-By Warner Todd Huston
Former State Senator Steven Rauschenberger has once again thrown his hat in the ring and announced a run for his old Senate seat from the Elgin area’s 22nd District, a seat he held for 14 years.
Rauschenberger entered the State Legislature in 1992 and gained fame as one of the “Fab Five,” a group of five conservative senators that rode herd on Democratic overspending. In 2007, Rauschenberger explored a bid for governor but ultimately settled on a run as lt. gov. on a ticket with Ron Gidwitz. They lost the GOP nomination to the Topinka/Birkett ticket.
Here is the announcement from the Rauschenberger campaign:
Elgin IL – Steven J. Rauschenberger announced today his decision to seek the Republican nomination for the 22nd Illinois State Senate District. In a brief announcement at the opening of the Elgin Republican Headquarters, Rauschenberger pointed to the financial chaos in Springfield, and the Chicago centered Democratic control of state policy.
“Five unbalanced, unconstitutional state budgets in a row demonstrate the lack of principled leadership in State government. We need suburban legislators who are committed to challenging the Blagojevich-era state policies and will demand fair treatment for all the citizens of Illinois,” said Rauschenberger.
“When the state budget is used to punish domestic violence shelters, community mental health clinics, and aid to disabled citizens, and yet funds 7% raises for state bureaucrats, it is time for state legislators to stand up, instead of knuckling under to Chicago Democratic leaders.” Rauschenberger noted.
He added: “Senator Michael Noland (D-22) unfortunately is part of the problem, not part of the solution in getting Illinois off the wrong track.”
Rauschenberger pledges to make reform of the processes in state government an important part of his campaign, noting that: “Unless we change the direction of the state in 2010, Illinois will again allow backroom deals and long-serving Chicago politicians to re-draw our state legislative and Congressional districts after the US Census.”…“The elections in November of 2010 are an opportunity for voters to send a clear message that we want an Illinois we can be proud of again.”
About Steve Rauschenberger
Steve Rauschenberger is President of Rauschenberger Partners, an Illinois-based government affairs firm. Prior to founding the firm, Rauschenberger served for fifteen years in the Illinois State Senate, where he was chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee (1994-2002); and assistant Republican leader (2002-2006). In 2004 Steve ran statewide in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate. In 2006 he ran for Lt. Governor. He’s currently President of the United Republican Fund of Illinois, Inc.
Rauschenberger on the Illinois Budget mess on WTTW
(Cross posted at RedCounty.com)
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Warner Todd Huston is a Chicago based freelance writer, has been writing opinion editorials and social criticism since early 2001 and is featured on many websites such as NewsBusters.org, RightWingNews.com, CanadaFreePress.com, StoptheACLU.com, TheRealityCheck.org, RedState.com, Human Events Magazine, AmericanDailyReview.com, and the New Media Journal, among many, many others. Additionally, he has been a frequent guest on talk-radio programs to discuss his opinion editorials and current events and is currently the co-host of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Conservatism” heard on BlogTalkRadio. Warner is also the editor of the Cook County Page for RedCounty.com.
He has also written for several history magazines and appears in the new book “Americans on Politics, Policy and Pop Culture” which can be purchased on amazon.com. He is also the owner and operator of PubliusForum.com. Feel free to contact him with any comments or questions : EMAIL Warner Todd Huston
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