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* Former Florida governor and vanquished presidential hopeful Jeb Bush writing in National Review…
Something revolutionary is happening right now in education. Illinois, one of the most union-dominated states in the country, is ushering in a new era of educational freedom. Governor Bruce Rauner has pulled off the seemingly impossible: He led a bipartisan effort to bring educational choice to Illinois, and it begins this week.
Through a historic new program signed into law by Governor Rauner last year, taxpayers can now receive tax credits for helping fund a $100 million scholarship program. In the first year, children from families with incomes less than 300 percent of the federal poverty line will be eligible to receive a scholarship on a first-come, first-served basis.
Beginning this week, students and their families may apply for scholarships through the Invest in Kids Scholarship Tax Program’s designated scholarship-granting organizations.
The scholarship program has received influential backing from across the political spectrum, including from religious leaders such as Cardinal Blase Cupich of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Just as encouragingly, the support from individuals and businesses wishing to participate in the tax-credit program has been overwhelming. In just the first 48 hours of opening the window for participation, the Illinois Department of Revenue reported that half of the needed donations for the first year of the program had been pledged.
That’s the same publication which claimed Rauner was the worst Republican governor in the country, by the way.
* So, how’s the program going? Notice that Gov. Bush only talks about the the first 48 hours of the new program’s rollout.
Since then, pledges to Invest in Kids seem to have slowed way down. As of today, they’re at $45 million in contributions out of $100 million in available tax credits. And most of that, 36.5 million, is from Cook County (which is still short of that county’s $51.2 million contribution limit).
But Cook is closer to its limit than any other region. The southern Illinois region has seen just $983K in contributions even though the region’s contribution limit is $8.2 million. You can click here for a pdf file of a search I ran at about 12:30 this afternoon.
…Adding… Pritzker campaign…
Today, failed presidential candidate Jeb Bush endorsed failed governor Bruce Rauner’s twice vetoed “accomplishment” on school funding reform.
First, Rauner used his veto to hold school funding hostage to force through a back-door school voucher program. Rauner then issued another amendatory veto of a fix to the new funding formula. After throwing school funding into crisis, Rauner finally struck a deal with his own political appointees to avert the crisis he originally caused, implementing the school funding formula he vetoed.
“Bruce Rauner vetoed school funding reform, touted the reform as an accomplishment, vetoed a fix to that ‘accomplishment,’ struck a deal with his own appointees, and now wants the General Assembly to re-pass the same fix he vetoed,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “Jeb may be asking Illinoisans to ‘please clap’ for this failed governor, but students and families are tired of being subjected to the whims of Bruce Rauner’s incompetence.”
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 12:52 pm
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Sorry, Jeb, but Madigan is in control in Illinois (just ask Bruce). So he gets both blame and credit.
Comment by George Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 12:58 pm
Well since the National Review crowned Rauner the worst governor in America, Eric Greins has been doing everything possible to steal that title away.
Plus, if Jeb decides to run again, he’ll likely need guys like Rauner to pony up the enormous amount of cash that will be required to make America forget his brother’s legacy as POTUS.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 12:59 pm
“Please clap for Bruce”
- fake Jeb Bush
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 1:00 pm
===The scholarship program has received influential backing from across the political spectrum, including from religious leaders such as Cardinal Blase Cupich of the Archdiocese of Chicago.===
… just don’t ask Blase Cardinal Cupich if Gov. Bruce Rauner is a man of his word…
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 1:01 pm
They’re not at 50% of the cap now, so how were they within the first 48 hours?
Comment by Juice Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 1:04 pm
==That’s the same publication which claimed Rauner..==
National Review runs a pretty wide range of conservative authors. A bit of a right wing rarity, they publish never-trumpers next to folks who have drank all the Koolaid they could get their hands on. National Review as a mag/site isn’t really taking a position on individual candidates.
Comment by Ebenezer Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 1:06 pm
Sounds like a “low-energy” argument.
Comment by Whatever Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 1:09 pm
Like Jeb (and the state of Florida) are ones to talk. “Schools of Hope” is their latest incarnation (aka scam).
https://tinyurl.com/yajw8vd6
Comment by Jocko Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 1:12 pm
National Review has a number of regular columnists and also publishes guest contributors. Most lean somewhat right as do their readers but there is no clear drum beat of solidarity of thought even among the editorial staff. Often the articles are worth reading because they do provoke thoughts about different viewpoints that are present on the right.
Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 1:15 pm
Interesting get for Rauner. Is Donna Arduin back at the state trough?
But we saw last year the Bush name ain’t what it used to be among Republicans.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 1:15 pm
Who?
Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 1:24 pm
jeb exclamation point proud to be a bush
Comment by Claud Peppers Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 1:26 pm
jim edgar’s candidate, comes out swing for Rauner, does edgar go for jeanne
Comment by Rabid Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 1:31 pm
Jeb Bush won 1% of the vote in the 2016 Illinois Republican primary. I am sure Rauner can count on that 1%.
Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 1:38 pm
Wonder how much 1.4% paid for that endorsement. /s
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 1:40 pm
Jeb[banned punctuation]
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 1:58 pm
41 and Bar are up in Kennebunkport saying “Oh Jebby please just shut it.”
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 2:12 pm
Calling the destruction of public education an educational choice, is so very, very wrong. Private schools do not educate students with special needs, etc., etc..
Comment by mama Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 2:24 pm
“Educational choice” is not a blessing for poor families unless the child is a star athlete. Rauner’s scholarship program is not a free ride.
Comment by Mama Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 2:27 pm
A ham sandwich should have beaten Trump in the primary. I don’t give much weight to the guy who was worse than a ham sandwich. LOL
Comment by NoGifts Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 3:24 pm
“Plus, if Jeb decides to run again, he’ll likely need guys like Rauner to pony up the enormous amount of cash that will be required to make America forget his brother’s legacy as POTUS.”
47, my friend, I’m afraid I must question your sanity if you think low-energy Jeb will ever run for national office again.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 3:49 pm
Cynic,
At this rate, Trump is certain to draw a primary challenge. Kasich is already headed to New Hampshire. Why not low-energy Bush?
Plus, as soon as Trump gives you a nickname, you know you’ve finally made it in politics.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 4:40 pm
Like anyone cares what Jeb Bush thinks.
Comment by Illinois Resident Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 6:05 pm
Low Energy Jeb endorses Low Accomplishment Bruce.
Comment by Ho Hum Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 7:32 pm