Top 50 Bruce Rauner Quotes

There are plenty of examples of very wealthy people who have run for office and failed, certainly in Illinois.

Given my venture capital background, I know the tech sector well.

I’ll be willing to do things that politicians won’t do. Because I don’t care who I upset.

I’m a pretty disciplined investor and pretty disciplined buyer. I do my due diligence. I do my homework. I don’t waste money.

I certainly don’t need a job. Getting re-elected is not on my Top 10 list.

I want to do something that I’m proud of and that I can look back on with pride of accomplishment.

For many young people, the minimum wage is a stepping stone to higher employment levels.

I’m a lover of fairs and corn dogs.

Government unions should not be allowed to influence the public officials they are lobbying, and sitting across the bargaining table from, through campaign donations and expenditures.

Those who want low taxes and healthy job creation know that an unnecessary dollar going to these unions is a dollar that cannot reduce the tax burden on homeowners, small businesses, and job creators.

I like to spend money on investments.

Government employees deserve to be treated fairly, but they do not deserve a significantly better deal than average Illinoisans get in their own jobs.

A C.E.O.’s job is leadership, problem solving, and team building. I’ve done that my whole career.

I want to transform state government. What it takes is a strong CEO type… a leader who can drive things.

Ronald Reagan helped me become a Republican.

If Republicans and Democrats commit to working together, we can reach a bipartisan, common-sense agreement to reverse Illinois’ economic decline and set the stage for a bright economic future.

We must find a way to balance our tradition as a state welcoming of refugees while ensuring the safety and security of our citizens.

We’ve become a collectivist economy in Illinois. It’s crushing us. And no problem is going to get fixed unless we bring more economic freedom into the state. And I believe that very passionately.

Those who value a strong safety net for our neediest citizens see that every extra dollar spent on these unions is a dollar that cannot go to help the sick, the elderly, and the vulnerable.

Big problems usually come from big sources.

For every challenge we face – unemployment, poverty, crime, income growth, income inequality, productivity, competitiveness – a great education is a major component of the solution.

Being a successful CEO, where I’ve driven a bottom line, assembled teams, driven results, that’s a critical benefit to running the state government.

Crisis creates leverage to change.

Government pensions are among the largest cost drivers for state and local governments.

To restore our public schools, we must put an end to the selfish agenda of the union bosses.

We have to reduce the tax burden, whether it’s income tax for corporations or private individuals, and we should put a freeze on property taxes.

I am a gun owner and a hunter and a gun rights supporter.

I don’t care what the headline is. I want the results.

The government union bosses are the most powerful politicians in Springfield.

Success is all about persistence and doing the right thing for the long term.

I like to do things that get results. Results are all that matters.

I’ve got to pick my fights at the right time.

It takes someone with a unique background to stand up to the threat of a strike and win.

Our government works should be treated fairly and appropriately; they should have a decent retirement, but not a gold-plated system where they can retire multimillionaires in their 50s.

We’ve talked through the fact that our family will be attacked. Our family will be dragged through the mud. My businesses that I’ve helped build and create will be attacked and dragged through the mud. That’s politics. I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about it or thinking about it.

We need to focus on reducing property taxes. We need to focus on education funding. We need to focus on getting term limits on elected officials.

Our government workers should be treated fairly and appropriately. They should have a decent retirement, but not a gold-plated system where they can retire multimillionaires in their 50s.

We have to be bold, tough, and fundamentally change government because Springfield is broken.

Where I’m an outsider is, I’m not a career politician.

Great teaching requires incredible talent and dedication, strong intellectual ability and interpersonal skill, real discipline and empathy.

Many of us have been touched by the magic of a great teacher. I know I have.

I think we’ve got to be competitive here in Illinois. It’s critical we’re competitive. We’re hurting our economy by having the minimum wage above the national. We’ve got to move back to the national.

Frankly, I would never ask a supporter to bet big on me if I wouldn’t bet big on myself. It wouldn’t be fair.

I have my strong views and opinions. I really want to transform Illinois government because this state is failing the taxpayers and the children.

Illinois has every reason to succeed. We have the hardest-working people in America, the best infrastructure in America, and the best location of any state.

If yelling and threatening, intimidating and chanting solved problems, Illinois wouldn’t have any problems. We’re good at that stuff.

Incremental increases in the minimum wage won’t address the underlying skills and investment gaps in Illinois.

I’m a big outdoorsman… I’m a big hunter. Avid fisherman. Hiker. Climber. Scuba diver. Skier. Love the outdoors.

I am going to try to rip the economic guts out of Indiana. But we’re going to do it methodically and aggressively.

In democracy – and the good thing about democracy, big change does not happen quickly, and you need a buy-in and a convincing, a selling, an arm-twisting to get big change. And that takes time.