 am
I won’t vote for Rauner no matter who endorses him.
He’s a failure.
His TV ads are a failure too.
Most of them are bashing other candidates with no mention of voting for him and what he’d do if re-elected.
Comment by Just Sayin Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 10:58 am
One remarkable passage in the Crain’s endorsement supports a graduated income tax if it means property tax relief.
Comment by anon2 Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 11:26 am
What is wrong with the Tribune? Do they really think the last 4 years have gone well for our state?
Comment by Illinois Resident Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 12:03 pm
=Illinois has been failing since long before Governor Quinn and Governor Rauner were elected.=
Reading is obviously not your strong suit.
=By nearly every measure, the state is worse off since Rauner took office.=
People have a basic expectation of elected officials - make things better. Rauner failed to meet that basic expectation. Your justification and obfuscation are nothing more than noise.
Comment by Pundent Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 12:03 pm
Rauner refused compromise offers on his own reform issues that had nothing to do with negotiating and passing budgets. People tried to meet him partway, including Madigan with workers comp, even though Rauner hijacked the budget and tried to extort concessions he’d never get. This was no accident or rookie mistake.
Rauner called the reform compromise proposal(s) phony.
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 12:27 pm
==Don, do you think the failure to maintain the Quincy Veterans’s home that was founded in 1886 and housed Civil War Veterans over the many years it has been open is 100% on Governor Rauner?==
I won’t speak for Don, but I’m pretty sure that the post-illness cover up is all Rauner’s fault.
Or is “not in charge” of his own staff?
Comment by Arsenal Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 12:41 pm
==do you think the failure to maintain the Quincy Veterans’s home that was founded in 1886 and housed Civil War Veterans over the many years it has been open is 100% on Governor Rauner?==
Nobody said at was. The issue was the reaction to the outbreak. That was on the Governor.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 12:49 pm
News Flash:
Libertarian values are not necessarily pro-business values.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 1:01 pm
“Lucky Pierre”
All your ridiculousness here in this Post…
Crain’s says “governors own”
That’s the ball game.
You point to other governors, I guess you know governors own too… including Rauner.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 1:36 pm
You literally can’t blame other governors for their terms, then ignore Rauner failings in his term.
Can’t. Sorry. No.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 1:39 pm
=What’s wrong with the Tribune?=
You’re just now figuring that out Illinois resident?
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 1:44 pm
Pretty disappointed in Crain’s. I guess Crain’s believes in rent control and graduated income tax like JB. Ill be cancelling my Crain’s subscription
Comment by Silicon Prairie Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 2:13 pm
==Ill be cancelling my Crain’s subscription==
I’m sure they’re in tears over it.
If you’re that shallow then you probably aren’t of the caliber to understand the articles in Crains anyway.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Oct 5, 18 @ 2:30 pm