P4 Sunday, July 30, 2017 | The State Journal-Register A closer look at Rauner’s world

People because he does not support the organiza- tion. Rauner opposes such mandatory dues 1 Gov. and has said a Supreme Court win in that Elected governor in 2014 as fi rst-time case would be “transformative” nationwide. candidate; had been private equity inves- The justice center is also helping Lincoln- tor, one-time chairman of GTCR, a fi rm shire with its right-to-work appeal, at no 20 cost to the village. that created, bought and sold hundreds of 10 9 19 companies. 15 News Network 18 2 Kristina Rasmussen In operation since 2012, the network is Former president and chief operating described as an independent project of the offi cer of Illinois Policy Institute, named 17 Illinois Policy Institute. It provides free con- Rauner’s chief of staff on July 10. 8 tent to newspapers and newspaper and TV Joined the policy institute in 2009 after websites. The network has a radio studio working for National Taxpayers Union, in the policy institute’s Springfi eld head- Washington, D.C. She was also a registered 13 quarters. The 2015 Illinois Policy annual lobbyist for Illinois Policy before taking the 11 6 report said the network “broke through the job with the governor. government-information monopoly and forced elected offi cials to be accountable 3 John Tillman 14 for their actions. INN’s reporters reached CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute. In a 1 hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans with INN’s Statehouse reporting and made sure 2015 report, Tillman wrote that his “theory 7 of political change is that we must engage 12 residents heard both sides of the story.” in a two-front war if we are to win. Our side 16 must fully engage in culture (media, public 16 Illinois Radio Network opinion, infl uencers) and must also fully A radio news network that was acquired engage in the political arena (legislation by the Illinois News Network in December 2015. and elections).” 2 4 17 4 Michael Lucci 3 Local Government 5 GATEHOUSE Former vice president of policy at Illinois 15 Information Services MEDIA Policy Institute, named deputy chief of A company that runs 20 publications staff for policy by Rauner this month. Lucci across the state, including the Sangamon wrote in an April opinion piece for the worth at $8 billion. Griffi n has donated and Uihlein gave more than $2 million. The Sun in the Springfi eld area, that Proft said Illinois News Network that “Illinois’ con- more than $33 million to Rauner’s campaign Munger committee also gave $3 million last year he was producing with help of struction laws are outdated. Two issues in fund. to the state GOP during the same election Brian Timpone, who runs a content provider particular – prevailing wage law and work- cycle. In February, Rauner named Munger a called LocalLabs. 9 ers’ compensation – are largely to blame. Matthew Besler $135,000-a-year deputy governor position. 18 These policies drive up taxpayer construc- Besler was named this month to be chief Liberty Principles PAC tion costs and drive minorities out of work.” strategic advisor to Rauner’s campaign. He Groups/PACs Rauner gave $2.5 million to Proft’s com- had been president of the Illinois Opportu- mittee in June 2016. Other key donors, 5 Diana Rickert nity Project for six years. A joint statement 12 Illinois Policy Institute according to the Illinois Campaign for Former vice president of communica- from state GOP Chairman Tim Schneider, Founded in 2002, the free-market think Political Reform’s IllinoisSunshine.org, are tions at Illinois Policy Institute, named by and GOP House and Senate leaders, said tank got $625,000 from the Rauner Family Richard Uihlein, at more than $6.5 million, Rauner this month as deputy chief of staff at the Opportunity Project, Besler “worked Foundation between 2009 and 2013. It seeks and Ken Griffi n, at more than $1.1 million. of communications. She wrote a column closely with our organizations, state legis- to “transform liberty principles into market- The group spent more than $3 million in for the Chicago Tribune in 2015, expressing lators, and grassroots advocates to protect able policies.” the 2016 primary trying to defeat state Sen. her own opinion that to save pension costs, families and businesses from the demands Among the ideas in its February no-tax Sam McCann, R-Plainview, who had voted Rauner should “lay off the entire state of powerful special interests and Speaker budget proposal: against Rauner on a bill concerning union workforce” and offer to rehire them under Mike Madigan’s agenda.” -Cutting the state payroll by 10 percent, arbitration. a 401(k)-style savings plan, which would -Eliminating state payments to counties, 10 19 cost less than the defi ned-benefi t plan in Diana Rauner cities and local transit districts Illinois Opportunity Project which they were enrolled. The fi rst lady is a Democrat, but a strong -Rolling back local prevailing wages, An organization designed to educate the advocate for her husband and is said to -Freezing property taxes, and public about policy “driven by the prin- 6 Dan Proft be a close advisor. She is president of the -Stopping state contributions to pension ciples of liberty and free enterprise and A candidate for governor in 2010, Proft Ounce of Prevention Fund, a Chicago-based funds for local schools. to advocate for the advancement of such has been a consultant and now co-hosts a organization that promotes early childhood policy.” It donated $1.3 million to the losing morning talk-show in the Chicago market development. The organization backed 13 Illinois Policy Action 2016 Democratic primary campaign of then- on AM560. He has been a senior fellow at the recent successful override of Rauner’s Advocacy arm of the Illinois Policy Insti- state Rep. Ken Dunkin, D-Chicago, who fell the Illinois Policy Institute, and is chairman veto of the fi scal 2018 budget. Last week, tute. It produced the 2016 fi lm, “Madigan: out of favor with Madigan after missing a and treasurer of Liberty Principles Political the fi rst lady began appearing in digital Power, Privilege, Politics,” that was made vote on an arbitration bill that would have Action Committee, which supports candi- ads supporting her husband on education available in theaters, on TV stations and weakened Rauner’s negotiating position. dates. He also is involved in producing 20 issues. online leading up to the fall election about Dan Proft is a co-founder of the opportunity publications across the state through Local House Speaker , Rauner’s project. 11 Government Information Services. Leslie Munger primary political foe. 20 On Rauner’s fi rst day in offi ce, he named Illinois Policy Action also helped the Illinois Republican Party 7 Richard Uihlein Leslie Munger state comptroller to replace village of Lincolnshire pass a right-to-work The state party organization now largely A Lake Forest resident and CEO of Uline, , a Republican who died ordinance. The fate of that ordinance is in funded by Rauner. Citizens for Rauner a packaging supply company. He and his after being re-elected but before inaugura- an appellate court. has given more than $30 million to the wife have donated more than $2.6 million to tion day. Munger then ran in 2016 for the party, which is chaired by Tim Schneider, Rauner’s campaign fund. fi nal two years of Topinka’s term, but was 14 Liberty Justice Center a member of the Cook County Board from defeated by Democrat . A “litigation partner” to the Illinois suburban Bartlett. 8 Ken Griffi n In the 2016 race, Rauner and his cam- Policy Institute, which is helping represent Founder of Citadel, a Chicago-based paign fund each donated $1 million to her Mark Janus, a state worker who is suing to — Research by political writer Bernard hedge fund. Forbes puts Griffi n’s personal effort; Griffi n donated more than $5 million avoid paying his union’s “fair share” dues, Schoenburg

State Sen. Andy Manar, “People are going to have to come out of their Mooney said that generally special session if he didn’t WORLD D-Bunker Hill, is chief corners and shake hands and fi gure out what’s speaking, “staff reflect the receive Senate Bill 1 on his From Page P1 sponsor of SB 1, the school personality and the interests desk, Rauner rejected the idea funding formula bill in going to be the fairest thing we can do for all of the principal, rather than that his staff has an ideologi- ‘A PR thing’ play. Manar also is former the kids in the state. There seems to be a lot the other way around.” cal tilt. chief of staff to the Senate “People might say, ‘Oh, “I just want people who are Edgar said that although of political maneuvering from the Democrats president. he’s bringing in IPI (the policy talented and driven and want he hasn’t had a discus- Manar recalled that Gov. because they aren’t sending the bill.” institute), and they are going to reform our broken system,” sion with Rauner in about Rod Blagojevich often called — Rep. Sara Wojcicki Jimenez, R-Leland Grove to turn him into some kid of Rauner said. “I’ve got Demo- two years, he believes the lawmakers into session right-wing nut job,” Mooney crats in my administration. special session call was to try to force action not added. “But really he has I’ve got Republicans. I’ve got Rauner’s decision, and already negotiated. Blago- “That’s not where they said last week she was chosen to bring these people the whole cross-spectrum. I may have been in the cards jevich called at least 40 figure these things out.” hoping for a quicker trans- on.” don’t care about partisanship, before the new staff was special sessions, including But, he added, the gover- mission of the bill to Rauner Mooney also noted that and nobody tells me what my brought on. two in one day at least once. nors may have understood by the Democrats. Rauner has been a significant policies are — nobody. I work But Edgar also said it’s At times, just a few lawmak- that but were using the “People are going to have contributor to the institute, for the people of Illinois, and best to call all lawmakers ers would show up and the sessions “to put pressure to come out of their cor- donating $625,000 between if anybody wonders what I’m to Springfield when action sessions would be quickly on the legislature, to make ners and shake hands and 2009 and 2013. fighting for, you can look up is ready to be taken. gaveled in and gaveled out. them look bad.” figure out what’s going to “So nobody’s making him what I’ve stood for for five “Special session is pretty “Governor Blagojev- Edgar said he sees a dif- be the fairest thing we can do anything he doesn’t want years, and you can see my much a PR thing unless you ich ran around downstate ference in that Blagojevich, do for all the kids in the to do,” Mooney said. “I’m 44-point turnaround plan have something worked and complained about who often fought with a state,” Jimenez said. “There pretty sure of that.” for the state.” out,” Edgar said. “If you downstate Democrats not fellow Democrat, House seems to be a lot of politi- “I don’t see a lot of change He said that plan includes really want to get some- standing up to party leader- Speaker Michael Madigan cal maneuvering from the in the governor’s actions term limits, workers’ com- thing done, you’re going to ship, and he turned around of Chicago, was “kind of Democrats because they in the last couple weeks,” pensation changes and have to sit down and talk.” and called special sessions irrelevant to a great extent. aren’t sending the bill.” Mooney also said. “I mean, pension reform. But state Rep. Tim Butler, that were not productive,” I mean the Democrats kind As to Rauner’s staff he’s basically doing what “Nobody’s changing me,” R-Springfield, said Rauner Manar said after the second of rolled over him when shakeup, Manar said he he’s been doing all along he said. “We need to fix the needed to call the session. special session day last they had to. ... He wasn’t thinks the new people will ... maybe growing increas- system.” “I think it’s worth it week. “That’s what this is. as engaged. I will say that make their mark on the ingly frustrated with the because you’ve got to put This is not productive.” Rauner is engaged.” administration. process.” — Contact Bernard Schoen- pressure on the Democrats But, Edgar added of “That’s why you have a In Auburn earlier this burg: bernard.schoenburg@ to do something with the Under pressure Rauner, “Sometimes I think staff,” Manar said. “That’s month, as he was promis- sj-r.com, 788-1540, twit- bill,” Butler said, noting Chris Mooney, politi- he has his point of view and why you surround yourself ing to call the school funding ter.com/bschoenburg. that through a parliamen- cal science professor at that’s it. You don’t get that, with people that you expect tary move, Democrats the University of Illinois especially when you have to ... help you navigate this failed for weeks to trans- Springfield, said it’s pos- the legislature controlled by terrain. ... So of course it’s mit the school aid formula sible both governors “really the other party. There’s got influencing his decisions.” bill to the governor. didn’t understand what the to be some give and take.” Rauner called 10 special role of the special session or Butler said he’s hoping No new path session days beginning in the role of the legislature that legislators can negoti- Edgar said he thinks there late June to seek a budget, was,” as a deal needs to be ate and “figure something should be different points of and a few days beyond done before action is taken. out.” view on a staff. that original schedule, “In terms of develop- “We’ve seen in the past “I’m not sure I’d want to final action on budget bills ing policy, it doesn’t get where ... despite the differ- put all my eggs in one basket,” came with overrides of his developed on the floor,” ences we have in the current he said. vetoes. On the school fund- said Mooney, who recently climate, when we’re in ses- But, he added, “Every- ing question, Rauner called stepped down as director of sion, we do get some things body’s got advice for the three special session days the U of I’s Institute of Gov- done,” he said. governor. He’s got to decide last week and another one ernment and Public Affairs Rep. Sara Wojcicki who to listen to. That’s his for Monday. to return to teaching. Jimenez, R-Leland Grove, prerogative.”