Gov. Rauner, J.B. Pritzker Debate Taxes, Immigration, Scandals

CHICAGO — With just four weeks to go before the election, the two leading candidates for governor met before the editorial board and reporters from the Chicago Sun-Times Tuesday ahead of a final debate later this week. Incumbent Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner trails Democratic challenger J.B. Pritzker by double digits in recent polling, and two are scheduled to meet for one last televised debate 7 p.m. Thursday in Downstate Quincy.

In an hourlong discussion that at times devolved into a shouting match, the two candidates found some areas of common ground. Both agreed the state's roughly 7,000 layers of government was too many, with both recommending local populations be empowered to consolidate them. Both men also said Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan was too slow to respond to accusations of sexual harassment against members of his political organization. But the areas of agreement were limited.

The governor insisted a progressive income tax would be a disaster for the middle class, despite evidence presented by the newspaper board, while his billionaire challenger repeated his assertion that the state's constitutionally mandated flat tax was so regressive middle class taxpayers wound up paying rates roughly double what the two ultra-wealthy nominees get taxed.

The candidates also disagreed on immigration policy. Pritzker said undocumented immigrants needed the protection of state government as the Trump Administration has cracked down on illegal immigrants in Illinois, which he said were good for the economy. The governor blamed illegal immigration for unemployment and crime rates in Chicago.

"I support legal immigration, legal immigration has built america and I support streamling and simplifying it. Illegal immigration takes jobs away from Americans and holds down wages, hurts union workers, farm workers, factory workers, hurts wages and raises unemployment, that's a fact," Rauner said. "One of the reasons we have such high unemployment in the city of Chicago and so much crime is the massive number of illegal immigrants taking jobs away from American citizens and Chicago citizens."

Pritzker, a billionaire venture capitalist, said the term "undocumented" rather "illegal" immigrant was more appropriate and noted his own great-grandfather arrived in Chicago as a refugee from present-day Ukraine and was taken in by a social services agency before amassing a considerable fortune in business. Pritzker said undocumented immigrants were not a burden to the state.

"What we need to do is protect the immigrants that are here in our state. We have immigrants here who are not protected, under attack by President Trump," Pritzker said. "He stands with President Trump on this. I do not."

In several feisty exchanges Tuesday morning at the Sun-Times forum, the candidates sought to keep the focus on allegations against their opponent.

When questioned about his own record, Pritzker looked to emphasize Rauner's handling of the Quincy Legionnaires' outbreak, in which 14 people eventually died and a WBEZ investigation revealed administration officials delayed notifying the public and residents.

Meanwhile, Rauner looked to deflect questions about his own scandals to J.B. Pritzker's history of property tax appeals, which the governor described as "cheating on his taxes," and which the Cook County Office of the Independent Inspector General described as a "scheme to defraud" in a confidential memo obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Shortly after the Sun-Times published the inspector general's report on an investigation into whether Pritzker's property tax appeals were granted as a result of an improper relationship with Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios, chief of the Cook County Democratic Party at the time, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced her office had opened a criminal investigation into how Rauner's office handled the Quincy veterans home incident.

Just before the candidates met Tuesday, Crain's Chicago Business reported the inspector general's document was provided to the Sun-Times by Peter Karahalios, a top staffer to Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, citing multiple unnamed sources. Karahalios, a Rauner appointee who the governor described as a "dear personal friend," denied that he leaked the report, according to Crain's. Pritzker denies wrongdoing and said he returned the $330,000 he gained in tax breaks.

During the debate, Pritzker said there were unspecified "inaccuracies" in the inspector general's report. Columnist Mary Mitchell asked if he was suggesting taking advantage of tax loopholes reflected on his character.

"Are you saying that this does not reflect negatively on character?" Mitchell asked Pritzker.

"No," Pritzker said. "In fact, I am not saying that. I am telling you that the rules were followed here and that there were inaccuracies in [the inspector general's] report."

"Oh come on," said Rauner, who interrupted throughout. "How outrageous." (Pritzker responded to a later interruption, "Governor, could you let me finish? I know you're in these desperate final hours of the campaign and on the attack.")

Mitchell asked Rauner at what point the reaction to the Legionairres' outbreak at the state-run Quincy veterans home rose to the level of criminal or unethical behavior. The governor said he took action immediately and every day to keep veterans safe.

"There's been hundreds of hours of testimony and review by outside groups, by the legislature, by the national experts at CDC," Rauner said. "And at no point has anyone ever said there was any unethical or criminal behavior ever."

"So why do you think it's being investigated?" Mitchell asked.

"For political purposes," said Rauner. "This is the most important question. Because this election is about integrity and character." He went on to seek to contrast the probe of him by the office of the Democratic attorney general, which he suggested was a distraction, and the investigation of Pritzker by a Democratic Cook County official. (Later, the governor called the attorney general's Quincy veterans home probe "a phony one trumped up by your Madigan clan.")

On the lighter side, political reporter Tina Sfondeles asked both candidates to describe their diet and wellness routine amid a busy schedule and stressful job. Rauner said he enjoys relaxing by taking rides on his motorcycle, ice skating in the winter and rollerblading in the summer. Pritzker, while acknowledging he has struggled with his weight and remains focused on eating healthily, said he enjoys playing tennis and taking walks along Lake Michigan.

The reflection on their respective relaxation techniques was soon interrupted, however, as both candidates returned to the pattern of accusing one another of cheating on property taxes and letting veterans die by engaging in a cover-up of a public health emergency.

In other endorsements, Pritzker declined an invitation from the Chicago Tribune editorial board, and the newspaper subsequently endorsed Rauner. Both candidates appeared before staff of Crain's Chicago Business, which endorsed Pritzker after having picked Rauner over former Gov. Pat Quinn four years ago.

Watch: Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic challenger J.B. Pritzker meet before the Chicago Sun-Times editorial board Oct. 9 in an event sponsored by AARP Illinois:

Earlier:

• Attorney General Candidates Spar At Chicago Sun-Times Forum
• Rauner And Pritzker Clash In First One-On-One Debate
• Sparks Fly In Four-Way Illinois Governor's Debate