It's party time today in Springfield, Ill., when Republican businessman Bruce Rauner is sworn in as the 42nd governor of Illinois, ending 12 years of Democratic gubernatorial control.
Rauner, who has never held elective office before, handily defeated Gov. Pat Quinn in the election in November.
Today's inaugural address is Rauner's first major opportunity to set forth his agenda. He will also have a budget address in mid-February and a state of the state address later that should offer more details.
The Chicago Tribune reported that Rauner said he'll "talk about our vision for the state and our priorities and talk about how we're going to get our state turned around."
In his speech as prepared for delivery, Rauner said that Illinois is in the "midst of a government financial crisis" whose "roots lie in bad decisions, bad practices, and bad management by state government."
Rauner said drastic action was necessary. "Some in government will be tempted to once again take the easy road and leave the real problems for another day and the next generation," he said. "But, we cannot do that because to do so, to conduct business as usual, would be morally corrupt."
Sacrifice is called for, he said, "That’s why today, my first action as governor will be to direct every state agency to freeze non-essential spending. I’ll ask them to review and report on every contract that’s been signed since Nov. 1. And I will follow through on my pledge to reduce my own salary to $1 and decline all benefits."
Focusing on his outsider status, Rauner spoke directly to Illinois residents. "To the people of Illinois, and the people outside our state who have been reluctant to invest in Illinois because of the insider deals and cronyism, I say this: I’m nobody that nobody sent," he said. "I’ve come to work for you. I will send a clear signal to everyone in our state, and to those watching from outside our borders, that business as usual is over. It stops now."
Rauner proceeded to promise ethics reforms and "world-class education opportunities," although he did go into specifics.
U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., said in a statement that “today marks a new chapter for Illinois. With Gov. Rauner, we have limitless potential to make our state the most competitive in the Midwest and to take Illinois from broke to booming. I look forward to our partnership and am optimistic for our great state.”
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., also sent his congratulations.
“Despite the fact that we come from different political parties and despite the fact that we have many differences when it comes to the issues before us, I certainly wish our new governor, Bruce Rauner, the very best in his efforts to lead the Land of Lincoln, the great state of Illinois,” Durbin said. “I’ve given him my personal pledge – and I’ll renew it on the Senate floor today – to stand by him and his administration to solve problems and move Illinois forward.”
Before the inauguration, the event's related festivities came under criticism for being financed by private companies and interest groups. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that "the groups all have an interest in public-policy decisions and range from the Illinois Hospital Association, which donated up to $100,000, to the Wirtz Corp. and Walgreen Co., which donated up to $25,000 each." Rauner denied there was any conflict of interest, noting that “those are groups that do not do business with the government.”
Reuters reported that while some inauguration events are free, others come with a hefty price tag: "For a concert at the Prairie Capitol Convention Center featuring country music star Toby Keith and Chicago blues great Buddy Guy, Rauner is selling VIP sponsorship packages priced at $10,000 and $25,000 respectively. The packages include seating at a $1,000-per-seat private reception and dinner on Sunday, access to a private after party, VIP seating at Monday's inauguration dinner reception and name recognition in the official program."
