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* AP…
Republican Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner says he won’t be in Washington later this month for GOP President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Rauner says he’s “focused on Illinois” and is trying “to minimize the distractions” and his time out of state. Rauner is amid a state budget impasse with Democratic lawmakers. Trump is to take the oath of office Jan. 20, just five days before Rauner is scheduled to give the State of the State speech in Springfield.
* Greg Hinz…
Rauner did not back Trump for president in the primaries and can claim limited personal and political connections to the new president. He did lend his name to a big Chicago fundraiser that Vice President-elect Mike Pence starred in just before New Year’s, but was on a family vacation and did not attend.
One Rauner insider says you shouldn’t read too much into the inaugural no-show. “There’s no bad blood,” that source says.
But another just chuckled when I asked whether Rauner’s focus isn’t just on passing his budget but in getting himself re-elected in 2018, a task that likely would not be furthered in Democratic-dominated Illinois by the perception that Rauner and Trump are thisclose.
Keep an eye on Trump’s tweets to see if he has any thoughts.
Your thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 11:45 am
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Previous Post: More from the Rauner teevee rounds
Next Post: Statehouse press corps exodus continues
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Tuckin’ tail…
Comment by RIJ Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 11:50 am
Rauner will do more public and behind the scenes work with Pence that Trump so why allow anyone to connect Rauner and Trump?
I’m not worried. Ald. Pawar’s $50,000 will make a strong case linking Rauner to Trump…
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 11:52 am
It’s all about Rauner’s behind.
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 11:53 am
Rauner not going because Rauner is a DEMOCRAT !!!!
Comment by Anon Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 11:54 am
Couldn’t spare a day or two to witness an historic event, huh? I guess he’s just too busy working with Madigan to straighten out problems of the budget, cash flow, overpriced K-12 education and an unsustainable public pension program…
Comment by Illinois Bob Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 11:59 am
It would be “news”…if he was attending.
He isn’t; it isn’t. Story lives less than one day.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 12:01 pm
Anon, shouldn’t that be DEMONCRAT!!!1!!
Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 12:02 pm
Trump is going to be a nightmare in 2018, every Republican should stay as far away from the man as they can, especially in Illinois. He’s the biggest gift to the Democrats in a long time.
Comment by Ahoy! Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 12:04 pm
Did Quinn attend the one in ‘13? Or Ryan in ‘01?
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 12:15 pm
@Ahoy
=Trump is going to be a nightmare in 2018, every Republican should stay as far away from the man as they can, especially in Illinois. He’s the biggest gift to the Democrats in a long time.=
It seems Democrats were saying that right after he was nominated, and it went through all the way to November 8. Trump was supposed to lose big, he’d push the Senate, and maybe event the House, over to Dem control.
How’d that work out for ya?LOL
Anyone who underestimates a smart, successful adversary is a fool….
Comment by Illinois Bob Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 12:18 pm
Talk about a non-story — that some Dems drool over but has amounted to nothing, thus far.
First, it was the Rauner = Trump BS (when Dems thought that would hurt Rauner).
Then it was, why won’t Rauner denounce Trump? That must mean he secretly support him.
But then Rauner failed to endorse, or criticize, Trump, and now says he won’t attend the Presidential inaugural. So what do the trolls do — with the help of the press? Continue forward with weird conspiracy thoughts and other fantasies.
Only here.
Comment by Deft Wing Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 12:19 pm
A vengeful Trump means the Rauner administration will have next to no juice with Trump’s administration. That isn’t necessarily good for Illinois.
Comment by Montrose Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 12:23 pm
He seems to be taking the McConnell approach: pretend Trump doesn’t exist.
Seems to have gotten individual Republicans further than either supporting or fighting him has.
Comment by AnonInTheQC Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 12:23 pm
Willy is correct, Rauner loves Pence.
Comment by siriusly Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 12:24 pm
I don’t care whether he goes or not (it isn’t as if someone couldn’t call him to update him on things, he does have a cell phone, doesn’t he?).
But the implication is that he is knee deep in day to day budget negotiations, so is there actually any of that going on?
Comment by titan Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 12:40 pm
Right now it’s Trump.
But keep in mind, the whole DC Republican -party- may not be very popular in IL, circa 2018.
They appear ready to absolutely gut-punch Cook County’s health care system this year, blow a multi-million dollar hole in the public health budget.
And then they’ll try again to defund Planned Parenthood. That’ll go over well in Lake County.
And let’s see how the growing AA / Latino / Hispanic community reacts to the new Congress and its immigration and civil rights priorities.
Rauner’s problem isn’t only Trump. He can run from Trump. He can’t run fully from the “R” next to his name on the 2018 ballot, however.
Comment by ZC Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 12:40 pm
Friends don’t “rip the guts out” of friends, why should you believe he even got an invitation?
Comment by Rabid Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 12:40 pm
But Trump won 90 counties, why wouldn’t Rauner attend?
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 12:41 pm
===But Trump won 90 counties, why wouldn’t Rauner attend?===
I’m hoping this is snark…
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 12:43 pm
WEV, Rauner is not exactly Santa Claus so he’s not really doing much here anyway.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 12:44 pm
If Rauner is tight with Pence, maybe he can get prior knowlege of the next corporation Trump is going to unload on with Twitter.
We could take whatever is in the Treasury, short the stock and make a killing (wonder if that’s occurred to anyone in Trumpland?).
Keep it on the down-low, though, as that’s wildly illegal and that U.S. Attorney in Manhattan makes St. Patrick of Fitz look like a boys-will-be-boys pushover.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 12:48 pm
the gov should be spending time placing a call to Rahm as the hate crime kidnapping is blowing up nationwide. (see Drudge right now) The City is in the State. this is not good for the state.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 12:53 pm
Was he invited
Comment by Flynn's mom Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 1:06 pm
==Anon, shouldn’t that be DEMONCRAT!!!1!!==
Cheryl, isn’t that comment demonizing and name calling?
Is that allowed here?
Comment by Enviro Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 1:19 pm
Rauner expected to be the VP Candidate…. so upset, he cant stand playing ball.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 1:55 pm
Maybe he doesn’t want to be the only governor in attendance without a budget and the worst net out-migration.
Comment by Fairness and Fairness Only Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 2:19 pm
From a US News & World Report headline today:
“Trump is using campaign-style name-calling on Congress”
Sound familiar? Who else chooses to stay in campaign mode rather than lead? I don’t think the Governor missing the party will keep people from seeing the connection between these two plutocrats.
Comment by Ole' Nelson Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 2:20 pm
Rauner is in a Blue state and he sees no benefit to his next election. IF he is in tight with Pence then he has absolutley nothing to gain. That simple.
Comment by Federalist Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 3:20 pm
Rauner avoided all the GOP in election. As others have correctly stated, Illinois is still far too Blue - no benefit for either at this time.
Comment by Cannon649 Thursday, Jan 5, 17 @ 11:23 pm