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Rauner: “The exciting thing is we don’t have to cut programs” to cut taxes

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Illinois

* Quad Cities TV station KWQC had an interview with Gov. Rauner this week…

Q: You want to roll back the 2017 income tax increase; if so, which programs will you cut to make up for the revenue loss from the income tax reduction?

A: The exciting thing is we don’t have to cut programs. What we need to do is grow the economy faster which we can do very quickly and I’m doing that right now. But also there is about $6-billion in excess spending in our government’s structure itself. Not social programs, not human services or education. The cost of Illinois government, our government in Illinois is much more expensive than it is over in Iowa. We have 7,000 units of local government in Illinois, way more, like double what most states have. And we also have more mandates and restrictions on our schools and requirements on our cities and our counties. And as a result we have the highest property taxes in America. We don’t need to cut human services, what we need to do is make government more efficient and effective.

Sounds like he’s mixing up local property taxes with state spending.

* Back to the interview…

Q: So you wouldn’t advocate cutting any programs?

A: We don’t need to cut programs, what we need to do is shrink the government bureaucracy. I’ll give you an example for your viewers, when I got into office, many of our departments didn’t have computers, if you can believe that. And those that did were running software from 1974. Very inefficient. We’ve now, rated Grade A as one of the most innovative technology state governments in America. And we’re saving hundreds of millions of dollars by using computers and using mobile apps to bring down the cost of providing our services and increasing the efficiency. Those are the kinds of things that we can change so we don’t have to raise taxes in fact when you get lower taxes and not cut human services.

* On to Madigan…

Q: But as far as your relationship with Speaker Madigan and others, what will you do differently? How will you recast your, rebuild your relationship?

A: The Speaker is, he’s one of the most corrupt of politicians in America. My relationship with him will be very cordial but it’ll also be very just matter of fact. What we’ve got to do is work sometimes with him but often times around him. We’ve got the balanced budget done even though he didn’t want to, we worked around him on that. We got the new school funding formula done, we had to work around him.

They got the budget done this year by working around Madigan? You mean during all those meetings in Madigan’s office?

* Trump…

Q: Reaction to Pres. Trump’s positive comments yesterday about the Montana congressman who assaulted the news reporter? He said the assault was nothing to be embarrassed about.

A: I have to say I’m appalled, I’m deeply disappointed. There’s no room in our society, in our civil society for physical assault let alone verbal assault. We should respect each other, have direct honest communication that’s appropriate and proper and respectful. No place for those sort of actions.

We should respect each other by running appropriate and proper ads about how Illinois is f-d if Pritzker is elected?

* Polls…

Q: You’re currently behind in the polls:

A: The polls are baloney. The polls have been proven wrong many election cycles. In Illinois and in the past and the ones I’ve seen have been way wrong. When I’m talking to people it’s very, a lot of enthusiasm, ‘Governor stay strong, don’t back down.’ I don’t know whether we’re winning at the moment but I wasn’t winning in the polls 4 years ago either. And we’re moving up fast, the truth is getting known and when the truth is known, I’ve had great success, we need to get more progress and we’re going to fight for a better future and do a lot more my second term and I’m fighting against a guy who’s loyal to Mike Madigan, funds the corruption, cheats on his taxes and all he’s running on is raising the income tax more on the people of Illinois. Disaster. Turn out the lights with that guy, we’re going to stay strong, we’re going to win.

But, yeah, the president’s rhetoric is too harsh.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 10:32 am

Comments

So second verse, same as the first? Guy didn’t learn a thing in four years.

Comment by Fixer Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 10:37 am
I think Bernie has written several times about Rauner’s claim some departments didn’t have computers. To date, the Gov has yet to ID what departments he is talking about.

Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 10:42 am
Rauner and his magic beans argument. If only the big bad Madigan would let him plant his beans, IL would be perfect.

Rauner is a failure. His failure has drastically harmed this state and its residents. Vote him out of office and let him get to Italy.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 10:42 am
I thought it was only one department that had no computers. When did he learn about the others? And can he name any of them?

Comment by Whatever Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 10:43 am
“I have new, improved, magic beans.”
“This time they’ll really work.”

Comment by Keyrock Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 10:44 am
Considering that so far this week what appears to be explosive devises have been sent to the Obamas, the Clintons, Soros and Time Warner (CNN), shouldn’t the “Illinois is f-d if Pritzker is elected” rhetoric have been pulled to avoid adding gasoline to that fire?

Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 10:45 am
=== What we need to do is grow the economy faster which we can do very quickly and I’m doing that right now.===

Increase government revenue by cutting taxes to spark economic expansion: does anyone outside the far right bubble even believe this horse-hockey? It’s a complete myth. Just ask Kansas and Louisiana.

Comment by Nick Name Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 10:45 am
=running software from 1974= Really? Prove it.

Man this guy lies like nobody I have ever seen before.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 10:48 am
He should do a guest spot on those internet commercials that featured Chicken Little, Pinocchio and the boy who cried wolf.

Comment by Chunga Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 10:49 am
==We’ve got the balanced budget done even though he didn’t want to, we worked around him on that. We got the new school funding formula done, we had to work around him.==

Does he remember he vetoed parts of the budget AND the school funding bill? The General Assembly had to work around RAUNER to get a budget and school funding.

This guy really lives in an alternate universe.

Comment by potato Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 10:50 am
“The exciting thing is we dont have to cut programs”

That must be news to Illinois conservatives who think there is a bunch of waste to cut…

Comment by low level Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 10:50 am
State departments without computers, software from 1974.

Citation please, governor. And I’d appreciate it if your response is not anecdotal or something to do with Mike Madigan.

Comment by Stumpy's bunker Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 10:51 am
==But, yeah, the president’s rhetoric is too harsh.==

Praising someone who assaulted a reporter and Pointing to legitimate reasons people shouldn’t vote for your opponent are not the same thing.

Comment by ANON Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 10:55 am
I agree with Dance Band @10:45. And yes, Trump’s rhetoric is too harsh, not even the right word, inflammatory. The Republicans are now a party of thugs and bullies. And it’s scary that so many believe the Republican agenda is the soul of this nation.

Comment by My New Handle Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 10:58 am
–A: The exciting thing is we don’t have to cut programs. What we need to do is grow the economy faster which we can do very quickly and I’m doing that right now.–

Huh. He should have done that on Day One, since it’s within his Biblical powers.

How’s Gov. Messiah Complex doing that, exactly? Is that like a five loaves of bread and two fish sort of thing, to feed the multitudes?

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 10:58 am
I’ve worked in the Governor’s office. Our computers weren’t brand new, but they were century-appropriate…

Comment by Soccermom Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 11:01 am
It’s “exciting” that he doesn’t have to make funding cuts for state programs since he destroyed the program providers with his budget impasse. /s

Comment by Ike Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 11:02 am
===Sounds like he’s mixing up local property taxes with state spending.===

You try to govern by IPI talking points and sometimes you mix things up.

Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 11:07 am
The increased federal deficit says what happens when we do Rauner’s fiscal snake oil, that and the Illinois jobs numbers in 2015 and later, after the state income tax dropped to 3.75%.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 11:14 am
Huh? He slashed social services in his first term, but won’t need to do so in his second?

Yeah, right.

Does the Gov know that the population of Iowa is less than one-fourth that of Illinois? Does he care? Probably not.

Where’s Honeybear to remind us in eloquent blank verse of the IT implementation in social services - of those 40,000 SNAP recipients who got kicked out of the IES?

In case the Gov needs his memory jogged,
https://capitolfax.com/2018/04/30/hearing-today-will-look-at-why-thousands-were-kicked-off-medicaid/

Honestly, is BVR from planet Zog or just from planet too-rich-to-respect-any-citizen-of-the-state-he-says-he-loves?

How many more days of this? (rhetorical question)

Comment by dbk Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 11:15 am
== And we’re saving hundreds of millions of dollars by using computers and using mobile apps to bring down the cost of providing our services and increasing the efficiency. ==

He had to do that just to keep delivering services with a reduced / unmotivated staff.

Alternatively, he did that to provide pinstripe patronage contracts.

Or he did it because the only legal discretionary spending he had for 2 years with no budget was out of the various Telecom and computer services revolving funds.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 11:17 am
== But also there is about $6-billion in excess spending in our government’s structure itself. ==

Maybe he should have started by runny ng for township commissioner so he could have learned the difference between local and state level spending.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 11:19 am
There isn’t a single State Agency that didn’t computers in 1990 let alone 2014. Rauner is a liar. Rauner is baloney.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 11:24 am
Not GovJunk touts DoIT as the key to prosperity?
Thoe who have dealt with the cash drain are generally unhappy with both their technology and hardware.

Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 11:26 am
What color is the sky on Planet Bruce?

Comment by Nick Name Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 11:38 am
Poor, poor Republicans. People treat them the way they treat other people. They’re so oppressed.

Am I right Downstate?

Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 11:45 am
What have we reached the peak of? This size, not frequency, of Rauner’s lies. “We can cut taxes without cutting programs.” “We can grow the economy so fast it will make up the revenue from cutting taxes.” “We can reduce government spending by reducing bureacracy.” He forgot to slam the governor he’s trying to replace for failing to do that. And…”DoIT saved money and increased efficiency.” His wingman pulled millions away from devasted social service agencies in order to make sure DoIT could be paid in a timely manner. “I made school funding and a balanced budget happen by working around Madigan.” It’s just an amazing collection of huge lies. To his credit, he left out magically getting rid of the pension debt.

Comment by Earnest Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 11:52 am
I have confidence that governor-elect Pritzker will have the courage to find the $1 billion or so cuts that illinois residents are expecting. The fiscal conservative we have in there now sure didnt have what it takes.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 12:01 pm
Movin’ to Montana soon. Gonna be a dental floss tycoon.

Capital DEE— lusional. Bringing back all the golden oldies.

Comment by Langhorne Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 12:08 pm
==The exciting thing is we don’t have to cut programs.==

In his world you don’t. He just runs up the bill backlog. He really has no concept of reality.

==many of our departments didn’t have computers==

Bull. He’s really got a truth telling problem.

==The polls are baloney. ==

He’s in serious denial.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 12:10 pm
When decent candidates realize defeat is in the air, they can put up an honorable fight to the last breath, or they can do what Rauner is doing.

Comment by Matts Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 12:29 pm
==those that did were running software from 1974==

Was that the same software used to create the six million dollar man? Is someone still feeding punchcards into a machine?

Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 12:45 pm
1974 software sounds about right. By the way, it’s a fact that there were more texting and driving accidents in 2016 than there were during the entire 17th century

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 1:10 pm
=What’s the color of the sky on planet Bruce?=

The same color it is on planet Lucky Pierre.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 1:11 pm
Here Rauner is actually going mainstream scofflaw GOP. The GOP its corporate media includes paying old bills in its definition of “new spending” so there is that.
You don’t need a tax increase if you want to rack-up interest on old debt.

Comment by Deadbeat Conservative Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 1:12 pm
I clicked through to give KWQC the traffic and then immediately closed it. Dear Lord is that an ugly website.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 1:29 pm
Same color as planet Lucky Pierre?

There is a lot of blue sky there

NBC/WSJ Poll: Trump Highest Approval Yet, Republicans Best Score On Economy Ever

A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll provides Democrats a few welcome numbers, but it’s Republicans who end up getting what could end up being the most important takeaways: the voter enthusiasm gap has largely collapsed, President Trump has reached record-high approval among registered voters, and Republicans are trusted by a wider gap than ever over Democrats to handle the all-important issue of the economy.

Another record-breaking number for the poll involves voters’ views of the economy. In what NBC notes is “their biggest lead on this question in the poll’s history,” Republicans now hold a 15-point advantage on the question of which party better handles the economy, which is consistently the most important issue to voters.

A total of 43% of registered voters told pollsters that Republicans handled the economy better, while just 28% said Democrats. The 15-point gap is a point up from the gap pollsters found in August.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/nbc-wsj-poll-democrats-hold-nine-point-advantage-midterm-elections-n922266

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 1:31 pm
== Is someone still feeding punchcards into a machine? ==

The punchcards were gone in the early 1980’s after the Public Aid 1401 Autocoder programs were all rewritten by U of I students.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 2:46 pm
LP

That’s nice. Now tie that to the election in Illinois and get back to us.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 3:26 pm
By the way LP, if you want relevant statistics the Governor’s approval rating is like 27% and he’s as much as 20 points down in the polls.

Now, back to your dog whistles . . .

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 3:31 pm
I think Rauner’s intent was to say that the benefits provided by existing programs do no need to take a hit if they can be delivered more efficiently. The savings from the efficiency take place of “cuts” to the benefits of said program. Basically boiler plate old-school Republican moderate lingo from the 1970’s.

Comment by California Guy Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 5:00 pm
==The savings from the efficiency take place of “cuts” ==

There aren’t billions in “efficiencies” to be had.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 5:27 pm
1974 software? Really? Big Brain Bruce there were no personal or desktops computers anywhere in 1974. Mainframe terminals running COBOL and FORTRAN were pretty much it. BTW try running 8bit COBOL or FORTRAN code on a micro computer from even 1984. Bruce you’re not just lying you’re ignorant. Time for you to pack for Italy.

BTW DOIT IS A DISASTER,

Comment by Old and In The Way Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 5:42 pm
==doit is a disaster==

That’s what happens when people think you can operate government like a business.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 5:59 pm
When asked how he will recast or rebuild his relationship with Speaker Madigan, Rauner responded that Madigan “is one of the most corrupt politicians in America”, which I take to mean the relationship, if any, will continue to be toxic; not the best re-election selling point.

He made so many misrepresentations and told so many whoppers in this one interview, he may as well have went for the gold and said the relationship will be better if he’s re-elected.

Comment by Stumpy's bunker Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 7:52 pm