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* Gov. Rauner will be in Rep. Sam Yingling’s district to tour flood damage this afternoon at 2 o’clock. Rauner’s office reportedly reached out to Rep. Yingling last night about the visit, about three hours after Yingling’s Tribune op-ed was posted online…
Bruce Rauner doesn’t care. That’s the conclusion I came to after witnessing the governor’s inadequate response to the historic flooding in my district.
It’s been clear that he doesn’t care about the well-being of my constituents since he took office in 2015. One of his first moves as governor of Illinois was to attempt to reduce almost half of the tax dollars that local governments receive for things like public safety and public works. Without that investment from the state, local governments must choose to eliminate services like emergency services or increase local property taxes — something many residents in Lake County, where we pay the seventh highest property tax rates in the country, can’t afford.
Then, after 2 1/2 years of failing to work cooperatively across party lines, Rauner vetoed a bipartisan state budget that provides funding for higher education, social services and, relevant to our current situation, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency — the agency responsible for preparing Illinois for natural disasters.
It should have been of no surprise when the governor failed to lead when Illinois residents needed him during the first days of record flooding along the Fox and Des Plaines rivers and the Chain O’ Lakes system.
How much do you wanna bet that Rauner calls on Yingling to vote against the override of SB 1 while he’s there?
* Anyway, back to the topic at hand. A reminder from last week…
Rauner defended his decision not to send the National Guard to help with flooding in Lake County. He told reporters Friday the local agencies are very prepared to handle flooding situations and hadn’t asked the state for help
Um, actually, they did ask for a state of emergency declaration, which Rauner didn’t issue until late Friday. He also waited until late Friday to activate the State Emergency Operations Center, which is usually kicked into gear a lot faster than that. Visits are important, but actions are more.
* But, again, back to the point I wanted to make. Rauner also said Friday that Wisconsin’s local governments were overwhelmed by the flooding, unlike Lake County. And he offered praise to the great local first responders.
OK, but the governor has also repeatedly complained about Lake County’s high property taxes, which fund that supposedly excellent preparedness and response.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 19, 17 @ 11:29 am
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“Bruce Rauner doesn’t care.”
Say what you will about Bruce, he’s consistent.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Wednesday, Jul 19, 17 @ 11:34 am
Rauner’s responses to these type of issues have gone from proactive to reactive in the span of a week. Surely just a councidence.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jul 19, 17 @ 11:36 am
===Bruce Rauner doesn’t care.===
In reality,
Diana and Bruce, the RaunerS don’t care too much about anything except “messaging”.
If the messaging is good, does it matter that the flooding is record-breaking?
“Bruce Rauner doesn’t care”
Neither does Diana.
I hope at some cocktail party no one questions the inept Rauner Response to the Lake County flooding. There might be another purge… as people in Lake County lose so much in a flood that a governor just didn’t care about.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 19, 17 @ 11:38 am
True, Rauner absolutely does not care. And Yingling didn’t care to vote for the revenues to actually fund the budget “that provides funding for higher education, social services and, relevant to our current situation, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.”
Comment by Linus Wednesday, Jul 19, 17 @ 11:39 am
Rep. Yingling was protected from casting “unfavorable” budget votes and was able to vote against SB 1 the first time through the House.
Comment by COPN Wednesday, Jul 19, 17 @ 11:42 am
Do you really think Bruce Rauner will talk about a “Chicago bailout” in an area that has spent the past week literally, physically bailing out its schools and homes?
That might be a new low.
Which means there’s a good chance his new set of advisers is telling him to do exactly that.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Jul 19, 17 @ 11:45 am
Perhaps Rauner will do some messaging by putting on his Carhartts, grabbing a bucket, and start bailing water? Now where is my $200,000 consulting fee?
Comment by James Knell Wednesday, Jul 19, 17 @ 11:55 am
‘Ye(ish) said it best:
“Bruce Rauner doesn’t care about …. people.”
Comment by Bruce Please Wednesday, Jul 19, 17 @ 11:59 am
Considering various communities and businesses that were still begging for volunteers to help with sandbagging all weekend, I’d say most were overwhelmed by the still rising rivers.
When Rauner shows up will he be in full make-up for the cameras?
Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Jul 19, 17 @ 12:01 pm
I am normally at odds with many decisions made by this governor, including his stance on SB 1. But the National Guard thing is truly a red herring in this situation.
Not only is the Guard one of the state’s most expensive assets to deploy (and even a federal declaration, which is unlikely, would cover only 75% of that cost), but that deployment takes citizen soldiers away from their jobs and families. It should never be done unless there is a real job for the Guard to do — and it certainly should never be done purely for show or political photo ops. Filling or throwing sandbags can and often is done by inmate work crews.
Comment by Decaf Coffee Party Wednesday, Jul 19, 17 @ 12:02 pm
Rep. Yingling’s criticism would carry a lot more weight if he voted for the budget funding legislation.
Comment by SAP Wednesday, Jul 19, 17 @ 12:07 pm
We shouldn’t be so hard on poor ole Rauner. Hiring a body man that is fired on his first day on the job is hard work. Had he not visited Lake County, Rauner may have hired a guy who lasted until Tuesday.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Jul 19, 17 @ 12:17 pm
In all seriousness,does he know there is a State Emergency Operations Center? Do his new IPI people know, did his old Superstars know? Does he know the process to get that rolling?
Comment by Flynn's mom Wednesday, Jul 19, 17 @ 1:02 pm
” the governor has also repeatedly complained about Lake County’s high property taxes, which fund that supposedly excellent preparedness and response ” well said Rich.
It’s easy to hate government if you never need it.
But I still fail to understand why a guy who hates government so much wants to lead it.
Comment by cool Wednesday, Jul 19, 17 @ 2:07 pm
Is this the same Yingling that voted for the budget but not the tax increase required to fund the budget? Yeah probably not the best person to call out Rauner.
Comment by Chicagonk Wednesday, Jul 19, 17 @ 4:39 pm