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* Greg Hinz on April 13th…
Rauner is promising some big announcements on the [11-day trade mission]. Though his team isn’t giving many details yet, I’m told the list includes a substantial new factory here and an announcement that should substantially help a major McCormick Place trade show.
As we’ve already discussed to death, that trade show was announced last September.
* But what about that “substantial new factory”? Here’s the DGA’s take…
Today, Governor Bruce Rauner held a press conference to admit that he was coming home from his almost two-week European economic development trip empty-handed. Instead, Rauner had to answer question after question about the entrance of another Republican in the governor’s race, state Senator Sam McCann.
There were high hopes prior to the trip – Crain’s Chicago Business reported a new factory was expected to be announced, but Rauner had to concede today that many conversations were still in “various stages of commitment.” In the end, Rauner’s only accomplishment was the re-announcement of a trade show first made public 237 days ago.
“Bruce Rauner went to Germany and all he got was a new opponent,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “Illinois already has the highest unemployment in the region and is still suffering from the consequences of a two-year budget crisis, and Rauner once again failed to deliver for the state. It’s clear why Republicans like Sam McCann and Jeanne Ives have signed up to run against him.”
* The blanket claim that he came home empty-handed doesn’t appear to be true. If you watch the DGA’s own video, Gov. Rauner said this…
I do want to make a lot of announcements, but they’ll be coming over the next few weeks. We have several really exciting announcements, new factories, new economic growth in this state from the trip.
The governor said said the new jobs would be “at different locations throughout the state,” and added…
They are all in various stages of commitment and signing, agreements and whatnot. And we’re gonna be making announcements at the appropriate time.
So, they thought they had something lined up in advance and it didn’t work out that way. Such is life in business. However, I’m hearing the project remains on track. Announcements are coming. Maybe all of them won’t happen in “the next few weeks,” and the results won’t be economically transformative for the state as a whole, but this was a productive trip overall, despite some possible embellishments today.
In other words, let’s see what happens before we pounce on the guy.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 1:42 pm
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“New factories.” As in plural?
I guess we’ll find out, eventually.
But there’s really no point in listening to what he says, watch what he does.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 1:48 pm
He wants to announce that he found a new wine to introduce at the next wine club get away with Rahm? Or maybe he found a new house for after the election in Italy?
Comment by Spliff Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 1:52 pm
==They are all in various stages of commitment and signing, agreements and whatnot.==
I bet it’s more whatnot than commitments and signing. Rauner has been a very powerful whatnot kind of governor, right?
BTW, “whatnot” is a weasel word and a “tell” that Bruce isn’t all that confident himself.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 1:55 pm
I think you are being generous Rich.
Good planning would have deals in the works before you even head over there, so when you are over there you can close them. Or at least be far enough in the process where you can actually announce something.
What this smells like to me is payback to the Intersect funders/supporters. I see Wintrust and CBRE were represented. This is probably their last chance to get any sort of capital from of the Guv.
By the way, have we had any tangible results/benefits from his trip to Japan and China? That was over 7 months ago.
Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:00 pm
===In other words, let’s see what happens before we pounce on the guy.===
Understood. Appreciate that.
I’ll wait, I just “hope” more of these “rollouts” aren’t rehashed announcements that Rauner wants renewed under the guise of this trip.
I’ll wait… and watch.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:03 pm
This has all the makings of Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown.
Comment by Concerned Dem Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:07 pm
I get it, but “we’re just about to announce something really good!” has been their song-and-dance since January 2015.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:11 pm
He’s definitely earned the benefit of the doubt. /s
Comment by Moe Berg Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:11 pm
Why does this feel like “every other weekend dad” promising to take us fishing for the umpteenth time?
Comment by Jocko Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:17 pm
A factory for that truly delicious and most excellent Polish beer he raved about?
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:26 pm
Rauner- “I do want to make a lot of announcements,…”
I’m just waiting for the, “…but I’m not in charge,” bit. Maybe something(s) is/are coming, but he’s cried wolf (aka “Madigan”) one too many times during his “leadership” run.
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:41 pm
The beautiful irony will be in 2019-20 when Governor Pritzker, Speaker Madigan and the local representative (democrat or republican) cut the ribbon at one of these future Rauner factory announcements.
Comment by don the legend Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:44 pm
=despite some possible embellishments today=
The new Rauner family motto?
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:50 pm
Come on, give him some time. It takes the superstars some time to multiply the anticipated benefits by 50X
Comment by Pieroge tirebiter Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:53 pm
Maybe a new vineyard & wine company coming to the Carbondale area!
Comment by Joe M Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:53 pm
===And we’re gonna be making announcements at the appropriate time.===
Like October???
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 3:30 pm
And the cynic in me can’t but ask how many of those “announcements” are tied to RTW.
Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 3:35 pm
Was he laughing when he said this stuff? I believe nothing he says, and very little of anything else.
Comment by Retired Educator Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 4:24 pm
If he managed to make it the entire trip without bad mouthing the state I think that’s a win.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 4:52 pm
Maybe someone should check and see if any of the European countries he visited have closed their consulates in Chicago?
Comment by Spliff Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 5:15 pm
“We have several really exciting announcements”
We won’t hold our breath while 1.4% makes up the lies he will tell.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 7:19 pm
He’ll get right on that, right after he announces his office that uses pencil and paper
Comment by Rabid Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 6:42 am
===In other words, let’s see what happens before we pounce on the guy.===
So, Rauner immediately throws shade at Sam McCann saying he’s Madigan’s guy, but we’ve gotta be reasonable, and wait and see what Rauner has wrought? Uhmmm, yeah, because waiting to see what “Shake up Springfield, and Bring Back Illinois.” meant has worked out so well…
No thanks, Rich, but thanks for asking. Take it to Rauner hard. Every day. He deserves no less.
Comment by PublicServant Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 6:46 am
German baloney
Comment by Rabid Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 7:50 am
Dubious. They were desperate to get something positive out there this week. If they had anything better than re-announcing the trade show, we would’ve heard about it.
Comment by Politix Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 8:56 am
It is all, or nothing at all, for Bruce Rauner.
He has dug himself into such a deep jobs hole over the past three years by badmouthing Illinois, I do not think anything but Amazon can save him. And every time he attacks Democrats, he just makes Illinois look that less appealing to Amazon.
Comment by Thomas Paine Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 9:10 am