I Would Be Honored to Have Your Vote
Today, we have the opportunity to select a Republican gubernatorial candidate who will revive our state’s jobs climate, say “NO” to tax hikes, and restore ethical, authentic leadership to Springfield.
I would be honored to have your vote.
Throughout this Primary Campaign, I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to meet with voters and discuss the issues important to you.
As I said when we launched this campaign, I believe that representative government in Illinois is broken. Who do the politicians in Springfield represent? They don’t represent you — and they don’t represent me.
Our campaign is about returning government to the people of Illinois.
It has been my honor to serve the people of Illinois throughout my career of public service, from my days as DuPage County State’s Attorney to my two terms as Illinois Attorney General.
I would be my honor to serve you as Governor.
Thank you for your support — together, we will win today’s Primary Election, which will be the first step in our campaign to bring an end to the Quinn/Blagojevich era and return Illinois government to the people of this great state.
BREAKING: Schillerstrom Endorses Our Campaign
Today, I was proud to receive the endorsement of DuPage County Chairman Bob Schillerstrom — who has announced he is ending his campaign for Illinois governor.
Bob ran a spirited campaign, and we share many of the same priorities for Illinois — especially putting Illinoisans back to work and holding the line against higher taxes.
Bob has been a successful chief executive of Illinois’ second-largest county, and his endorsement brings significant support and momentum to our campaign.
We are leading the Primary and General Election polls, and victory is within our grasp.
Thank you to Bob Schillerstrom for this generous and important endorsement, and I hope to earn the support of all those voters who were previously supporting Bob’s campaign for governor.
UPDATE: Please watch this video of Bob providing a strong endorsement of our campaign:
Lee Newcom on Jim’s ‘Deep, Solid Character’
In this video, Lee Newcom, McLean County Recorder of Deeds, board member of the United Republican Fund, and longtime Illinois Conservative leader, discusses the “deep, solid character” of Jim Ryan.
The Massachusetts Election Results
The lesson of Massachusetts is that when people get engaged, they can take back their government. In Illinois, people are as fed up as anywhere in the country following eight years of disastrous Democratic rule.
Representative government here is broken and the people want it fixed. I intend to help people restore trust in government. The Massachusetts Miracle is only the first shot in 2010—the year we take back state government from those who have taken us for granted.
Jim Ryan Outlines Jobs & Growth Agenda
Former Attorney General Jim Ryan today unveiled his jobs/growth agenda in the Peoria region, one of the state’s many cities staggering under the weight of failed state policies.
“The future of our state depends upon our ability to transform our economy,” Ryan said.
In numerous state rankings, Illinois is nearly at the bottom of all states in economic growth and job creation.
These failed policies have devastating effects on Illinois families.
As the Illinois Policy Institute observed in a 2008 study, “Slow growth means less job creation, fewer jobs overall, higher unemployment and lessened personal and business prosperity. Slow growth also means less funding for worthy nonprofit charitable activities and less funding for business reinvestment.”
In order to reverse the trend, Ryan’s plan includes the following main points:
Creation of a Council of Economic Advisors. Jim Ryan will convene a Council of Economic Advisors, consisting of economists, university researchers, economic forecasters, business leaders, and labor leaders to make policy recommendations that will make our state more productive and competitive.
Wield a pro-competitive veto pen. Jim Ryan will veto any bill that makes Illinois less competitive and sign any bill that makes us more competitive. The days of bashing businesses to score political points are over. Illinois needs a leader who will focus on what is important—developing the conditions that encourage entrepreneurs to invest in our state.
Reshape the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). Jim Ryan will rebuild DCEO from the ground up. This Illinois Economic Development Corporation, a public-private partnership, will take the lead on offering businesses the information and incentives they need to invest in Illinois. Ryan will reach out to business leaders to serve on this corporation’s board of directors.
Creation of a new Illinois Venture Capital Investment Tax Credit. As governor, Jim Ryan will let the market— not government bureaucrats—determine which technologies have the best chance of succeeding. To that end, Ryan will call on the legislature to pass an Illinois Venture Capital Investment Tax Credit designed to reward investors who support early-stage Illinois business ventures, particularly ventures related to advanced technologies. The credit would be equal to the lesser of a) the amount of capital (in a calendar year) multiplied by 20 percent or b) $500,000. The Illinois Economic Development Corporation will certify eligible investments.
Creation of an Illinois Shovel Ready Program to cut red tape. The Shovel-Ready Program is designed to lower site development costs and expedite the permitting process by providing investors with all relevant information before beginning site development. Under this program, the Illinois Economic Development Corporation will work in collaboration with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois Department of Transportation, other relevant state agencies, and local leaders to help prospective site developers understand the steps necessary to begin development on a specific project. The Shovel Ready program will help projects move from the planning stage to the implementation stage faster than ever before.
Reduce costs for employers. Jim Ryan is committed to reforming workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance in Illinois. Our current rate structure and eligibility guidelines send a strong signal to employers that Illinois does not want them to set up shop within our borders. Ryan will submit a comprehensive reform package to the legislature outlining the changes necessary to place Illinois back on a path toward growth.
Repeal of Blagojevich-era fee increases. Jim Ryan will call on the legislature to repeal the steep fee increases on businesses that were passed by the Democrat-controlled General Assembly and signed by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2003. These fees impacted businesses large and small, including manufacturers, banks, credit unions, trucking firms, and used car dealers. One of the most egregious fee increases involved raising the fee for a used car dealer’s business license from $50 to an unreasonable $1,000 (see p. 353 of Public Act 93-0032). Fee increases are simply hidden taxes, and they are nearly always passed on to customers.
Renewable energy production. Jim Ryan will continue the progress that Illinois has made in alternative energy production in recent years. “Green collar” jobs will be an integral part of Illinois’ economy into the future. To that end, Ryan will support education programs that provide workers with the skills necessary to install and maintain wind turbines, solar energy systems, and commercial, industrial, and residential energy efficiency systems. Ryan will ensure that community colleges are well-equipped to train traditional and adult students in these technologies. Ryan wants to see Illinois improve its business climate so that citizens trained in these fields have opportunities to put their skills to work.
A stronger agricultural focus. Jim Ryan believes that a strong state university system is directly linked with a strong agricultural climate. He will ensure that the University of Illinois’ College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences has the resources that it needs to continue its leading-edge research on agricultural improvement and alternative energy. To ensure that agriculture continues to be well-represented in Illinois’ university system, Ryan supports the Illinois Farm Bureau’s position to require that at least one member of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees have an agricultural background.
An emphasis on biofuels. Jim Ryan supports developing Illinois’ energy resources. Illinois has more BTUs worth of coal underneath its surface than BTUs in all the oil in Saudi Arabia. Coal is found under two-thirds of the land mass of Illinois. He supports state capital construction grants (as well as continued, major federal support) for the “FutureGen” coal plant in the Mattoon area. This facility will capture and send carbon dioxide emissions underground where they cannot harm the atmosphere. In addition, Ryan is committed to broadly deploying existing biofuels technology (including ethanol and soy biodiesel) as well as continuing research on potential new sources of biomass energy (such as miscanthus grass for ethanol and pennycress for biodiesel). Pennycress is a high oil weed that can be grown in the fall-winter-spring cycle so that a summer crop of soybeans can also be grown. This plant, rich in oil, has the potential to transform both Illinois agriculture and the renewable fuels industry. Ryan supports research grants to innovative bio-fuel developments such as the pennycress production facility near Peoria.
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Dr. Leo Gordon on the Jim Ryan He Knows
Jim Ryan has beat back three bouts of non-Hodgkins large cell lymphoma cancer and has been cancer-free for eight years. In this video, Dr. Leo Gordon of Northwestern Memorial Hospital (who treated Jim) talks about Jim’s courage and strength during these tough challenges.
Slow Down, Governor
Statement from Jim Ryan on news that White House has decided to move al- Qaeda terrorists to Illinois:
“Slow down, Governor Quinn. Moving al-Qaeda terrorists into Illinois should not be done after only a single public hearing three days before Christmas.
Governor Quinn, be true to your word and let the people speak. If citizens are really in charge in Illinois, then give them an opportunity to speak their mind on this important issue. Schedule a series of real public hearings after the first of the year to allow us to have our say.
Polls already show a majority of Illinoisans disapprove of the transfer. The public understands that moving some of the most dangerous people in the world to our state could makes us more of a target. This is no time to play politics and ramrod through a decision that appears already to have been made.
If you are sincere about allowing the public to speak, you will schedule meaningful public hearings.”
Quinn’s a Public Safety Disaster
Illinois gubernatorial candidate and former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan reacted today to revelations in an Associated Press story that Governor Pat Quinn secretly released more than 850 inmates since September by immediately awarding them months of good-conduct credit, some of whom were convicted of violent crimes or with violent pasts that spent as few as 14 days total behind bars for a one-year sentence:
“Imagine a world where a governor secretly negotiates to bring al-Qaeda terrorists to his state and then follows that up with a secret program to release felons before they serve a day in their assigned prisons.
Sadly, this is Illinois under Pat Quinn’s leadership. A governor first and foremost must protect its citizens–a notion that seems lost on Mr. Quinn. This is exactly why Illinois needs a prosecutor in the governor’s mansion. “
Happy Thanksgiving
On behalf of my family and our entire campaign team — I want to wish you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.
Our family has faced its share of challenges during the past two decades — but we have never lost faith or the hope that tomorrow is a better day.
For that, I am so very thankful.
Long ago, our family realized that the only way to face any challenge is to face it together.
Here in Illinois, we face the greatest challenges we’ve ever seen. But I know we will perservere by facing these challenges together.
I was born and raised here in Illinois, and I’ve seen our state at its best … and at its worst. I believe in the good people of this state, and I know that tomorrow is a better day.
We hold the power to restore and renew Illinois. And I know we will work together to do just that.
Please enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend. Relish the time you spend with your family, friends and loved ones.
Thank you so much for your support and encouragement during this campaign.
God Bless,
Jim Ryan
Today I Announced My Candidacy for Governor
Here in Illinois, we face some of the greatest challenges our state has ever seen.
But we can get through it by rejecting the special interest politics that have permeated Springfield during the past seven years — and restoring trust and integrity to our governorship and state legislature.
That’s why today — in front of the statute of Abraham Lincoln at the state capitol in Springfield — I announced my candidacy for Illinois Governor.
Make no mistake — this campaign will be about you, the people of Illinois … not the special interests in Springfield.
That is why the first official request of our campaign isn’t for money — it’s for your ideas.
That’s right — please click on the below link to share your ideas on how we can best reform our state:
Back in our 2002 race for Illinois Governor, we ran an ad called “Challenges” that showed some of the challenges I’ve had to face in life — some personal, some sports-related, and some professional.
I’ve faced my share of challenges, and I’ve never backed down.
I know you won’t back down, either. Your ideas, your support, and your hard work are how we are going to build a successful campaign to take back Illinois from the special interests who have run our state into the ground.
Now is the time to renew Illinois. With your help, we will do just that.