Rauner at it again with anti-tax robo calls

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner is moving again to capitalize on Democrats’ push to extend the state’s income tax increase, putting out robocalls to residents of various Illinois senate districts asking them to join his campaign.

One of those districts is that of Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago.

Gov. Pat Quinn, who faces Rauner in November, has called on making a temporary income tax increase permanent, saying it’s needed to pay for education. He’s lobbying General Assembly members to vote to support his budget, which calls for the 5 percent income tax to remain permanent. Quinn has called on Rauner to offer up his own plan to plug the state’s budget hole, something Rauner hasn’t done yet.

Rauner’s camp said the calls were going out today to a series of “key” senate districts in Chicago.

Rauner recently riled Rahm Emanuel by paying for robocalls in Chicago to counter the Mayor’s proposal to raise property taxes to pay for shortfalls in two of four public pensions in the City.

At the time, City Hall released this statement: “Bruce Rauner hasn’t even gotten to Springfield, and he’s already acting like a career politician who plays politics with people’s pensions and livelihood,” Emanuel spokeswoman Sarah Hamilton said late Tuesday. “This pension reform bill currently awaiting the governor’s signature will bring financial security to 60,000 hardworking people and provides more savings through reform than a plan proposed by Mr. Rauner just a few years ago.”

Here’s text of the call in Cullerton’s district:

“Hello, this is Bruce Rauner. Governor Pat Quinn and State Senator John Cullerton are pressuring state lawmakers to raise your income taxes. Pat Quinn and John Cullerton think you don’t pay enough in taxes – but I disagree. There’s still time to help me fight the Quinn-Cullerton tax increase. If you oppose higher income taxes and want to get more involved in my campaign, call me at 312-583-0704. Paid for by Citizens for Rauner, Inc.”