Lots of heat, very little light
Tuesday, Jun 9, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s top City Council ally on Tuesday said Gov. Bruce Rauner’s political inexperience and his background in business are complicating matters as the first-term governor tries to reach agreement with the “tremendously experienced” Democrats who control both legislative branches in Springfield. […]
“One of the things Harry Truman said about businessmen when they go into politics… he said the difficulty with businessmen entering politics after they’ve had successful business careers is that they want to start at the top,” O’Connor said in a reference to Rauner’s time in private equity before he ran for governor. “And sometimes government needs a learning curve. Sometimes it’s not as easy as it looks. And sometimes, just because you say it doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.” […]
“And so we’ve got a very inexperienced group in the governor’s office against a tremendously experienced group in the House and the Senate, two individuals who over the course of the last year-and-a-half have been vilified, called names, basically portrayed as evil, corrupt individuals. And now we expect them all to sit down at the table and get along, and put it all behind them and solve our problem. It’s a daunting task,” he said. “And so, for the people who think about ‘Why can’t they just get on with it,’ they’re all human and they’ve all come off a campaign that essentially just tried to eviscerate each other.”
* Former Gov. Edgar wants everybody to tone things down…
“I would hope both sides don’t escalate their attacks. I’m happy I haven’t seen any advertisements and I hope the Democrats stop sending their mailers. I’m not sure either side is going to scare the other side into an agreement.
“I’ve been in a lot of battles and, a year later, you can’t even remember what they were,” he said. “You get caught up in these things. Keep your eye on the bigger picture. We have to have an adequate budget, which we haven’t had for a long time.”
* OK, but Gov. Rauner just told reporters that Speaker Madigan and Senate President Cullerton make money off their property tax law practices which is a “conflict of interest” because they make more money when property taxes are high. He claimed Madigan makes “millions” off of high property taxes and Cullerton makes his “wealth” off of “government inside deals.”
You gotta wonder if Rauner had the stones to tell that to Cullerton’s face when the two met earlier today.
Just a thought, but perhaps Edgar ought to make his “calm down” case directly to the governor himself, because it isn’t what I’m hearing that Edgar has actually been saying.
* Meanwhile…
An Illinois House member has returned fire in what Gov. Bruce Rauner’s staff calls Democrats’ “sexist smear campaign” against the administration’s education adviser.
Chicago Democratic Rep. Sara Feigenholtz told colleagues on a House appropriations committee Tuesday that the Republican governor’s proposed cuts in daycare services are “ultimately the biggest act of sexism.”
Rauner representatives labeled Democrats sexist last week when the committee reviewed the $250,000-a-year contract for education czar Beth Purvis. It’s funded by the Department of Human Services’ budget — a target of Rauner spending cuts.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 3:10 pm:
Edgar was on Chicago Tonight saying things get heated, they’re heated now, but behind the scenes, things are going along.
I guess that was his job last night, claiming “All is Well” and dismissing the rancor as common or usual in divided government.
Edgar also said he has spoken to Madigan and Rauner.
Ok. Thanks.
- A guy - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 3:11 pm:
Thanks Patty O. Prophetic. In state government, the Governor is at the top. All that experience (including yours Patty O) has really paid off, hasn’t it?
Experience is a noun. Bad is a verb. Put them together and that’s the kind of experience we’ve had. Ask your own union members that you’ve systematically shorted. But, hey, you’re in a place to judge.
And Sara F….ah, nevermind.
- Just Observing - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 3:11 pm:
Technically speaking an argument can be made that Madigan does make more money when property taxes are higher, but in reality it would likely be a very long and complicated business plan. Madigan’s firm appeals assessed values, not property taxes, and his firm takes a percentage of any savings. He makes money on volume, and he gets business because he is perceived as a “go-to” firm. You can slash property taxes in half and his firm would still make big money.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 3:12 pm:
===“And so we’ve got a very inexperienced group in the governor’s office against a tremendously experienced group in the House and the Senate, two individuals who over the course of the last year-and-a-half…===
O’Connor is Spot On with how this is actually being seen as playing out. The learning curve should be embraced, not ignored.
- Wordslinger - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 3:13 pm:
I think Rauner has plenty of political experience. He’s been a playa for a very long time, bankrolling incumbents from both parties in support of his business interests.
Seriously, does the governor want to get in a discussion on how he made his money? Scoring pension deals aside, how’s about milking Medicaid in those Florida and Georgia nursing home bust outs?
Again, I think he’s just making a lot of noise as he screws up the chutzpah to sign the tax increase his own proposed budget anticipates.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 3:19 pm:
=== Gov. Edgar wants everybody to tone things down ===
Somehow I don’t get the impression that Rauner cares what Edgar says or has said since he garnered the endorsement from Edgar. God Bless Judy.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 3:19 pm:
(Sigh)
Bad - adjective, worse, worst; (Slang) badder, baddest
At least try.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 3:24 pm:
Edgar has an interest in promoting his image as a calm, wise, elder statesman, regardless of what he’s telling people behind the scenes.
- horse w/ no name - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 3:25 pm:
I’m gonna bad down to the store. The dog badded over the fence. Nope, I tried it. Bad is definitely not a verb.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 3:28 pm:
nice to see Pat O’Connor’s name on this blog. a nice and smart man.
- SonofSuperAbe2014 - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 3:29 pm:
I’m you know I’m bad
Sara F
- Norseman - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 3:31 pm:
=== I think Rauner has plenty of political experience. He’s been a playa for a very long time, bankrolling incumbents from both parties in support of his business interests. ===
Word, I agree that he’s got experience on the pulling strings for his own self-interest. However, I’d say he’s a fish out of water when it comes to pushing a public policy agenda. Rauner and a number of his so-called superstar staffers are ham-handed in pushing an agenda. He and his snarky minions think that threats and insults backed up by loads of money will help him prevail.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 3:35 pm:
=== I’d say he’s a fish out of water when it comes to pushing a public policy agenda. Rauner and a number of his so-called superstar staffers are ham-handed in pushing an agenda. He and his snarky minions think that threats and insults backed up by loads of money will help him prevail.===
Between O’Connor’s observation, and that grab, those two statements probably crystallize the issue as any I’ve heard yet.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 3:37 pm:
I thought the Governor was just one co-equal branch of government…
==He and his snarky minions think that threats and insults backed up by loads of money will help him prevail.==
Was it someone on here who said he’s kind of like the white-haired woman on Game of Thrones, except sub out her dragons for his money?
- Wordslinger - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 3:44 pm:
– Experience is a noun. Bad is a verb.–
Might be time for a nap or medication or something.
- Blah - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 3:57 pm:
He can’t be that good at politics. The GOP killed Rauner’s property tax bill in the House this afternoon. No more checks for them
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 4:00 pm:
===I thought the Governor was just one co-equal branch of government…===
That’s another place where the disconnect is apparent.
The Governor is the Executive, the “head” of Government, but that pesky constitution has the Legislative equal in governance.
- Arsenal -, your point may be lost on some, glad you made it.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 4:02 pm:
@ OW, I figured you were going to say it, then got tired of waiting.
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 4:13 pm:
Just observing, doesn’t that last sentence in your post kinda take the air out of the point you were trying to make?
-You could slash property taxes in half but Madigan’s firm would still make big money-
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 4:18 pm:
- Arsenal -, all good. Much respect.
They all need to work together, both need to give a bit too.
- A guy - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 4:22 pm:
=== Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 3:19 pm:
(Sigh)
Bad - adjective, worse, worst; (Slang) badder, baddest
At least try.===
Got me there. Apologies. Typing too fast. Adjective is what I meant. Mea culpa.
- A guy - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 4:22 pm:
Sling, see above.
- Dupage moderate - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 4:23 pm:
Curious what Rauner said is untrue? Madigan and Cullerton’s business survival and identity is directly tied to their political power - and that’s wrong and that needs to change.
I get it that its been that way for a long time in this state and that’s what’s making real reform near impossible. But, if this state is going to survive and flourish, it needs to change…and it needs to change soon.
- Just Me - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 4:29 pm:
Yeah, because all that “experience” has done such an awesome job the past decade.
- walker - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 4:32 pm:
Moderate: Yes, what Rauner said was untrue. He made the argument that Madigan and Cullerton make their money because property taxes are high, and that is why they oppose his property tax freeze. Both statements are false.
- A guy - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 4:52 pm:
Walk, it’s true that whether there’s a freeze or not, Madigan and Cullerton will have plenty of opportunity to make money. Their strategy really focuses more on assessments. Those will occur whether there is a freeze or not. They’ll convince business owners that their assessment is too high (feeding the perception that their property tax is too high) and virtually guarantee that they can and will get it lowered. And, in fact, they very likely will. Since there’s often no outlay for this wonderful service, it’s very appealing. Since it almost always works, it’s worth sharing the savings every assessment period where this process starts anew.
Rauner misstated the process to be sure. He also misstated that a property tax freeze would cause them private business problems…and that is not correct. The problems it will cause are well beyond their private business.
But there’s no question that those private businesses have flourished with their public positions. People can decide on their own how wrong they think that is. IMO, it’s a little close for comfort on the conflict scale.
- Bottom Line - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 4:54 pm:
Bottom Line is, our taxes are too low.
I understand the WHINING about how much we pay, but by definition, if there is a deficit, then we ain’t paying enough.
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 4:59 pm:
I think maybe Rauner shouldn’t be talking about where other people made their money. It reminds me of where his came from.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 5:01 pm:
The use of political power for financial gain is a human fault practiced by both parties. Rauner used it from behind the scenes when he spread it around. His purchased allies have used it. Calling out Madigan and Cullerton without direct evidence of an illegal act is simply continuing his ham-handed personal attacks that will not move the ball forward on any agreement.
- Louis G Atsaves - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 5:05 pm:
O’Connor’s take is pretty interesting. It is all Rauner’s fault, and only Rauner’s fault, and no single Democrat in Springfield is even remotely responsible for anything! It is Rauner’s inexperience! He should listen to the experienced who have so ably steered the ship of State and learn how to dig himself in an even deeper hole than he finds himself in.
Rep. Sara Feigenholtz last Tuesday warned all not to go there (with the sexism rap), then went here herself.
Children! Children!
- Steve - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 5:11 pm:
You can’t have a decent property taxes appeals business without high property taxes. Mike Madigan , Culterton ,and Alderman Ed Burke understand this. Rauner is correct about “conflict of interest”. No elected official should be allowed to be in the property tax appeals business. Because Illinois is an unethical and backward state: we have the political situation that exists in Springfield.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 5:13 pm:
- Louis G. Atsaves -,
Take another read of O’Connor. It’s about the impass and what may be causing Rauner… Rauner problems in dealing with MJM & Cullerton.
Are you saying Rauner and his Crew aren’t responsible for their own actions? That’s fun.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 5:21 pm:
== Yeah, because all that “experience” has done such an awesome job the past decade. ==
The experience kept the State running in spite of a bad Governor. It kept the State running in spite of a bumbling Governor. Maybe not running the way you wanted it to run, but that simple achievement when 1/3 of government was AWOL was pretty awesome.
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 5:23 pm:
Norseman, you are spot on today. Well said X2.
- anon - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 5:24 pm:
The Governor said he was going to do things DIFFERENTLY. And he is. Why are you all surprised?
- plutocrat03 - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 5:26 pm:
“if there is a deficit, then we ain’t paying enough”
As Thatcher once said, sometimes you just run out of everyone else money
A current example is the much praised 606 linear park. at a construction cost of $6,500 per foot and almost a quarter of the construction budget not yet collected…
That kind of money could have paid for some teacher, policemen or other need isn the city. Now the complaint is accelerated gentrification in the area. Who wins there?
- Louis G Atsaves - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 5:44 pm:
===Are you saying Rauner and his Crew aren’t responsible for their own actions?===
Sure they are. Just like the leadership in the Senate and House are responsible for their own actions.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 5:52 pm:
- Louis G. Atsaves -,
Both Nuding, (a pro’s pro) and Purvis, (exceptional today) could teach the Rauner Crew how to handle the Dems better than most of what I know I’ve seen from this Administration and Governor in dealing with rhetoric.
You say “Children! Children!”, how about make the point that the adults were the Rauner Crew and build off that to tone down this rhetoric.
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 6:13 pm:
==Rep. Sara Feigenholtz last Tuesday warned all not to go there (with the sexism rap), then went here herself.==
She complained about the sexism charges again today in committee, right before she ==went there herself==.
Some of the committee members looked like amateurs today.
- flea - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 6:40 pm:
Edgar the all knowing shorted the pensions, too.right?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 6:47 pm:
Steve - I agree with both you and Rauner on this topic. But are we trying to pass a budget here or a referendum on Madigan and Cullerton? Belittling the party that you’ll ultimately need to strike a deal with doesn’t seem like a path to success. Rauner seems to have gone from union bashing to GA leadership bashing. Hard to see how this moves the ball forward. The campaign is over lets commence the governing.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 7:21 pm:
Please.
The governor is a walking conflict of interest of epic proportions.
He will pocket millions each year from rolling back the income tax.
GTCR’s investments in privatizing prisons?
Opposing the Millionaire’s tax?
None of this of course matters, because Rauner isn’t up until 2018, the legislature is not up until 2016, and Rauner needs to pass a budget before October.
- steve schnorf - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 7:39 pm:
Guy, I think you could kinda slur your words, adopt some sort of accent, and almost get by with “He bad them farewell”. It’s a stretch, tho. I’d go with adjective like you already did.
- Louis G Atsaves - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 8:50 pm:
Oswego Willy: Nice to see that you finally approve of some Rauner appointments. The noise around here was along the line that the Rauner appointments/hires are all rank amateurs, overpaid and unqualified to hold their positions. Too bad that noise has drowned out the truth, which began to emerge at the latest “Let’s embarrass rather than legislate” hearing.
When I say “children, children,” it is designed to replace my earlier “Where are all the adults” comments which have been now coopted by so many. Childish behavior, wasting time with “hearings” designed to personally embarrass rather than legislate, is something that needs to stop if this stalemate is to come to an end.
It does beg the question, how did the governor manage to cause a stalemate when the House and Senate have veto proof majorities?
That truly makes little sense to me.
In Game of Thrones, Stannis’ army of thousands gets slowed down by a raiding party of 20. Are we watching the same thing take place in Springfield?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 9:04 pm:
- Louis G. Atsaves -,
When I see things being done well, I say so, and I’m not shy to heap praise where it’s warranted.
Nuding is tops. Purvis came out and rehabbed her own image as only she could at this point.
There were and there are many ways Rauner can make significant movement and today was big in letting people see adults really making a difference.
I’m more disappointed in the rancor than angry about it.
I’m hoping for agreement soon in the budget, and hoping for no strike/lockout and that in both there will be a template for compromise so none of us are in June next year.
They deserve props, Nuding and Purvus. Hopefully the Rauner Crew builds on being adults.
- DuPage - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 9:25 pm:
@Dupage moderate 4:23 =Curious what Rauner said is untrue?=
I have a hard time remembering much of anything that Rauner has said that actually is true. One thing he says that I hope is not true is “I never lose, I always win”.
I saw Rauner on TV a while back, and he said the budget crises is NOT because of the tax cut that he requested and got, but because of corrupt union bosses. I don’t buy that one bit. “No sale”.
- Wordslinger - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 10:00 pm:
Louis, the governor wishes there was truly a real, working, veto-proof majority in the GA.
That way he wouldnt have to sign the coming tax increase, as both his and the Dems proposed budgets are billions short on revenue.
But he, and you, and anyone who can count know that they dont really exist.
- Louis G Atsaves - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 10:53 pm:
Word, the veto proof majorities do not exist? The seating charts of the Senate and House show otherwise.
The only real question is will there be an accommodation by the veto proof majority to the Governor and to the residents of Illinois who bought into “change” during the last election.
Or will they behave like Lannisters in Game of Thrones?
- Norseman - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 11:07 pm:
Louis, you can do better than this rhetoric. The Dems can’t put a veto proof majority on some of these hard votes just as Rauner can’t put all GOP legislators on some of those votes.
If you want to get into silly, why didn’t Rauner let the GOP vote on an amendment that was identical to his property tax freeze bill? Maybe understanding that point will help you understand why the Dems didn’t proceed with revenue.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 11:15 pm:
Don’t worry guys, Louis’ wife is going to find enough savings to avoid a tax increase using her sweet Rauner appointed position as chair of the WCC. Just another superstar on team Rauner with the added bonus of a shill husband.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 11:20 pm:
Now, now Anonymous - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 11:15 pm. I know your tired and didn’t think it through, but we don’t want to respond like the Rauner frat boys. Have a good night.
- Lynn S, - Tuesday, Jun 9, 15 @ 11:25 pm:
@ flea 6:40
As has been said here several times, the “sainted” Jim Edgar did indeed short the pension payments while he was governor. He’s the reason we’re making the catch-up payments now (the “pension ramp”), and the catch-up payments are one reason why we’re now scrambling to make ends meet in the Illinois state budget.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Jun 10, 15 @ 7:52 am:
@Norseman, what hard votes on which hard bills? Other than the House “polling” its membership on “votes” that are either show and tell stunts designed for use in mailers?
- pundent - Wednesday, Jun 10, 15 @ 8:36 am:
==why didn’t Rauner let the GOP vote on an amendment that was identical to his property tax freeze bill? Maybe understanding that point will help you understand why the Dems didn’t proceed with revenue.== As the governor himself is fond of saying, “crisis creates leverage”. He’s also been telling anyone that will listen that it’s going to be a long and painful summer. Rauner has no interest in resolving anything at this point. He obviously sees an opportunity to escalate these problems well beyond where they currently are which is precisely why we have a stalemate.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 10, 15 @ 8:45 am:
Louis, you might not want the governor to have to make tough decisions, or GOP legislators to have to make tough votes, when it comes to taxes and spending, but that’s what they signed up for. Governing aint just a Twitterfest.
If the Dem caucuses are monolithic and could govern unilaterally on all things, what are they hanging around Springfield for? To feed their horseshoe jones?
- econ prof - Wednesday, Jun 10, 15 @ 8:55 am:
So, it’s okay for the everyone to criticize Rauner for how he makes his money, but he’s not allowed to criticize Madigan and Cullerton for how they make their money?
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 10, 15 @ 9:03 am:
Gee, professor, could you give some citations to your deep-dive research?
Because as I look over the comments, I don’t see anyone criticizing Rauner for pointing out now they make their money, just a few usual cautions regarding those who live in glass houses.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 10, 15 @ 9:06 am:
- econ prof -,
Rauner is personally chastising Cullerton and Madigan.
Are Cullerton and Madigan going out on tour berating Rauner, personally, and calling him corrupt to boot?
You can get back to me if you’d like.
- Louis G Atsaves -,
I let a lot slide with your response, taking the high road;
I said nary a word, saying “it’s Rauner’s shop”. Search it. You’re sensitive for the Comptroller, as are so many if she gets a picture to caption, but I’ve liked what I’ve seen, waiting to see more. You don’t have to make it “Us-Them”.
Further, you’re a smart guy, and you know the 71 Dems only are required 2 votes; Speaker and his rules.
Rauner requires a whole session of deciding the “buttons”; Yellow or Red, for $400K hours before one required Rauner vote.
There is room for agreement abd discussion, just don’t patronize and make it “Us-Them” and don’t say what you you is untrue, that the 71 Dems are all in lock step. I know you know that isn’t even remotely true.
- Juvenal - Wednesday, Jun 10, 15 @ 9:17 am:
Willy, there will be no budget deal because Rauner’s closest advisors do not want a budget deal.
When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
They have 20 million hammers or so, and they are itching to use them.
Comparisons to war are over the top, but comparisons to the decision-making structures, cognitive biases, and shorcomings that lead to armed conflict are spot-on.
If Rauner wants good advice on how to resolve this conflict, he needs to greatly expand his circle of advisers, and his current advisers need to expand theirs.
But every time they use the word “compromise,”, I have to think “I don’t think that word means what you think it means.”