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By Hannah Meisel
* It took a while (large file) to get the video from today’s Black Caucus presser responding to Gov. Rauner’s claims yesterday on WVON that he has done more for the African American community in Illinois than any other governor. Here are a couple comments. The presser videos are linked here and here.
Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields) pointed out the ripple effects that cuts to the Childcare Assistance Program had on economic opportunities for parents, and the community as a whole.
“So whenever we see working class people across the city and across the state, many of them working class folks that are inclusive of who we represent, losing their access to services, losing their access to contracting opportunities, losing their access to higher education, and then hear with a straight face and a little laugh that, ‘I’ve been better than anybody else in the history of the state’ — I said at first that I didn’t have words for that. Unfortunately, we do have words for that because the Black Caucus has been working diligently.”
Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Chicago) disputed Rauner’s claims, citing the closures of health facilities, including mental and behavioral health centers that treat addiction.
“It is not correct that he has done things, particularly in the district that I represent, to help the African American community. He has hurt it. When you remove resources that address the healthcare needs, you have hurt their opportunity to be viable citizens here in the state.”
* Gov. Rauner’s state account this afternoon did an eight-part tweet thread this afternoon under the hashtag #checktherecord, listing progress his administration made for African Americans.
On jobs and opportunity for African Americans. We veto business-banishing tax hikes. We propose reforms to end job-killer property taxes. We cut red tape so government doesn’t get in the way of job creators. #checktherecord
— Governor Rauner (@GovRauner) June 20, 2018
At the Tollway, total payments to African American owned professional services firms has increased by 142% since 2015. At CMS, African American businesses have seen $32.7 million in growth under the Business Enterprise Program. #checktherecord
— Governor Rauner (@GovRauner) June 20, 2018
And isn’t this interesting? Where Cook Co Machine controls government is where black families experience the highest crime, highest taxes, highest outmigration, and lowest employment rates. #checktherecord
— Governor Rauner (@GovRauner) June 20, 2018
* In response, Rep. Christian Mitchell (D-Chicago) and Rep. Chris Welch (D-Chicago) had their own Twitter threads.
Wow, .@GovRauner: I don't even know where to start. I understand that lying about your record of destroying the quality of life of working people generally and black folks specifically is like breathing; but that took effort! So lets #checktherecord *THREAD*
— Christian Mitchell (@cljmitchell) June 20, 2018
3)@GovRauner From 2015-2016, Illinois universities faced significant decreases in freshman class enrollment. Eastern, Western, Northern, SIU, UIC and CSU. Who was Governor? Oops! You!#checktherecord #failedgovernor
— Emanuel Chris Welch (@RepChrisWelch) June 20, 2018
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 20, 18 @ 4:22 pm
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That’s some garbled syntax in the Gov’s tweets. It reads like a Facebook post from that uncle you try not to sit with at Thanksgiving.
I also suspect Rauner’s going to regret trying to make “check the record” a thing.
Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Jun 20, 18 @ 4:29 pm
I’d also like to point out that I believe a majority of Afscme council 31 members are African American. His attacks on my union are a direct assault on the single greatest source of good paying jobs for African Americans, government.
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jun 20, 18 @ 4:29 pm
What was the last time the freshman class enrollment didn’t have a significant decrease? Fall 2013-2014 at WIU had a decrease of 10%.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jun 20, 18 @ 5:16 pm
You tweet things like that when you are unlikable and you have no record to actually get to be respected and likable.
You can’t look at polling where 16% solely blame you for things… mere 16%… and be under water as bad a Rauner is… and be likable.
These tweets don’t make Rauner likable.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 20, 18 @ 5:16 pm
–And isn’t this interesting? Where Cook Co Machine controls government is where black families experience the highest crime, highest taxes, highest outmigration, and lowest employment rates. #checktherecord–
How Trumpian.
Geez, that twitter thread is the hardest Rauner has worked since he took office.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jun 20, 18 @ 5:31 pm
Mitchel seems to be confusing Better Care Il, the new 1115 waiver, with the Deloitte/IES contract. Or else I’m missing something.
“And on the very contract [Better Care IL] you’re bragging about? Thousands of people are struggling to access their health care because your administration rushed a sole source contract. BTW: you cut minority vendors out of the bidding process on that $2 billion job”
Comment by Perrid Wednesday, Jun 20, 18 @ 5:57 pm
Trumper, sorry Rauner, was called out on WVON and widely excoriated by leading African Americans for his blatant lies about being the most beneficial governor for the African American community. Decimated social services, many black-owned, with his two years of budget vetos to further his anti-worker Koch brothers wet-dream, ALEC agenda.
Dude, actions speak louder than words. Your Pritzker Blago ad is just words. That attempt at obfuscation is lame, when compared to your purposely destructive budget vetos. #worstGovernorInAmerica
Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Jun 20, 18 @ 6:27 pm
@Perrid - I think he’s confusing it with HealthChoice Illinois, the name for the transition of Medicaid folks to the new managed care companies. God forbid an initiative could exist without a cutesy name that sounds exactly like 3 other things going on at the same time.
Comment by Stanley Wednesday, Jun 20, 18 @ 7:28 pm
I find it interesting that Rauner’s view of what benefits the African American community is myopically focused on state contracts - pinstripe patronage if you will.
It seems like he is lobbying a very narrow audience of influencers - Maze Jackson, Hatch, a few others - in making his case. It is a very transactional view of the African American electorate.
I have to wonder though how BEP has fared in the other state agencies, since he only mentioned CMS, and also how many of those black-owned busimesses are actually in Illinois.
Emily Miller and others gave Rauner a swift kick over the weekend when it was revealed he outsourced a big contract for the opioid hotline to a Boston firm. DCFS is known for sending contracts to Florida and Georgia.
Has anyone seen a list of the names of these companies, their location, etc?
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Jun 20, 18 @ 8:52 pm
The entrenched two party system partisan hacks make my stomach upset.
Comment by BlueDogDem Wednesday, Jun 20, 18 @ 9:02 pm
Greatest govenor vetoed the budget for black people, wanted right to work for local government, cut government only for black people. This guy should get the NAACP award
Comment by Rabid Thursday, Jun 21, 18 @ 5:26 am
You are the govenor of all Illinois, don’t act like your not the govenor of cook county and it’s not your problem. Very interesting
Comment by Rabid Thursday, Jun 21, 18 @ 5:39 am
What was the executive offices last contract with an Illinois black owner
Comment by Rabid Thursday, Jun 21, 18 @ 5:58 am
Rauner must think the only thing black people can do is blacktop
Comment by Rabid Thursday, Jun 21, 18 @ 6:08 am
check the record of how many black owner contracts Rauner signed with his checkered past
Comment by Rabid Thursday, Jun 21, 18 @ 6:33 am