After he was elected, but before he was sworn in to office, Bruce Rauner repeatedly lambasted Gov. Pat Quinn and the legislative Democrats for passing a “booby trap” budget that was about to blow up in the state’s collective face. Rauner was absolutely right. Last year’s budget was irresponsible and didn’t deal with the reality […]
Gov. Pat Quinn
Posted inOpinion
Nobody is a sure thing in Rauner administration
Whenever a new governor is about to be sworn in, one of the most popular Springfield “parlor” games (which are usually not played in parlors, but in taverns, restaurants and friendly offices) is figuring out who is on their way out and who is on their way in. Of course, when a new governor is […]
Posted inOpinion
And the race continues
Just a quick note to Bruce Rauner: The next time you try to claim that Gov. Pat Quinn is “personally” under federal investigation (an allegation that, as far as anyone can tell, is not true), it’s probably best not to say it while standing next to a different governor who actually is “personally” under federal […]
Posted inOpinion
The early campaigner gets the numbers
The Illinois House Democrats launched their direct mail and TV program weeks earlier than the House Republicans in an attempt to knock the GOP candidates down before they even had a chance to stand up. The mail started going out not long after the mid-August Illinois State Fair. Four years ago, during a national Republican […]
Posted inOpinion
Fair share for Edgar?!
I’m not sure why, but the surprise appearance by former Gov. Jim Edgar at the Illinois State Fair’s Republican Day last week didn’t generate much media coverage. Despite the fact that Edgar is a Republican, this was not an easy “get” for Republican gubernatorial nominee Bruce Rauner. I’m told it took weeks of careful wooing […]
Posted inOpinion
Positively Pat
Gov. Pat Quinn’s new TV ad is 60 seconds of one positive message after another. “Pat Quinn sees problems, takes action and gets the job done,” the ad claims. “Now, Illinois is making a comeback,” it continues. But the spot is being slammed by longtime campaign insiders in both parties as “spitting in the wind.” […]
Posted inOpinion
Public’s thoughts on Rauner’s economic plan
“This morning,” 1,063 respondents were told the evening of July 17 during a Capitol Fax/We Ask America poll, “Republican candidate for governor Bruce Rauner released an economic plan for Illinois.” “That plan calls for a freeze on property taxes and rolling back the 2010 tax increase. It also implements a new tax on services such […]
Posted inOpinion
The state of the new state budget
On the bright side, I suppose you could argue that last week’s budget passed by the General Assembly will lead to the largest tax cut in Illinois history come January, when the 2011 income tax increase partially expires on schedule. But that’s about the only bright side. And, really, pretty much nobody expects that some […]
Posted inOpinion
The Republican battle for backing
Out of power for a dozen years and hobbled even before that by anti-patronage court rulings, the state’s Republican Party infrastructure has all but collapsed.So, part of GOP gubernatorial nominee Bruce Rauner’s task he’s set for himself from here on out is to try and somehow rebuild a grassroots infrastructure It won’t be an easy […]
Posted inOpinion
Poll numbers on Madigan
A poll taken for Rasmussen Reports earlier this month found that Gov. Pat Quinn’s unfavorable rating was 55 percent. That’s pretty darned bad, and perhaps the worst in the nation. But Gov. Quinn ain’t got nothing on Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. A new Capitol Fax/We Ask America poll found Madigan’s unfavorable rating to be an […]
Posted inNews
A developing story
The former YWCA building near the governor’s mansion may or may not be demolished. Photo BY BRUCE RUSHTON A courts complex. A condo building. A museum. A parking lot and the former YWCA building near the governor’s mansion that together consume a large city block have seen a lot of proposals come and go […]
Posted inOpinion
Gov. speaks after anti-violence program audit
“There was no money allocated at all before the election of 2010,” Gov. Pat Quinn told Chicago TV reporter Charles Thomas about allegations that the governor had spent millions in state anti-violence grants to boost his flagging election campaign. Quinn used this to defend himself against growing criticism about a devastating state audit of the […]
