While New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced
his run for President with bold promises and brash rhetoric, he
balanced truth and compromise as though they could coexist as two sides of
a marred coin. In troubling budgetary times, when socialist-minded state
legislatures refuse to recognize that they have run out of other people’s
money, or that middle class makers have elected to leave their home state
rather than pander and enable more takers, compromise is not the watchword. Conviction
and confrontation must be the mainstay, and Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, the
only Republican gubernatorial candidate to unseat a liberal incumbent in 2014, is
demonstrating that kind of leadership.
his run for President with bold promises and brash rhetoric, he
balanced truth and compromise as though they could coexist as two sides of
a marred coin. In troubling budgetary times, when socialist-minded state
legislatures refuse to recognize that they have run out of other people’s
money, or that middle class makers have elected to leave their home state
rather than pander and enable more takers, compromise is not the watchword. Conviction
and confrontation must be the mainstay, and Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, the
only Republican gubernatorial candidate to unseat a liberal incumbent in 2014, is
demonstrating that kind of leadership.
Clear about his convictions, yet respectful of
differences, gubernatorial candidate Rauner refused union money during a
four-way primary battle, as he clearly understood that Big Labor was creating
the big budgetary messages in Springfield and dragging down his state. US
Senator Mark Kirk (facing a tough 2016 reelection bid) cited that the Service
Employees International Union is the most powerful and corrupting force in
Illinois politics.
differences, gubernatorial candidate Rauner refused union money during a
four-way primary battle, as he clearly understood that Big Labor was creating
the big budgetary messages in Springfield and dragging down his state. US
Senator Mark Kirk (facing a tough 2016 reelection bid) cited that the Service
Employees International Union is the most powerful and corrupting force in
Illinois politics.
Candidate Rauner hinted at reducing the minimum wage
to the federal level, and even following the media backlash, he quickly
reminded the public that forced wage hikes create costly burdens on job
creators, i.e businesses. He mentioned that any wage hike must include
regulatory reform which would ease commerce and make opening a business easier.
to the federal level, and even following the media backlash, he quickly
reminded the public that forced wage hikes create costly burdens on job
creators, i.e businesses. He mentioned that any wage hike must include
regulatory reform which would ease commerce and make opening a business easier.
![]("http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IA_Sy0Ep4W4/VZmOqblZBqI/AAAAAAAABSc/7KROo6JEJys/s1600/Bruce%2BRauner.jpg")
Not consistently conservative on every issue, Rauner
respected the views of all Illinoisans, enough that a crowd
of Democrats endorsed him publically after his primary victory. With
conservative Republicans, he presented himself, outlined his platform, and
explained his views. He answered all questions, even when he knew that his
answer would not agree with what his audience wanted to hear. Pro-choice, but
not just on abortion, the Republican trumpeted his support for the Second
Amendment and expansion of education opportunities, too.
respected the views of all Illinoisans, enough that a crowd
of Democrats endorsed him publically after his primary victory. With
conservative Republicans, he presented himself, outlined his platform, and
explained his views. He answered all questions, even when he knew that his
answer would not agree with what his audience wanted to hear. Pro-choice, but
not just on abortion, the Republican trumpeted his support for the Second
Amendment and expansion of education opportunities, too.
In
spite of diverse polling up to Election Day, Rauner beat the Democratic
machine and unseated the executive incumbent.
spite of diverse polling up to Election Day, Rauner beat the Democratic
machine and unseated the executive incumbent.
During his State of the State speech, the first
Republican Governor in over a decade was real about Illinois’ finances (they
are in tatters), and realistic about fixing the state’s problems (cut the
spending, now!). Respecting the pensions of peace officers and military
personnel, the new governor did not run away from the problems facing the state
(even though he has tempered his rhetoric to forge a working relationship with
a Democratic legislature in the face of bigger-than-expected pension issues). He
even alluded
to right-to-work provisions in the labor-dominated state.
Republican Governor in over a decade was real about Illinois’ finances (they
are in tatters), and realistic about fixing the state’s problems (cut the
spending, now!). Respecting the pensions of peace officers and military
personnel, the new governor did not run away from the problems facing the state
(even though he has tempered his rhetoric to forge a working relationship with
a Democratic legislature in the face of bigger-than-expected pension issues). He
even alluded
to right-to-work provisions in the labor-dominated state.
Within months of his inauguration, Rauner
issued an executive order to protect non-union employees from paying agency
fees. One article claimed that Rauner
was outdoing Governor Scott Walker on labor reforms. Rauner was simply
keeping a campaign promise to get Illinois’ house in order. He talked up tort
reforms, too, even though the recalcitrant legislature said “No thanks”, and House
Speaker Michael Madigan put on a show of individuals harmed by caps on
lawsuits.
issued an executive order to protect non-union employees from paying agency
fees. One article claimed that Rauner
was outdoing Governor Scott Walker on labor reforms. Rauner was simply
keeping a campaign promise to get Illinois’ house in order. He talked up tort
reforms, too, even though the recalcitrant legislature said “No thanks”, and House
Speaker Michael Madigan put on a show of individuals harmed by caps on
lawsuits.
A shrewd and savvy businessman willing to do what is
right, not necessary popular, Rauner is facing off against a supermajority
Democratic legislature (the Democrats held their seats in the 2014 election),
which has chosen to embrace a shut-down showdown in Springfield. With no
budget, and July first come and gone, Illinois’ state operations have entered a
partial stop.
right, not necessary popular, Rauner is facing off against a supermajority
Democratic legislature (the Democrats held their seats in the 2014 election),
which has chosen to embrace a shut-down showdown in Springfield. With no
budget, and July first come and gone, Illinois’ state operations have entered a
partial stop.
What
issues fed this budgetary gridlock?
Rauner has operated in good faith, yet is holding his ground on crucial
reforms, among which are: freeze property taxes, expand local control over union
negotiations (including repeal of prevailing wage laws), end “venue shopping”
lawsuit abuse, worker’s compensation limitations, term limits, and
redistricting reforms.
issues fed this budgetary gridlock?
Rauner has operated in good faith, yet is holding his ground on crucial
reforms, among which are: freeze property taxes, expand local control over union
negotiations (including repeal of prevailing wage laws), end “venue shopping”
lawsuit abuse, worker’s compensation limitations, term limits, and
redistricting reforms.
The
Democrats, beholden to unions instead of the citizenry, have balked, will not
budge, and are waiting for Rauner to blink.
Democrats, beholden to unions instead of the citizenry, have balked, will not
budge, and are waiting for Rauner to blink.
The Chicago
Sun-Times reported the hurried glances and harried fears of (liberal)
lawmakers over a shut-down:
Sun-Times reported the hurried glances and harried fears of (liberal)
lawmakers over a shut-down:
The sick will suffer. CTA riders
could face fare hikes or cuts in services.!["http://c14.zedo.com/jsc/images/inReadcloseicon.png"]("file:///C:/Users/ARTHUR~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.png")
State employees won’t get paid.
could face fare hikes or cuts in services.
State employees won’t get paid.
Single
tear. Republicans countered that the world will not come to an end if
Springfield cannot put forth another imbalanced budget. The state will slouch
toward economic collapse if Democratic partisans refuse to ignore their special
interest benefactors and put the state’s long-term interests to heart.
Nevertheless, the Democratic-controlled legislature tried to pass a one month
stop-gap budget, which failed. The governor’s budget
director made it clear that half-measures would
avail nothing:
tear. Republicans countered that the world will not come to an end if
Springfield cannot put forth another imbalanced budget. The state will slouch
toward economic collapse if Democratic partisans refuse to ignore their special
interest benefactors and put the state’s long-term interests to heart.
Nevertheless, the Democratic-controlled legislature tried to pass a one month
stop-gap budget, which failed. The governor’s budget
director made it clear that half-measures would
avail nothing:
Rauner opposed the temporary budget
proposed by Madigan and its counterpart that passed the Senate yesterday. Tim
Nuding, director of the governor's budget office, told the Tribune:
"This
bill marches the taxpayers of Illinois toward an unbalanced budget one month at
a time. This proposal, viewed on an annual basis, is little, if any,
improvement over the out-of-balance, unconstitutional budget the legislature
passed just a few weeks ago."
bill marches the taxpayers of Illinois toward an unbalanced budget one month at
a time. This proposal, viewed on an annual basis, is little, if any,
improvement over the out-of-balance, unconstitutional budget the legislature
passed just a few weeks ago."
Unlike
Republicans in Washington, where they bungled the shutdown over a lack of
coordinated media and political calculation, Rauner is working the
communications as well as the legislative backrooms. So far, he has not backed
down.
Republicans in Washington, where they bungled the shutdown over a lack of
coordinated media and political calculation, Rauner is working the
communications as well as the legislative backrooms. So far, he has not backed
down.
Why
should he?
should he?
The Economist wondered in its headlines if Illinois had become “America’s Greece”:
Illinois is like Greece in one
obvious way: it overpromised and underdelivered on pensions and has little
appetite for dealing with the problem, says Hal Weitzman of the University of
Chicago Booth School of Business.
obvious way: it overpromised and underdelivered on pensions and has little
appetite for dealing with the problem, says Hal Weitzman of the University of
Chicago Booth School of Business.
Jay Walker of the Milwaukee
Journal-Sentinel tied
together the momentous referendum in Greece with Illinois’ budget drama:
Journal-Sentinel tied
together the momentous referendum in Greece with Illinois’ budget drama:
The Republican governor, Bruce
Rauner, like Greece's creditors in their standoff, demands a dramatic reduction
in spending. Meanwhile, the state legislature is balking at such belt
tightening because, much like the far-left Greek government, it is beholden to
unions that ignore fiscal reality.
Rauner, like Greece's creditors in their standoff, demands a dramatic reduction
in spending. Meanwhile, the state legislature is balking at such belt
tightening because, much like the far-left Greek government, it is beholden to
unions that ignore fiscal reality.
One
correction solidifies this correlation: Rauner is the loving parent disciplining
a wayward adult child from his spendthrift ways. This past weekend, the
Republican Governor is the adult, saying “No!” and “Enough” to decades of big
promises with no returns. Hopefully, Republican governor Bruce Rauner’s stance
wins, and the shut-down showdown leads to lasting reforms.
correction solidifies this correlation: Rauner is the loving parent disciplining
a wayward adult child from his spendthrift ways. This past weekend, the
Republican Governor is the adult, saying “No!” and “Enough” to decades of big
promises with no returns. Hopefully, Republican governor Bruce Rauner’s stance
wins, and the shut-down showdown leads to lasting reforms.