Opinion A6 • Sauk Valley Media
www.saukvalley.com
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
SPRINGFIELD SPOTLIGHT
Rauner’s wealth gives GOP a chance Hefty donations help Republican candidates here in deep blue state The Washington Post published a story the other day titled “Meet the wealthy donors who are pouring millions into the 2016 elections.” The paper listed the top 10 national donors to socalled “super PACS.” The list is topped by wealthy San Francisco Democrat Tom Steyer at $38 million. Second place went to “New York-based hedge-fund magnate” Robert Mercer, at $20.2 million. Keep in mind that these are national-minded donors who are giving to super PACs that focus on the presidential race and U.S. Senate and congressional campaigns throughout the country. Now, take a look at the money contributed by Gov. Bruce Rauner. His personal campaign committee has contributed more than $16 million to the Illinois Republi-
can Party alone this year, accounting for 95 percent of all the money the party has raised. The party has, in turn, used that Rauner money to fund television and radio ads, direct mail, polling, staff, etc. for state House and Senate campaigns. In June, Rauner gave another $2.5 million to Dan Proft’s Liberty Principles PAC, which is heavily involved in legislative contests. And the governor contributed $2 million to the Turnaround Illinois PAC, which describes its mission thusly: “To support state legislative candidates who support Gov. Rauner’s bold and needed reforms, and to oppose those who stand in the way.” That’s roughly $20.5 million, enough for second place in the aforementioned Washington Post list. The difference is, here in Illinois, it’s one guy focusing on only one state. There are some definite apples and oranges when making this comparison. Not every dime of Raun-
richMILLER Rich Miller publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter. He may be reached at http://thecapitolfax.blog. com online.
er’s campaign fund came from Rauner himself. But the total doesn’t include $2.2 million that Rauner gave to his own campaign fund this year, in order to avoid any possible double-counting as money is passed through. What it does show you, though, is how one person is dominating the money race here far more than individual wealthy people are influencing the national races. YES, THE DEMOCRATS have raised plenty of money as well this year. At the end of June, all Democrats (including the legislative leaders, the state party, rankand-file legislators and Democratic challengers) actually had $3.4 million more cash on hand than
all similar Republicans, including Rauner. But Scott Kennedy at Illinois Election Data took a look at legislative funding so far this cycle and, as of 9 p.m. on Sept. 6, 16 of the top 20 total contributions to targeted candidates were Republicans. So, if the Democrats had more cash on hand, then why aren’t they spending more of it? Well, the Democrats can raise only so much more money before November. Rauner and his wealthy friends can simply write big checks and completely erase any disadvantage as need be. It’s kind of like how people who are expecting a large inheritance don’t save much money for retirement. They know lots more cash is in the pipeline, so they often feel free to spend as they wish today. Kennedy also looked at all the money raised this cycle by the Illinois GOP, the House Republican Organization, the Republican State Senate Campaign Committee, and the personal campaign funds of the two
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What it does show you, though, is how one person is dominating the money race here. ...
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Rich Miller
Republican legislative leaders and found that of the $21.8 million they’ve raked in so far, 73 percent comes from Rauner. Without that Rauner money, the Republicans would be at a huge cash disadvantage, like they always have in the past. Rauner is giving Republican legislative candidates a fighting chance in a year that otherwise would be seen as a complete lost cause. Despite her national problems, all polling shows Hillary Clinton with a doubledigit lead in Illinois. Without Rauner, Republican legislative leaders would be bracing for an even further retreat into their tiny minority, and praying that the off-year election of 2018
would give them enough of a boost to regain a seat or two here and there. TO MAKE IT CLEAR, I’m not saying what Gov. Rauner is doing is a bad thing. House Speaker Michael Madigan has in the past absolutely drowned the House Republicans with his ability to outspend them. The tables are finally being turned on Madigan these days. What goes around, comes around, as they say. But if you thought that Rauner exerted a lot of influence on Republican legislators during his first two spring legislative sessions, you probably ain’t seen nothing yet, especially if the GOP does better than would normally be expected. The Republican leaders are going to owe him big. Really big. And, whatever happens in November, they’ll want to keep that money pipeline flowing freely in 2018. Note to readers: Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com.
THE CARTOONIST’S VOICE
Nate Beeler, GateHouse News Service
Joe Heller, Heller Syndication
THE READER’S VOICE
EDITORIALS ELSEWHERE
Who will come through for Illinois? Jobs leaving; state’s finances are uncertain Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board
Here’s a scary number for you: In the past 16 years, Illinois has lost 35 percent of its manufacturing jobs. That’s about 304,000 jobs, more than the population of any city in the state other than Chicago. That number alone, cited by a business leader this week in a lunchtime speech before the City Club, tells the story of our state’s poor business climate and sputtering economy. It sounds an alarm. It reminds us once again – if anybody still needs reminding – that our elected officials have failed us miserably, and time is running short to set things right. For going on 2 years now, our state has not even had a fullyear (let alone balanced) budget, which creates the kind of financial uncertainly that business people deplore and sends them looking for the exits. But our
Editorial Board Jim Dunn Sam R Fisher Sheryl Gulbranson Jennifer Heintzelman Jeff Rogers Kathleen Schultz Tom Shaw t Editorials
state’s troubles go beyond that, with crippling pension obligations, an overly burdensome worker’s comp system, insufficient tax revenue, and a public school system in Chicago – our state’s beating economic heart – in desperate need of a fairer share of state education revenue. On the day after the Nov. 8 elections, we are assured by those in the know, big things finally could happen in Springfield as partisan politics give way to good public policy. ... Our simple message today is that they must come through. ... In his speech before the City Club, Greg Baise, president and chief executive officer of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, hammered away at how the loss of manufacturing jobs is destroying the middle class. ... Granted, some of what ails Illinois, at least with respect to manufacturing, is due to global forces beyond the state’s con-
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trol. When China’s economy slowed down, Caterpillar’s exports dropped, forcing the farm equipment company to lay off workers. When Mitsubishi stopped selling cars in Russia, it was the last straw for the company’s plant in downstate Bloomington – a plant that enjoyed general state tax breaks and union wage concessions. But that excuse goes only so far when even neighboring Midwestern states, contending with the same external forces, continue to fare better at retaining and growing manufacturing jobs. Manufacturers “aren’t necessarily fleeing the state in droves, although many have left,” Baise said. “Instead, when expanding, they do it in other states because they can be more successful.” ... Come the day after the Nov. 8 elections, when the dust of political battle settles at least temporarily, we’ll see who is serious about putting what’s best for Illinois above textbook ideology or self-serving politics.
Actions to take for a peaceful, happy family FRED TURK Rock Falls
The slim book, “Believe: The Words and Inspiration of Desmond Tutu,” Blue Mountain Press, Boulder, Colorado, 2007, page 36, offers advice for those who desire a happy family. Desmond is referring to the South African nation as well as husbands, wives and children. “If we could but recognize our common humanity, that we do belong together, that our destinies are bound up in one another, that we can be free only together, that we can survive only together, that we can be human only together, then a glorious world would come into being where all of us lived harmoniously together as members of one family, the human family.” A photograph taken from
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represent the opinions of the Sauk Valley Media Editorial Board.
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outer space of our planet, Earth, precariously traveling through space, illustrates the sage words of Archbishop Tutu. Some daily concrete actions each of us could practice on a personal-to-global level follow. n Be more friendly and hospitable. n Encourage others to recognize and cultivate their talents. n Listen to others without becoming defensive, especially with those who are seemingly different; be it nationality, sex, age, race, political party and religion. n Be hospitable and encouraging. n Find common ground and work together. n Learn about their beliefs, dreams, cultural backgrounds, worries and concerns. n Refrain from being judgmental. The end result will be numerous constructive friendships. In a true sense, we will be working toward a more peaceful world family.
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