Rauner: Reform agenda will help African American-owned businesses

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ByCharles Thomas WLS logo
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Gov. Rauner pitches 'turnaround' agenda to African American-owned businesses
Gov. Bruce Rauner told African-American business leaders in Springfield that his success as governor depends on how well their companies do during his term.

PEORIA, Ill. (WLS) -- Gov. Bruce Rauner told African-American business leaders in Peoria Thursday that his success as governor depends on how well their companies do during his term.



The governor highlighted what he calls a "critical element" in his reform agenda. When asked how he's holding up during the budget impasse, Rauner said: "It's hard work. It's stressful. I'm working 24-7."



The governor showed no outward signs of budget stalemate wear-and-tear at the annual meeting of the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce.



"We can judge my effectiveness as governor of the great state of Illinois by how well African American businesses are doing in Illinois. That's a simple fact," Rauner said.



Rauner said the current state law that requires local governments to pay workers on taxpayer-supported projects, the highest union wages are hurting African-American-owned construction companies.



"If taxpayers are paying, only certain companies are allowed to bid on that work only if they pay high union-scale wages," Rauner said . "And it particularly hurts African-American businesses because relatively few of those are union shops... and Illinois is one of the very few states that requires prevailing wage, high-union scale on every project of any size no matter what."



The governor also said the system drives up the cost of local government throughout. State Rep. Will Davis (D-South suburbs) says there are other ways to lower costs without diminishing unions.



"He only tells half the story because there are opportunities in which we've been trying to do that but the administration is not responsive," Davis said.



But Calvin Williams - a Chicago contractor - supports the Rauner plan.



"Local municipalities, given their own demographics and their own financial wherewithal should be able to decide how they go about buying their contracts," Williams said.



When asked if there was any hope for a compromise with Democratic House Speaker Mike Madigan, Rauner said: "So far, Speaker Madigan has not compromised whatsoever. He's just kind of said 'no' to everything."


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