Bruce Rauner

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Bruce Rauner
Bruce Rauner 2016 cropped.jpg
42nd Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
From: January 12, 2015-present
Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti
Predecessor Pat Quinn
Successor Incumbent (no successor)
Information
Party Republican
Spouse(s) Elizabeth Konker Wessel (divorced)
Dana Mendley
Religion Episcopalian

Bruce Vincent Rauner (born February 18, 1957) is a businessman, philanthropist, and the 42nd governor of Illinois. He was elected in the 2014 elections, defeating liberal Democratic incumbent Pat Quinn.[1] Rauner won every single county in Illinois except the ultraliberal Cook County.

2014 gubernatorial election results. It is were not for Cook County, Rauner would have won in a landslide.[2]

Rauner is conservative on fiscal issues. His stance on labor unions has received considerable attention and controversy. Rauner believes that local governments should be allowed to pass Right to work laws.[3][4] Additionally, Rauner believes that the state should ban some political contributions by public unions, saying that "government unions should not be allowed to influence the public officials they are lobbying, and sitting across the bargaining table from, through campaign donations and expenditures."[3]

For about one year, Rauner refused to sign any of the Democratic budget bills, which would have created enormous budget deficits and sink the state into even more debt than before. However, on June 30, 2016, just before the beginning of the next fiscal year, Rauner compromised by signing a temporary bipartisan stopgap budget that would allow public schools to continue operating for an additional year and for necessary state services to continue for 6 months, even it too will increase the deficit.[5][6]

Despite his fiscal conservatism, Rauner support more liberal social policies. On July 29, 2016, Rauner signed SB 1564 into law, which requires doctors and pregnancy centers that refuse to perform abortions for religious or moral reasons to refer patients to places where they can have an abortion instead.[7][8] The bill was passed on partisan lines, without a single Republican legislator voting for the bill, and Rauner's decision to sign the bill into law angered conservative groups.[8] The same day, Rauner also signed a bill that "extends insurance coverage for nearly all contraceptives."[8] On August 5, Rauner was sued by a Rockford, Illinois-based medical center and a Downers Grove physician, arguing that SB 1564 is unconstitutional.[9][10]

References

  1. Pearson, Rick (November 5, 2014). Quinn Concedes Defeat to Rauner in Illinois Governor's Race. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
  2. Quinn/Rauner a Squeaker? Durbin/Oberweis a Cakewalk? Think Again. NIU Today (November 5, 2014). Retrieved on July 26, 2016.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Pérez-Peña, Richard (February 4, 2015). "Governor of Illinois Takes Aim at Labor". The New York Times. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  4. Rebik, Dana (February 8, 2015). "Gov. Bruce Rauner Pushes for Illinois ‘Right-to-Work’ Zones". WGNtv.com. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  5. Rauner Signs Stopgap Budget, School Funding Bill — But Relief From Stalemate Proves Temporary. Chicago Tribune (June 30, 2016). Retrieved on July 24, 2016.
  6. Gov. Bruce Rauner Signs Stopgap State Spending Plan. Peoria Journal-Star (June 30, 2016). Retrieved on July 24, 2016.
  7. Illinois Governor Signs Bill Forcing Pro-Life Doctors to Promote Abortion. The Washington Times (August 2, 2016). Retrieved on August 6, 2016.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Rauner Surprises GOP With Action on Birth Control, Abortions. ABC News (August 4, 2016). Retrieved on August 6, 2016.
  9. Rockford Nonprofit Pregnancy Center Sues Gov. Bruce Rauner Over Abortion Law. rrstar.com (August 5, 2016). Retrieved on August 6, 2016.
  10. Anti-Abortion Centers, Doctor Sue Rauner Over 'Conscience' Law. Chicago Sun-Times (August 5, 2016). Retrieved on August 6, 2016.

External links