Posted on 03/04/2018 7:55:35 PM PST by NobleFree
State Rep. Jeanne Ives, a Wheaton Republican, pulled no punches regarding her disdain for incumbent Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner at an appearance in Princeton Saturday evening.
Speaking to supporters who gathered at the Red Apple Restaurant prior to the annual Lincoln Day Dinner, Ives said Rauner isn’t telling the truth about the budget, about his record, or about hers in multiple attack mailings sent to GOP primary voters.
“What he’s telling you is a complete lie, but this is to be expected from a man who lied to a cardinal about taxpayer funding of abortion,” Ives said.
Ives is a three-term state representative who launched her challenge to Rauner after the governor signed a bill to allow taxpayer funding of abortions in Illinois after first telling Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich that he wouldn’t sign it.
Ives billed herself as “the true conservative” running for governor.
“I went to Springfield to fight for taxpayers, I’m still fighting for taxpayers, and I’m now fighting Bruce Rauner,” Ives said.
The West Point graduate, holder of a degree in economics, and mother of five knocked down claims made by the Rauner campaign in various mailers that, she said, cost Rauner half a million dollars for each separate mailing.
Ives said people want answers to the issues raised by Rauner.
“Well, Jeanne, it says that you voted for the tax increase. No, I didn’t. I did not support the tax increase. I did not support that. He’s distorting my comments from the Crain’s editorial, …” she said.
“He’s the one lying about it (the tax increase) which is fully on display in his budget address, where he needed every dime of that tax increase, and he used it all,” Ives said.
Ives said a different Rauner mailing distorted her vote on a property tax freeze that was contained in a bill put forward by Rauner’s nemesis, Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan.
“I’m the only one who had the courage to call the scam what it was and vote no,” Ives said.
She also said Rauner’s contention that Ives took union campaign contributions and that she supported Madigan were untrue.
“I’ve never met with Madigan in my life,” Ives said.
“I just asked him (Madigan) to resign in a floor speech on Tuesday or Wednesday” after a Madigan staffer was accused of sexual harassment, Ives said.
Rauner’s anti-Madigan rhetoric has not helped to foster a working relationship to solve the state’s problems, she contended.
“If he’s going to blame everything on Mike Madigan and not himself, then that’s shameful,” Ives said.
“Look, this is the governor who has said he’s not in charge and he’s ceded all control to Mike Madigan ‘cause he never acted like he’s in charge,” she said.
“It’s a dirty race. Not on our side. Not on our side. We’re not getting dirty. We’re speaking the truth,” Ives said.
Ives said Rauner’s lack of leadership has failed “a state that’s on the verge of bankruptcy.”
Ives received support from Republican James Marter of Oswego, who attended the event and who is challenging U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger in the GOP primary for 16th District U.S. House nomination.
“She is the only person who can fix our problems in Springfield,” Marter said.
Ives urged supporters to “keep pushing; we’ve got 30 days,” and to promote her candidacy among their friends and acquaintances.
“You have a choice here. You guys have a choice,” she said.
“This is a pivotal, once-in-a-generation election where you can change the trajectory of this state. But trust me, it’s either, we’re going all in for a taxpayer revolution, or you’re going to see the slow going-out-of-business sale here in the state of Illinois.”
Why don't you put her vote in context.
Maybe she voted for it because it contained other conservative or counter-balanced measures.
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