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* Gov. JB Pritzker today…
Before I take questions, I’d like to take a moment to make a bittersweet announcement.
The past two and a half years have been some of the most difficult in the history of state government. Even more so than normal, these past few years have required superhuman dedication by those who work in the highest levels of government, being away from their families at all hours of the day and night, and making agonizing decisions about saving lives and protecting livelihoods.
The bonds you create in these times of crisis last a lifetime.
Beside me every step of the way has been Deputy Governor Dan Hynes, who has been a steady first mate to steer our fiscal ship out of decades of turbulent waters, the last one having been one of the rocky-est. He has been my friend for nearly 30 years.
Dan, from day one of your service in this administration, you helped breathe life into state agencies that had been hollowed out and belittled for years.
In our first year, you helped land a bipartisan agreement on a balanced budget that made unprecedented investments in our infrastructure and human services. Since then, you have helped bring more structural balance by leading a team that consistently finds creative ways to get every dollar we’re entitled to receive from the federal government, reducing the burden on Illinois taxpayers. You found efficiencies where no one else saw them. You helped reach a landmark deal with AFSCME, treating our workers fairly and generating hundreds of millions in savings for taxpayers.
Throughout this pandemic, you found ways for us to support our small business and industry, keeping thousands of them alive during the hardest days and deepest uncertainty. You focused on helping them rebuild, evidenced by the $570 million in rebuilding support in this budget.
For the first in years, Illinois doesn’t have a debt backlog, and we paid off billions in outstanding debts – including to small businesses that provided services for the state and depended on those prompt repayments to stay open and pay their staffs.
Looking to the future, you helped create new, durable industries with Illinois attracting data centers and electric vehicle manufacturers from across the country and internationally.
And I want to close by thanking you for helping me accomplish something no one else in state government has been able to do, despite 75 years of trying: consolidate downstate police and fire pensions so that they could reap the savings and benefits of becoming a large pension fund, instead of a piecemeal of nearly hundreds of tiny funds that all paid administrative expenses and were shut out of the highest earnings of large investment funds. This is generational change for Illinois, and you made a difference for first responders and their families, and you helped save billions for property taxpayers.
I’ve known Dan for a long time, and I asked him to join my administration because I knew I needed his unparalleled knowledge of the state budget and his well-deserved reputation as a fiscally responsible leader. As you can tell, he delivered.
But what I’ve come to learn about Dan over these past few years is that he also has a profound understanding of our economy and business climate, and a zeal for making our economy stronger and helping businesses thrive. He will be deeply missed.
Despite Dan’s departure, I’m incredibly excited to announce that former State Senator Andy Manar will be taking over as Deputy Gov for Budget and Economy upon Dan’s departure. Over the last 2 and a half years I’ve been so lucky to serve with so many smart and amazing people who are deeply committed to working families. Andy follows in that proud tradition. He comes with a deep well of respect all across the state, and he will provide immeasurably important perspective in this new role.
Thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 10:52 am
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I’m wondering why now?
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 11:00 am
Thank you Dan Hynes, thank you for everything.
The professionalism that you lead with cannot be measured by proving a negative, but any of us who lived through the chaos and disorder of the previous two governors know what you’ve accomplished. Thank you
Comment by Siriously Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 11:05 am
Andy Manar is a good man, and knows budgeting better than most. Its also good to have downstate representation at this high level in the administration. Dan did a fine job, but Andy will do a great job.
Comment by blue line Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 11:15 am
Hynes has been a good public servant for Illinois for a long time. He is a very bright individual and has a good understanding of many complex issues. If he should ever run for Governor I think he’d be a good one.
Comment by The Dude Abides Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 11:17 am
Dan must have felt like he should be navigating thy ship himself as guv. He did well while in the role.
Congrats to Andy Manar…well-deserved in this promotion.
Comment by Pizza Man Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 11:18 am
Dan Hynes is only 52. Is he planning to run for something or is this the last rodeo in public service?
Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 11:20 am
Why now? Budget just got done. Pretty obvious.
Comment by Ok Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 11:22 am
Trying to think what office would fit the stature of a former statewide officeholder that Hynes could possibly want and get. Mayor?
Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 11:22 am
Dan is a nice guy, but why the change? Was he pushed out by Pritzker?
Comment by Lovie Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 11:24 am
==professionalism that you lead with cannot be measured by proving a negative==
huh?
Good luck and congratulations to Mr. Hynes and Mr. Manar both. Hard time for anyone to be steering big government organizations in America. Don’t forget the little people.
Comment by Chuck Button Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 11:26 am
While Mr. Hynes is young in his 50’s, I don’t think he has an interest in another statewide or local run anytime soon.
Not that he is not capable or qualified, but simply that he’s already hung his jersey many years ago.
Comment by Pizza Man Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 11:30 am
Hynes for Mayor?
Comment by Scoot Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 11:34 am
Pretty cool Dan got to implement almost all of his vision and agenda from his gubernatorial run. It’s great to have institutionalists who care about policy/governance and understand politics get the opportunity to manage. If only another 10% of the electorate realized a 1950s style tax system is an anchor on our growth….
Comment by Dan Johnson Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 11:35 am
Hope that C Mitchell gets the hint.
Thanks Dan for your work.
Comment by Service Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 11:46 am
Congratulations Dan and nice job. The Governor’s statement was gracious and genuine. Whatever the next chapter is for Dan, we should all be grateful that people like him choose to be public servants. He could do whatever he wanted and he choose to bust his tail serving our state. Well done.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 11:47 am
He has done a good job and I wish him well. He may not be the only person who made a two year commitment and will be moving on shortly.
Comment by Annon3 Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 12:03 pm
Congratulations and sincere best wishes to Dan Hynes.
A work horse public servant who understands the politics to the wonky better than most anyone. A rare breed that can speak politics and policy both and brings loads of expertise in both too.
My hope for Dan Hynes is he finds whatever his next challenge as rewarding to him personally as it will be professionally.
I thank Dan Hynes for his service, Illinois is better because he served.
OW
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 12:10 pm
Hynes was good at the job. Manar will do well.
Comment by Opening Date Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 12:17 pm
And Congrats to Andy Manar. He was fantastic as a State Senator and I look forward to even more things to come!
Comment by FrequentLurker Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 12:18 pm
== It’s great to have institutionalists who care about policy/governance and understand politics ==
That’s exactly what is needed on the 5th floor of City Hall. Hynes is a skilled technocrat, but not a naturally talented politician. Doubt he’s interested and not sure he could pull it off If he wanted it, but Chicago could do much worse.
Comment by Telly Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 12:25 pm
Congratulations to Dan Hynes, who is a true professional of public administration. So much of governance is the the ability for the bureaucracy to be well-run, and he is a great example of this reality in action.
Comment by DuPage Dad Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 12:26 pm
===That’s exactly what is needed on the 5th floor of City Hall.===
The real issue isn’t a lack of institutional knowledge on the 5th floor… it’s that the one person who needs to listen… won’t.
Pritzker was well served because, while he was the decision maker, he was willing to listen to well-minded aides.
Hynes is valuable when he’s listened to for decisions.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 12:29 pm
Sending all the best to Dan Hynes. When it really hit the fan during the great recession, Dan and his team at the Comptroller’s office were the lifeline to NFP disability and mental health service providers. I’ll never forget how they extended themselves to try and help providers from closing their doors.
I’ll have no way of knowing the internal budget deliberations and the role he is leaving, but given how this Administration has prioritized social services, I choose to think Dan had a hand in this direction.
Righteous dude.
Comment by Josh Evans Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 12:55 pm
Given what he had to work within, Hynes did good. Like others, I suspect he only committed to the first 2 years. He may be ready for some well deserved downtime with family and friends. Be interesting to see where he lands.
Andy Manar is probably the best qualified person out there to fill the position. I expect he will do good things also. Of anyone out there, he is probably the most knowledgeable person to try to permanently solve the State’s budget issues.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 1:00 pm
Hynes was a good man and a good public servant. All the best to him and whatever is next in his career.
And Pritzker will be well served by Manar.
Comment by Nick Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 1:01 pm
===Is he planning to run for something or is this the last rodeo in public service?===
Beside the fact he could stand to make a lot of money in the private sector, there’s a lot of BS that doesn’t exist in the private sector that plagues a Deputy Governor.
Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 1:03 pm
Nice to see Christian Mitchell will have a competitor for “most abrasive” Deputy Gov.
Comment by Guy Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 1:38 pm
===“most abrasive” Deputy Gov. ===
Almost spit out my water.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 1:49 pm
Andy Manar knows how to get the job done…and cheerfully.
Comment by Dotnonymous Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 2:25 pm
Great work by Deputy Governor Hynes. A lot of times the toughest part of the job is saying no to projects that would be great but the State just doesn’t have the money to afford.
Dan was often the guy that would have to do that in the Gov’s Office. Deputy Governor Manar will have big shoes to fill in that area, especially heading into an election year where tough decisions get even tougher and often overridden.
Comment by AD Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 2:44 pm
I wonder if DH will become the new Lisa Madigan in terms of return to elected office speculation? If anything would wear you out, it was the last 14 months. Enjoy the rest of your life Mr. Hynes. Good job!
Comment by levivotedforjudy Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 3:11 pm
Hynes has the rare combination of both high level governmental and private sector experience that state government in general sorely lacks. Add in the practical political perspective he brought to the table as a statewide (thrice) elected official and it’s a huge loss to the administration.
Comment by Autonomous Prime Thursday, Jun 17, 21 @ 3:57 pm