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* Eric Zorn…
Rauner is good at running for office. He’s good at staying on message. But he’s not good at his job.
By waving his bankroll around and threatening Democratic lawmakers with expensive re-election challenges, Rauner’s made them more beholden to Madigan and Cullerton, their protectors. By defaming Madigan nonstop in speeches, on TV and on the web, he’s driven Madigan’s job approval numbers down to just 26 percent in the most recent Simon Institute poll (10 points worse than Rauner’s), which is down from 40 percent in a 2009 poll, but also driven a wedge in a relationship that’s key to finding accord.
By ducking the truly tough decisions — for example, refusing to outline the specific program cuts and tax increases he would sign off on to balance the budget without billions of fantasy dollars — Rauner revealed his fundamental political cowardice.
Even if you think Speaker Madigan is evil personified, you have to admit Rauner’s been clueless about how to work with or around him. And even if you like Rauner’s ideas for improving the state’s business climate, you have to admit he’s proved remarkably inept when it comes to advancing them.
When he was running against incumbent Democrat Gov. Pat Quinn in 2014, Rauner blasted Quinn as “a massive failure” for not solving the very problems that have gotten measurably worse since January 2015. Rauner deserves a solid whack with his own yardstick.
* From IDES…
Unemployment rates were down over-the-year in all but one of Illinois’s metro areas. Six of the metro areas had increases in nonfarm jobs and eight reported declines, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).
“This month’s report almost mirrors last month’s,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “The only difference is the overall increase in jobs is down when compared to last month. Even though the unemployment rate is lower, we still don’t have enough people working.” [Emphasis added.]
* Today’s bill backlog…
$11,647,789,496
* Greg Hinz…
Meanwhile, over in neighboring Indiana, they actually got something done.
Gov. Eric Holcomb signed into law a new budget and a 10-cent-a-gallon hike in the gasoline tax, declaring that the latter represents “the largest investment in the state’s infrastructure in history,” one that will connect Indiana to the world like never before.
Hmm. Let’s get this straight.
Conservative Indiana, the place Rauner often points to as an a guide to the pro-business place Illinois could be, raises the hated gas tax, having concluded that privatizing its tollway as it did a few years ago was not enough to make needed improvements.
But in progressive Illinois, they can’t even get to a capital budget and how to pay for it because of the continuing war over the state budget and whether to include Rauner’s turnaround agenda of term limits, workers compensation changes, spending cuts and property tax freezes as part of the mix.
Who’s laughing at who here, folks?
“I’m a business guy. I’m not a politician. I don’t like to pay lip service. I don’t frankly like to talk about stuff. I like to do things that get results. Results are all that matters.”
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 11:34 am
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Said the man with no results.
Comment by illinoised Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 11:47 am
“Results are all that matters”
Anybody seen the duct tape?
Comment by NobodysAccountable Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 11:48 am
A con man’s con man. And sadly, many here in southern Illinois (south of I-64) will fall for this huckster again because they truly believe they would be better off w/o Cook County. Some people just scream to be fleeced.
Comment by efudd Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 11:54 am
Running for RE election on a record of ZERO accomplishments will be a lot different than running against the incompetent Pat Quinn..
Comment by Not Rich Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 11:55 am
Yeah, he’ll running against the incompetent Bruce Rauner. LOL
Comment by NoGifts Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 11:57 am
Add to that the fact that Indiana’s economy continues to fall behind Illinois.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 11:57 am
“I like to do things that get results. Results are all that matters.” As long as I am not the person who has to actually do the things that get results.
Comment by zatoichi Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 11:59 am
“Ducking decisions,” “clueless,” “inept,” yeah, pretty much sums up Mr. Results.
Comment by Sir Reel Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 12:02 pm
===I like to do things that get results. Results are all that matters.”===
The result of Rauner being governor is by nearly every measure, Illinois is worse off since Rauner took the oath.
That’s a result.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 12:04 pm
AFSCME’s fair share rate is at a record low.
2/3rds of members eligible to strike voted to authorize a strike rather than eat Rauner’s contract.
Those are results.
Comment by Union proud Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 12:13 pm
>his fundamental political cowardice
I agree completely with Zorn except for this. I don’t think Rauner’s a coward at all. He’s bright, strategic, and I don’t think he takes any of this personally–it’s just business. If he hasn’t done something, it’s because he hasn’t chosen to. He’s accomplishing the things he wants to.
Comment by Earnest Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 12:17 pm
Seems, if unemployment is much lower, then the Gov’s cry about Illinois skies falling is foolish.
Comment by Union Man Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 12:18 pm
Both Zorn and Hinz are getting long in the tooth and becoming crabby, predictable old liberals.
I can’t even read their stuff anymore.
Comment by Hoya Boya Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 12:21 pm
BVR has demonstrated he’s a an abject failure as Gov. His utter lack of people skills, empathy and inability to solve problems are compounded by his rigid self righteous ideology. He’s merely a divider with money.
Comment by El Conquistador Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 12:52 pm
Rauner continues to reveal he is the epitome of the Peter Principle and that success in business is often luck, while Madigan continues to reveal he is a great strategist. We are so saturated with anti-Madigan rhetoric that it has lost its power to persuade. Rauner won because no one liked Quinn but for reelection Rauner hasn’t made new friends and ticked off a few old ones.
Comment by Liberty Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 1:11 pm
The state should index fuel taxes against gasoline prices, average miles per gallon, and/or average vehicle weight to provide some consistency in those road funds. Just because a vehicle is more fuel efficient doesn’t mean it doesn’t cause less wear and tear on the roads it uses.
Comment by City Zen Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 1:18 pm
The measure of success depends on the criteria one uses to evaluate it.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 1:21 pm
“a solid whack with his own yardstick.”
There’s a thought I could get behind! /s
Comment by WhoKnew Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 1:50 pm
Hi my name is Bruce Rauner and I like results. I can’t seem to get any using for the stat using my bidness skills, so can someone tell me where I can buy some? It would be great, I could show the people I got some results and then I can get back to campaignin’.
Comment by Flynn's mom Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 1:56 pm
The fundamental difference in governance between Illinois and Indiana has nothing to do with the tax rates or which party is in control.
It’s the simple fact that Indiana, unlike Illinois, pays its bills. If Illinois (and all the down-the-line jurisdictions) had simply been paying its pension contributions rather than continually kicking the can down the road … we wouldn’t be in this friggin’ mess.
But no one wants to own that. Not the Democrats, not the Republicans. A pox on both their houses.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 2:30 pm
Governor Ahab, your results are tearing apart Illinois. Your results are a big, fat failure.
Comment by RIJ Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 2:40 pm
=Results are all that matters.=
That is one opinion. Another opinion is that truth matters, honesty matters, and people matter.
Comment by Enviro Friday, Apr 28, 17 @ 2:44 pm