Agriculture forum attracts key Illinois politicians

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WLS) -- A major forum on agriculture business in Illinois was held in Bloomington on Wednesday. And since agriculture is big business in Illinois, the forum attracted the key candidates in the race for governor and for the U.S. Senate.

The forum happened on a farmer's front yard only a stone's throw from the nearest cornfield. Bruce Rauner's campaign bus made a grand entrance before the Republican candidate told those in attendance that Gov. Pat Quinn's alleged hiring of cronies to run the agriculture and other departments is costing Illinois taxpayers.

"Patronage has a huge cost to it in ineffectiveness and a waste of taxpayer money, and we've gotta rip that out," said Rauner.

Last week, the State Ethics Commission released an Inspector General's report on hundreds of questionable patronage hires in the Illinois Department of Transportation during the Blagojevich and Quinn administrations.

The governor- whose office is already under investigation for its 2010 anti-violence program- said the ag department is well-run and blamed IDOT department heads for the patronage scandal.

"I read that report very carefully and I'm carrying out the reforms that were recommended to a tee, and I think that's the only way to go," said Gov. Quinn.

Also addressing the forum an hour apart were U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and his opponent state Sen. Jim Oberweis. The underdog Republican cited polls showing only a seven-point difference between himself and the three-term incumbent, who has agreed to only one face-to-face debate.

"This is not a debate. Obviously, I'm not even here to question him, he's not here to question me," said State Sen. Jim Oberweis.

Durbin remembered what Oberweis did during the Republican primary campaign.

"Mr. Oberweis said we will have one debate at the Sun City Retirement Home in Huntley, Illinois. That was it. So now he's complaining that my offer of four debates is not enough," said Sen. Durbin.

Formal debates in the Senate as well as the governor's race will not begin until October. In the meantime, the candidates will appear separately at selected forums avoiding face-to-face contact whenever possible.