Rauner Shows His Love For Ride-Sharing Companies
By aaroncynic in News on Jul 23, 2014 4:30PM
Bruce Rauner
In the video, Rauner said that Uber and other ride-share companies like it “provide a great service” and are part of economic growth and job creation. The business mogul turned faux populist champion urged people to take to social media to tell Gov. Pat Quinn to veto a bill on his desk that regulates the industry.
House Bill 4075 would impose regulations on drivers who work more than 18 hours a week, obtain a commercial license, prove they’re insured and have distinctive license plates. Additionally, the bill prohibits ride-share drivers from dropping off or picking up passengers at airports, convention centers or designated taxicab stands.
Rauner, who passed on taking the $90,000 “Shake Up Express” to a campaign stop yesterday morning in favor of riding in an Uber car told the Tribune “Our kids use it a lot. There are a lot of neighborhoods in Chicago where there aren’t cabs.” He then went on to call the ride-sharing bill a “restraint of competition.”
Taxi drivers have to obtain the same type of license and, in Chicago, the industry is tightly regulated by the City. An ordinance similar to the bill awaiting Quinn’s signature passed the Chicago City Council in May. Taxi drivers in the city have said those regulations are not enough and still favor ride-share companies. Actual fares for Uber and other ride-sharing companies would still not be regulated, whereas cab fares have been frozen in place since 2005 by the city, despite increasing operating costs. A study released by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees in June showed that at least half of Chicago's cab drivers make less than minimum wage.
Rauner’s opposition to the ride-share bill makes perfect sense. Keeping a burgeoning industry beloved by investors deregulated is the kind of thing we’ve come to expect from political candidates backed by Wall Street money. It’s certain to keep his fishing buddy—Chicago’s Mayor—happy, as Rahm Emanuel’s brother has been a big fan of Uber. Meanwhile, proponents of the bill fired back at the Rauner campaign late yesterday afternoon. In a statement, Mara Georges, an attorney for the Illinois Transportation Trade Association said:
“Ride-share companies claim they can regulate themselves, but time and time again they have proven that they cannot protect their drivers or passengers. It is unfortunate that Bruce Rauner would side with Silicon Valley multi-billionaires and venture capitalists, rather than Illinois consumers.”