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* Bernie…
The next time Gov. BRUCE RAUNER could face a Democrat on the ballot is 19 months away — in November 2018.
But it’s just nine weeks until the scheduled May 31 end of the spring legislative session, when, in a normal year, it might be about the time a budget gets approved.
Of course the state hasn’t had a real budget in place since June 2015, so there is no normal.
Into that mix there is now added at least $1 million in ads featuring Republican Rauner — some with him saying, “The politicians that got us into this mess” want as a solution “higher taxes, more spending, no real reforms.” […]
JON THOMPSON, communications director for the Republican Governors Association, said the Rauner ad is paid for by State Solutions, a 501(c)4 affiliate of the RGA. He said the ad buy is seven figures and nearly statewide, including the Chicago and Springfield markets. The ads are also on digital platforms across the state.
If you missed seeing the ads, click here.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 9:19 am
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Is Rauner ever going to stop campaigning and actually try to govern?
Comment by Retired Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 9:21 am
“[The] Rauner ad is paid for by State Solutions, a 501(c)4 affiliate of the RGA.”
To be tax-exempt as a social welfare organization described in Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section 501(c)(4), an organization must not be organized for profit and must be operated exclusively to promote social welfare. https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/other-non-profits/social-welfare-organizations
Take a moment to let the cruel irony of that sink in, my friends.
– MrJM
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 9:24 am
Great pitch…take all of the blame off of him..even though he’s the governor, hasn’t presented a balanced budget and have stolen and pilfered money for his cronies..good ole same Illinois politics, he needs to go as well as Madigan.
Comment by pskila Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 9:26 am
“By nearly every measure”… Crain’s knows…
Illinois IS worse off since Bruce Rauner became governor.
The Democrats are continually failing at highlighting Rauner’s failed administration. These ads are masking failure, not highlighting success.
Big difference.
But, with no counter message, which message wins?
The one existing, or the one that has yet to arrive?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 9:27 am
RGA is sweating already over the thought of losing their neoliberal supply side boy now that Brownback in Kansas will likely take an ambassador post. Who is to perpetuate their economic snake oil? Rauner must hold for them. You think Kansas and Louisianna are in bad shape. Just wait. Illinois will be the crown jewel of economic inequality. We won’t be like Indiana. We’ll be like India.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 9:28 am
== If you missed seeing the ads ==
I wouldn’t say I’ve been “missing it,” Rich.
Comment by thunderspirit Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 9:33 am
Meh, these image spots for Rauner must be the “job creation” he’s been talking about. At least someone’s getting paid the money they’re owed on his watch.
Which will resonate strongest in 11-18? These or the image spots he ran in summer 2015? Remember those?
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 9:36 am
Do you think the RGA is a bit nervous about Rauner’s numbers? Maybe just a little?
Still, you can’t beat somebody with nobody.
Comment by Dee Lay Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 9:36 am
I was going to say it was impressive that he got RGA to fund this considering his own bank account until I remembered that contributions to 501(c)4s are generally undisclosed. I assume he gave a fairly large chunk of cash so they’d do this and his actual campaign didn’t have to.
Either that, or RGA is seeing the writing on the wall already. Take your pick.
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 9:38 am
Retired-Not likely.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 9:38 am
It’s so unbelievably early in the cycle to be doing stuff like this. Is it genius, or is it just going to inoculate the indies, that he needs to be reelected, from ever hearing his side of the story?
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 9:42 am
Campaign mode = fun, govern mode = hard.
Comment by zatoichi Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 9:44 am
== It’s so unbelievably early in the cycle to be doing stuff like this. Is it genius, or is it just going to inoculate the indies, that he needs to be reelected, from ever hearing his side of the story? ==
Just another front of the messaging war I talked about the other day …
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 9:52 am
MrJM- to briefly add to that, so long as at least 51% (exclusive enough for ya?)of the dollars spent by the 501(c)(4) are deemed to be for the “social welfare,” the non-profit is permitted to create a PAC and guide money into it, or donate to a PAC operated by someone else, not to exceed 49% of its spending.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 9:54 am
I’ve seen the ad a couple of times already. There is our governor, in his open neck plaid shirt, in the family workshop, talking all folksy about how he’s trying to save our state from these terrible politicians and the taxes they want to impose upon us. Hard to stomach.
Comment by Archiesmom Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 9:58 am
More and more like Blago every day.
Comment by Porgy Tirebiter Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:07 am
By every measure Speaker Madigan and Senator Cullerton are more unpopular than the Governor and have no message or new policies to run on.
They are resisting reforming a system that spends 25% of its budget on pensions that are still the worst funded in America because it would aggravate their donors.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:07 am
The “Illinois is broken” line is much more effective when you haven’t been running the State for 3 years.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:15 am
I want to live in an alternative reality like Lucky.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:17 am
===Is Rauner ever going to stop campaigning and actually try to govern?===
It’s becoming more and more apparent governing was never on his agenda. He wants a Raunerite majority in the GA so he can impose his union-busting agenda. If he accomplishes this, in his mind, his job will be done.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:17 am
===By every measure Speaker Madigan and Senator Cullerton are more unpopular than the Governor and have no message===
61% to 58%? What was the MOE?
Further, Rauner can’t run away… from himself.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:25 am
Yes I wish we did not spend 25% of our tax revenue on pensions and we did not have over 200 billion dollars in unfunded retiree health and pension costs.
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/reports/203-billion-and-counting-total-debt-for-state-and-local-retirement-benefits-in-illinois/
Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:25 am
my 12 year old daughter points to rauner on tv and laughs.
Comment by working stiff Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:28 am
Rauner could agree to the Madigan Cullerton policies and make himself more unpopular.
Republican OW thinks that is a good strategy to run on for reelection
Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:29 am
“By every measure Speaker Madigan and Senator Cullerton are more unpopular than the Governor”
Governor Rauner Disapproval 58%. Net rating -20%.
President Cullerton Disapproval 39%. Net rating -14%.
Lucky, how do you define “every measure”?
Comment by Juice Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:34 am
Madigan disapproval: 61%
Rauner disapproval: 58%
LP, I’m glad you take such comfort in that runaway train of warm and fuzzy feelings for the boss.
That’s some spread, those 3 points, considering Rauner spends millions on his propaganda machine while Madigan apparently has the same p.r. team as Kim Jong Un.
Quite an ROI.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:35 am
=Yes I wish we did not spend 25% of our tax revenue on pensions and we did not have over 200 billion dollars in unfunded retiree health and pension costs.=
That’s what happens when you chronically underfund your obligations. And the backlog that has ballooned during the Rauner administration will make the resulting tax increase that much more painful.
Comment by Pundent Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:37 am
To both sides: you should ask President Clinton how relying on polling worked out.
Comment by Pollololol Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:42 am
LP I don’t like hundreds of millions of taxpayers withholding being siphoned off by companies with no accountability. At least with pensions we got years and decades of work out of an employee. With EDGE we get only the promise of jobs or expansion. No accountability and even though they just informally audited it they dare not release the results. Trib did an article a while back and lambasted the program. So did the former Dir Schultz.
Go to the DCEO website And view the theft from there
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:42 am
== They are resisting reforming a system that spends 25% of its budget on pensions … ==
You know what LP? Even after the reforms, Illinois will STILL have to spend 25% on pensions … 9% is for normal pension costs and 16% is to make up the previous contribution shortfalls by the State. The ONLY way that percentage changes is if you INCREASE State revenues.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:46 am
== And the backlog that has ballooned during the Rauner administration will make the resulting tax increase that much more painful. ==
Right now the math says about 5.25% income tax rate is what is needed … and increasing every day.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:49 am
===Rauner could agree to the Madigan Cullerton policies and make himself more unpopular.===
Think on this….
19 months out, the spending of millions to keep the those precious “3″ points, wherever that MOE falls too.
Imagine if millions aren’t spent to keep those 3 points.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:52 am
I would guess I’m not alone in that I have personal experience of living with a family member (to this day) who occasionally insists that she is correct and everyone else is the crazy one. There is no arguing with them. You can only change the subject. So Lucky, “How bout them Cubs?”
Comment by don the legend Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:54 am
“By every measure Speaker Madigan and Senator Cullerton are more unpopular than the Governor”
Yep, I’ll bet neither of them wins the governor’s race.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:59 am
Don’t think $1 million spending will make Duct&Dodge look any better. Assuming this why no one wants to put their real name on the spot. Guessin’ BigBrain slipped the cash to the group and maybe gets a little tax break.
Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 11:01 am
===Republican OW thinks that is a good strategy to run on for reelection===
As a Republican, the way Rauner is a governor isn’t what I’d call Republican Governing, more like Raunerite Governing.
So your statement there is probably to that as a Republican I wouldn’t see his current way of governing as “good”
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 11:03 am
Looks like the set for Home Improvement.
Comment by PlayK8 Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 11:10 am
It also looks like its been used has much as the Governors office.
Comment by PlayK8 Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 11:10 am
Is this the wood shed he takes those who disagree with him too?
Comment by PlayK8 Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 11:11 am
“MOAR POWER!! *grunt*”
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 11:18 am
I doubt LP believes his own rhetoric. He probably craves the attention.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 11:56 am
There are lots of good uses for that duct tape.
Comment by Otis Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 12:36 pm
Over two years in and still can’t put how much each idea will save on the wall. No one can understand you
Comment by Rabid Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 9:42 pm