Illinois' second-richest man is backing Governor Bruce Rauner's agenda according to a campaign contribution filed today. Rauner's amassing enough money to dwarf that of his political foes.
Sam Zell sat out of Rauner's race for governor. State records show no listing of Zell giving any money leading up to the election last November.
But now Zell, a Chicago real estate and investment mogul, has come through with a record-setting, $4 million contribution.
Not to the governor himself, but to his new "Turnaround Illinois" Political Action Committee. Here's how Rauner described the committee when asked about it last week:
"The Turnaround PAC is going to focus on supporting members of the General Assembly who will take on the special interests and vote to do our Turnaround agenda."
That agenda seeks to minimize unions' influence and reduce costs on business. Rauner, a Republican, often bemoans labor unions and trial lawyers as corrupt because of the contributions they make to politicians.
Separate from the PAC, Rauner's own campaign fund is sitting on $20 million.
