Governor Rauner introduces himself as a neighbor to LCHS students

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[February 16, 2015]  LINCOLN - Governor Bruce Rauner spent some quality time talking to Lincoln Community High School students on Wednesday. LCHS was one of many central Illinois school stops made by the new Governor this week. The Governor spoke to students of Mrs. Bischoff's Economics and Mr. Cooper's American Government classes.

He defined his deep interest and commitment to quality public education as the primary reason in his running for the office. Education is a passion he shares with his wife, Diana Rauner. She is the CEO of a nonprofit early childhood education organization, Ounce of Prevention.

"I'm very committed to public education. It's everybody's chance at the American dream and a higher quality of life and great careers," he began.

The Governor reviewed some of the financial matters the state has to contend with and defined state finances as 'a mess,' but he committed, "I'm going to find a way to increase state funding for public education this year, and every year going forward."
He is preparing a budget to be announced on February 18, his birthday.

He said, "We're going to increase funding for K through 12 education, and early childhood education; and we're going to keep higher education support."

He would like to see everyone who would want to go to a four-year college be able to do that. Currently some of Illinois' colleges are too expensive. He identified the issue as an imbalance of where the money goes with 50 percent of the money going into administration and only 50 percent going into the classroom.

He would like to keep funding in place for community colleges, and for vocational, job and technical training programs.

He would like every student to be able to set their sights on great careers; not just jobs, but become lab technicians, high tech manufacturing, whatever the sector might be; including through vocational training.

He would see more vocational and occupational training brought into the high school curriculum, make it available for credit, and do partnerships between local high schools and colleges and local employers, so that people have more opportunities earlier.

The Governor shared his background, which was never aimed toward politics. He was a venture capitalist who invested in the start up, growth and financing of about 450 companies. He invested his own money and he also did it for various government retirement funds such as teachers and police officers; and did very well at that for 32 years, seeing around a 20 percent return compounded annually, double that of the stock market.

He later saw some of these businesses he helped to start leaving Illinois due to high taxes, especially property tax, and business practices that are not welcoming.

He and his wife were frustrated by efforts to improve education in the state as well, and he saw the opportunity to do something, to make a difference. For Illinois he says, "I want us to have the best schools in America in every neighborhood. There's no reason we can't."

Looking at the Republican and Democrat issue, he said he is Republican and his wife is a Democrat. "The good Lord didn't make us democrat or republican. He made us in his image to make the world a better place."

He said that now that he has won the election, he is pumped up, "because I'm working for you. What a privilege to work for the people of Illinois, for the families of Illinois. My one goal in life it to improve the quality of life for our families here."

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He is not taking a salary or pension, but holds to the belief, "To whom much is given, much is expected in return." Not only is he giving back now, but many of those who are the brightest and most talented that he has called upon to aid him in the work are not taking salaries either.

The Governor shared some of the means by which he hopes to achieve these goals. "Nothing in life gets done by one person. You have to have teams of people."

His first order of business is to assemble people. He is currently bringing people from all over Illinois, and recruiting from other states -- Indiana, Georgia, Hawaii are coming to help. These are people who have demonstrated unique skill at facilitating change, top financial officers, folks with governing experience, and people that will be working to fix the conditions that are not working. This includes plans to change the higher education costs so that more students could gain college and vocational educations.
 
 The Governor lived in the Chicago area prior to his election. He has moved into the Governor's Mansion in Springfield, which apparently has not been lived in for some time given the brown water that came out of the bathroom faucet the first day he went to shave, and a few other evidences.
 
 He has been well acquainted with the schools in the Chicago area. He said, now, "I'm going to be living here. I'm your neighbor just down the road. And, I'm going to be get very involved in the schools in central Illinois."
 
 With the belief that "the only job that's more important than being a great teacher, is being a great parent," Governor Rauner is committed to finding ways to support teachers, including a plan to use his own resources at times.
 
 In conclusion, the Governor said to the students, "I'm here to say hi; to listen and learn. Thank you for your dedication to learn. Thank you for supporting your teachers and for taking your schooling seriously."

 

The Governor then took a few questions from the students, and a question from LCHS Superintendent Robert Bagby, who made a request to stem the flow of unfunded mandates that are passed down to schools. The mandates are measures or regulations that require compliance and usually cost the school, but no funding is provided.
 
 [Jan Youngquist]
 
 [You can hear the entirety of the Governor's talk with the students here.]
 
 Other related information:
 Ounce of Prevention
 http://www.ounceofprevention.org/home/index.php

 

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