Rauner lashes back after Quinn's criticism on $20 million campaign gift

Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner shot back at departing Gov. Pat Quinn on Saturday, a day after Quinn told the Chicago Sun-Times Rauner’s $20 million contribution to his own campaign fund “obliterated” the spirit of the state’s campaign-finance laws.

“The special interest groups that make their money from the government are the problem in our political donation system,” Rauner told reporters at an appearnace at a bowling alley in downstate Moweaqua two days before his inauguration. “That’s what Gov. Quinn relied on in his prior election, just like Rod Blagojevich.

“I have no connections to the government…. All the folks that have given him his money get their contracts and money from the government. That’s a conflict of interest. That’s the biggest problem we got.”

Quinn had said Friday that Rauner’s decision to put $20 million in his campaign fund amounted to “thumbing his nose” at campaign-finance reforms in Illinois.

During the campaign, Rauner’s contribution of $250,000 to himself triggered the removal of the usual limits on contributions. He ended up spending $65 million on his campaign.

At the packed bowling alley in the town of 2,000, Rauner reiterated his pledge that he’ll fight interest groups and lobbyists.

“It ain’t going to be easy,” Rauner said. “The special interest groups that like the status quo, they are going to fight hard. They like their power. But these lobbyists, these special interest groups, they’ve never seen anybody like me.”