Rauner’s Failed Economic Record on Display

Rauner Announces Expansion of Small Business Development Centers in Aurora, Previous Aurora-Area SBDC Closed Due to Rauner’s Budget Impasse

Today, Governor Bruce Rauner visits Aurora to speak to announce the opening of a new Small Business Development Center, but perhaps he should explain why the previous center closed under his watch. Or why the state’s economy lags under his failed leadership.

Illinois Small Business Development Centers were hit hard in the two-year budget impasse. Crain’s Chicago estimated that a quarter of all SBDC’s on college campuses closed in Illinois including one located on Waubonsee Community College campus. The Aurora Beacon-News reported that the center closed in 2016 due to the budget impasse, and had served 400 businesses the year before.   

It’s no question that Illinois’ economy suffered under Bruce Rauner’s policies. Rich Miller of CapitolFax found that because of the state’s two-year budget impasse, job growth slowed in Illinois to a crawl. The state currently ranks 45th in the nation for job growth over the past year.

And what did Bruce Rauner do? He vetoed the state’s first budget in two years, content to allow the budget impasse to continue.

“Bruce Rauner’s failed leadership has left the state’s economy in shambles,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “He promised Illinois’ voters that with his business background he would turn the state around. Instead, Rauner’s manufactured two-year budget crisis made things worse as jobs and people are still leaving the state and debt skyrocketed.”