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Greg Baise

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Greg Baise
Baise in 2017
Illinois Secretary of Transportation
In office
November 1984 – November 1989
GovernorJames R. Thompson
Preceded byJohn D. Kramer[1]
Succeeded byKirk Brown[2]
Jacksonville, Illinois, alderman
In office
1975–1978
Personal details
Born (1952-04-13) April 13, 1952 (age 72)
Jacksonville, Illinois
Political partyRepublican
SpouseTonya
Children2

Gregory W. Baise[3] (born April 13, 1952) is an American politician. He previously served as the longtime president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association. Before that, Baise served in many political and governmental roles, including as Illinois Secretary of Transportation, in which role he was director of the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Baise has been involved in a number of political action committees (PACs).

Early life and education

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Baise was born April 13, 1952, in Jacksonville, Illinois.[4] He grew up on a farm nearby.[4] He graduated from Triopia High School in 1970, and went on to attend Illinois College in Jacksonville.[4] He graduated from Illinois College in 1974.[5]

Early career

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Baise spent his final two summers of college as an intern at the United States House of Representatives at the time of the Watergate hearings.[4]

After graduating from college, Baise was elected an alderman in Jacksonville.[4] He served as alderman from 1975 through 1978.[6] His employment outside of government was in the admission's department of Illinois College.[4]

During the 1976 Illinois gubernatorial election, Baise volunteered for the campaign of James R. Thompson.[4] This began a fourteen-year period in which he would hold various roles as a staffer for Thompson.[7] After Thompson's victory, Baise was hired to serve as a travel aide to Governor Thompson.[4] In 1979, he became Thompson's scheduler, heading the governor's scheduling office.[4][8] Effective January 5, 1981, he became Thompson's Personnel Director, a role in which he oversaw the governor's patronage appointments.[4][8][9] At the same time that he became the personnel director, he also was named an assistant to Arthur Quern, the director of government operations.[8]

Baise was campaign manager for Thompson's 1986 reelection campaign.[5][9][10]

During the 1984 United States presidential election, Baise managed Ronald Reagan's campaign operations in Illinois.[4][9]

Illinois Secretary of Transportation

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Baise, circa 1985

In November 1984, Baise was appointed by Thompson as Illinois Secretary of Transportation, making him the director of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).[4][11]

Under Baise, an emergency number *999 was created as the Cellular Express Line to be used by expressway motorists with mobile phones (then on the rise) in the Chicago-area. Baise announced the program in August 1989.[12][13]

In November 1989, Baise told local officials that IDOT had decided that it would only complete a portion of the planned route of Illinois Route 390.[14]

During Baise's tenure, work was completed on upgrading U.S. Route 51 in Illinois.[15]

During the 1988 United States presidential election, Baise served as an advisor to George H. W. Bush's campaign operations in Illinois,[4] and ran its Southern Illinois operations.[9]

In 1989, Baise was also appointed as chairman of the Governor's Earthquake Preparedness Task Force.[16]

Plans for a new Chicago airport

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See also: Proposed Chicago south suburban airport

Baise was involved in the Chicago Airport Capacity Study in partnership with the state's of Wisconsin and Indiana. The study concluded that a new airport would need to be constructed by the year 2000, and should be located in the southern part of the region.[17] The study and its conclusions drew criticism for its cost projections and passenger projections, among other critiques.[17][18] The technical committee of the study, which consisted of the planning departments of the three states, had departed the study with its own conclusions, that argued that the region's existing airports could sufficiently meet demand in the foreseeable future.[17] However, the policy committee of the study, led by Baise along with Aldo DeAngelis and Lieutenant Governor of Illinois George Ryan, continued ahead with studying plans for an additional airport.[17] After Wisconsin got its demand of having Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport named as Chicago's "supplemental" airport, the state withdrew from its participation in the study, leaving just Illinois and Indiana.[17][18]

In 1989, the Illinois-Indiana Regional Airport Study was formed, and its commission studied four potential sites, including Gary Airport, a site along the Illinois-Indiana border, Peotone, Illinois, and Kankakee, Illinois. They also, at the urging of newly elected Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley, added the proposed Lake Calumet airport to their study.[17]

Baise became chairman of the Third Airport Policy Committee.[19]

1990 Illinois Treasurer campaign

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November 16, 1989, Baise resigned as Secretary of Transportation in order to focus on his campaign running for Illinois treasurer in 1990.[20]

Baise won the Republican nomination, but lost general election to Democrat Pat Quinn[4]

Baise campaigned on a message of conservatism.[7] His opponent, Quinn, campaigned as a populist reformer in opposition to big government.[7]

Baise's campaign adopted a tactic of painting Quinn as a longtime anti-establishment demagogue.[7] His campaign also criticized Quinn for his failed 1986 treasurer campaign and for having considered runs for various other offices before opting to run again for treasurer.[7] His campaign also painted Quinn as having had few accomplishments.[7]

Baise criticized Quinn's plan to close what Quinn had called a "tax loophole".[7] Quinn had lobbied for the state to impose a sales tax on farm machinery.[7]

One of Baise's campaign proposals was to establish a "College Savings Plan" to enable the treasurer's office to help students and families afford the cost of higher education.[15] He also promised to modernize the office through technology.[15] This included establishing electronic transfers of funds.[7] He additionally promised to expand the Illinois Public Treasurers’ Investment Pool through collaboration with municipal governments and local treasurers.[15] He also pledged that he would request the Illinois General Assembly establish an advisory board to give him recommendations on where he should invest state money.[7]

During his campaign, there was an incident in which his two-engine plane lost power and landed in a wheat field near Pontiac, Illinois. There were no injuries.[9]

Quinn accused Baise of improper conduct by accepting a loan from a road contractor while serving as Illinois Secretary of Transportation.[21]

Baise ultimately lost to Quinn by an 11.4 point margin.[22] Of all the major-party nominees for Illinois statewide offices in 1990, Baise received the least votes, the greatest margin of defeat, and the lowest percentage of the vote in his race.[22]

Leadership of the Illinois Manufacturer's Association

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On March 1, 1991, Baise succeeded Arthur R. Gottschalk as president of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA).[23][24] He later also became CEO.[4]

As head of the organization, Baise quickly involved himself in lobbying business issues, including regulatory reforms such as the deregulation of electrical utilities and efforts to alter workers' compensation laws.[9]

Baise was credited with overseeing a revitalization of the IMA's education foundation.[9]

IMA was involved with successfully pushing for the repeal of the Illinois Structural Work Act, the institution of the Manufacturer's Purchase Credit, the passage of significant reforms to workers' compensation and unemployment insurance, major reforms to tort law and education policies, and the passage of landmark hydraulic fracturing legislation.[5]

In 2004, Baise founded Xpress Professional Services, a for-profit subsidiary of IMA.[9][5] Xpress Professional Services is a political fulfillment firm which delivers such services as direct mail, radio, and television production and placement for candidates.[5] The firm would also, in 2006, establish a polling service named We Ask America.[5][25]

In 2018, Baise announced that he would retire as president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association effective January 1, 2019. He also announced that he would continue to head the organizations' subsidiary for-profit political strategy and marketing firm Xpress Professional Services.[9][26][27]

Political action committee involvement

[edit]

Baise has been involved with a number of political action committees (PACs).

The Illinois Manufacturers' Association, which Baise was the longtime head of, has its own political action committee called Manufacturers PAC, also known as MPAC.[28]

In 2004, Baise, became the lead co-founder of the Illinois Coalition for Jobs, a 501(c) organization.[5]

In 2008, Baise and Ronald Gidwitz formed the Economic Freedom Alliance, a 527 organization, to oppose the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.[5]

Baise has served as treasurer of New Prosperity Foundation political action committee since it was founded during the 2010 election cycle.[29][30][31][32][33][34][35]

Baise serves as chairman of Ideas Illinois PAC.[36][37]

In 2019, Baise founded the Vote No on Blank Check Amendment Committee to oppose the Illinois Fair Tax.[38] He served as head of the committee.[39]

Personal life

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Baise and his wife, Tonya, have two children.[7]

At various points of his life Baise has lived in various places in Illinois, including Chicago, Jacksonville,[4] Lemont,[40] Oak Brook, Springfield,[7] and Willowbrook.

Electoral history

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Jacksonville Alderman

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Illinois State Treasurer

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1990 Illinois Treasurer Republican primary[41]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Greg Baise 594,238 100
Total votes 594,238 100
1990 Illinois Treasurer election[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Patrick Quinn 1,740,742 55.7
Republican Greg Baise 1,384,492 44.3
Write-in Paul Salander 55 0.0
Total votes 3,125,289 100

References

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  1. ^ "Illinois Blue Book 1983–1984". www.idaillinois.org. Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  2. ^ "Secretary of Transportation Kirk Brown retiring". nwitimes.com. The Times of Northwest Indiana. The Associated Press. 10 September 2002. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  3. ^ "Illinois Blue Book, 1989–1990". www.idaillinois.org. Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "An Interview with Gregory Baise Part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Illinois Statecraft Oral History project" (PDF). Government of Illinois. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Greg Baise – City Club of Chicago". www.cityclub-chicago.org. City Club of Chicago. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  6. ^ Berkman, Harvey (August 1990). "Electing Illinois' other executives". Illinois Issues. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Guy, Sandra (14 October 1990). "Illinois election 1990. Candidate profiles. Illinois state". nwitimes.com. The Times of Northwest Indiana.
  8. ^ a b c "Names". Illinois Issues. February 1981. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i Pearson, Rick (16 July 2018). "Top state business group leader to retire, keep doing political work". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  10. ^ Merriner, James L. (8 September 2008). The Man Who Emptied Death Row: Governor George Ryan and the Politics of Crime. SIU Press. p. 48. ISBN 9780809328659. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  11. ^ Hardy, Thomas (15 November 1987). "What's Ahead for Former 'Bag Boy' Gregory Baise?". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  12. ^ Rai, Sumeeta (13 August 1989). "Expressway Help a Closer Call". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  13. ^ Hanna, Janan (22 November 1996). "Cellular Phones to Keep Free Emergency Line". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  14. ^ FAP-426, Elgin O'Hare Highway Improvement: Environmental Impact Statement. 1990. pp. 174–175. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  15. ^ a b c d Bode, Gus (1 January 1990). "Gregory Baise said he has plans to aid higher education if he is elected state treasurer". Daily Egyptian. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  16. ^ Crosby, Tim (8 November 1989). "lOOT Secretary talks to students .about campaign for state treasurer". opensiuc.lib.siu.edu. The Daily Egyptian. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  17. ^ a b c d e f FAA Site Approval and Land Acquisition by State of Illinois, Proposed South Suburban Airport: Environmental Impact Statement. 2001. p. 121.
  18. ^ a b Heuer, Robert (14 March 2002). "Runway Inflation". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  19. ^ Wilkerson, Isabel (12 March 1990). "New Airport Is Planned to Help O'Hare, but Where?". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  20. ^ "Baise Resigns Post to Run for Treasurer". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. 17 November 1989. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  21. ^ "Loan From Road Contractor To Baise Was Improper, Quinn Says". Newspapers.com. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 24 October 1990. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  22. ^ a b c "State of Illinois official vote cast at the general election ." Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  23. ^ "Baise to head business group: Greg Baise,..." chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. 25 January 1991. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  24. ^ "Luncheon: Greg Baise, CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association – Calendar – Rotary Club of Chicago". rotaryone.clubexpress.com. Chicago Rotary Rotary/One. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  25. ^ "We Ask America". We Ask America. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  26. ^ "IMA chief Greg Baise hanging it up". Crain's Chicago Business. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  27. ^ "Baise retiring as head of Illinois Manufacturers' Association". The State Journal-Register. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  28. ^ "Illinois Manufacturers Association". Follow the Money. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  29. ^ "New Prosperity Foundation Summary". www.opensecrets.org. Open Secrets. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  30. ^ "New Prosperity Foundation Summary". www.opensecrets.org. Open Secrets. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  31. ^ "New Prosperity Foundation Summary". www.opensecrets.org. Open Secrets. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  32. ^ "New Prosperity Foundation Summary". www.opensecrets.org. Open Secrets. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  33. ^ "New Prosperity Foundation Summary". www.opensecrets.org. Open Secrets. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  34. ^ "New Prosperity Foundation Summary". www.opensecrets.org. Open Secrets. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  35. ^ "New Prosperity Foundation PAC Profile". OpenSecrets. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  36. ^ Kapos, Shia. "New ad blasts Daley — Poll: It's a 5-way dash to the finish — Beto to visit Chicago". POLITICO. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  37. ^ "Statement from Ideas Illinois Chairman Greg Baise on Passage of Unfair Jobs Tax". Ideas Illinois. Archived from the original on 10 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  38. ^ "Greg Baise: Committee formed to take on progressive tax amendment". The State Journal-Register. Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  39. ^ Kapos, Shia; Hurst, Adrienne (11 December 2019). "Pritzker Pumps $5M Into 'Fair Tax' — Patti Vasquez's Tragic Past — Pro-Trump Group Targets Underwood". Politico. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  40. ^ Gaines, William; Secter, Bob (3 January 1999). "Clout Goes to College Free". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  41. ^ "State of Illinois official vote cast at the primary election held on ..." Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Illinois Treasurer
1990 		Succeeded by
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