For months, Gov. Bruce Rauner and his team have tried to play the Democratic state legislative leaders off each other. But Team Rauner now seems to be turning its attention elsewhere.
If Madigan is willing to wait out Rauner, and Rauner facing the realities of him owning when Social Services are shut down and state workers remind Rauner they don’t believe Rauner is looking out for them…
… when the realities of governing overwhelm the political choices made in that vacuum… then Rauner and his Crew will be pragmatic in governing.
=== Rich’s summary that Madigan is waiting for Rauner to get out of campaign mode, and that will be a long wait, excellent. ===
Yes. A very succinct, concise analysis that vividly illustrates what appears to be the principal holdup in any resolution.
Shutdown harm and suffering will be spread around the state, and raise tension generally. Result: a pox on all their houses. Blow up CPS, or force big prop tax increases, or both and that gets blamed on rahm, w madigan a close second.
The fact that they are not even meeting shows no one is ready to blink, suffering be damned.
Look for more ads to convince folks that Rauner isn’t to blame for the budget problems.
- Common sense in Illinois - Tuesday, Jul 7, 15 @ 11:05 am:
Great summation, Rich. I truly believe the Raunerites want to see a shutdown. These entreaties to AFSCME rank and file are filled with crocidile tears. Mr. Rauner may truly believe his leverage will increase on his so-called Turnaround Agenda if he holds the keys to the locked doors of government. On the other hand, one has to ask how much damage is to be done before legislative leaders take action. Every target and then some become at risk for 2016.
The budget is Rauner’s only leverage Anonymous. With super majorities in the House and Senate the Democrats will not compromise on anything Rauner wants. Come on that is common sense!
Wordslinger is in the right ballpark. Rauner miscalculated how much help Rahm would give him. He overestimated how much the mayor was willing to help, but more importantly, he overestimated how much influence Rahm actually has in Springfield. Rahm can help mediate, but he can only actually deliver a couple of votes.
Rauner isn’t alone…the media, downtown business leaders, and the entire City Club political class in Chicago seem to think its 1965 and that the mayor can put 15 or 16 House votes and 7 or 8 Senate votes on any bill he wants. It’s just not like that anymore. Rauner is finding out the hard way.
ShoeDoctor, you are correct, the governor has made it clear that he doesn’t want a budget of any kind, balanced or unbalanced, until his non-budget agenda has been passed.
Except the K-12 budget. And the money to pay state employees. He wants those.
Tnose two together can’t amount to much of GRF, right? Plus the continuing approps and what the courts and federales have already said you have to fund. Not much at all. Lots of leverage left against…… who, again?
The City of Chicago needs the States help Wordslinger on a Casino, CPS and the pension issues. I would guess Cullerton, Madigan and Rahm will eventually cave on Workers comp. Rahm says it will save the city a ton of money.
Now that the judgment has been delivered and state employees can only be paid the federal minimum wage while there is no budget in place, perhaps we’ll see the governor do something other than bluff and threaten? Those prison guards, state police, doctors and nurses, and everyone else employed by the state aren’t going to be satisfied with this arrangement.
==…the media, downtown business leaders, and the entire City Club political class in Chicago seem to think its 1965 and that the mayor can put 15 or 16 House votes and 7 or 8 Senate votes on any bill he wants. It’s just not like that anymore. ==
Agreed. That brings up a good topic for a Question of the Day, Rich:
Who has more influence over Chicago-based state legislators, Rahm Emanuel or Karen Lewis?
“The budget is Rauner’s only leverage Anonymous. With super majorities in the House and Senate the Democrats will not compromise on anything Rauner wants. Come on that is common sense!”
Rauner’s leverage will cause some people to lose their home &/or car, etc.. You are not looking at the big picture.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 7, 15 @ 10:25 am:
If Madigan is willing to wait out Rauner, and Rauner facing the realities of him owning when Social Services are shut down and state workers remind Rauner they don’t believe Rauner is looking out for them…
… when the realities of governing overwhelm the political choices made in that vacuum… then Rauner and his Crew will be pragmatic in governing.
Madigan has nothing but time.
- walker - Tuesday, Jul 7, 15 @ 10:28 am:
Triangulating shift?
It’s more like quadrilateral chaos.
A lot of misreading each others’ intentions, and trying bluffs that don’t work.
Rich’s summary that Madigan is waiting for Rauner to get out of campaign mode, and that will be a long wait, excellent.
- Wordslinger - Tuesday, Jul 7, 15 @ 10:33 am:
Does Emamuel really have any independent influence in Springfield? Can he muscle or deliver anyone in the GA?
The governor is going to need to develop a more mature approach to his job.
He spent months calling people corrupt but expected them to work with him. Yet he goes nuts over a “no comment?”
That’s kids stuff.
- thunderspirit - Tuesday, Jul 7, 15 @ 10:46 am:
=== Rich’s summary that Madigan is waiting for Rauner to get out of campaign mode, and that will be a long wait, excellent. ===
Yes. A very succinct, concise analysis that vividly illustrates what appears to be the principal holdup in any resolution.
Well written, Rich.
- Langhorne - Tuesday, Jul 7, 15 @ 10:53 am:
Shutdown harm and suffering will be spread around the state, and raise tension generally. Result: a pox on all their houses. Blow up CPS, or force big prop tax increases, or both and that gets blamed on rahm, w madigan a close second.
The fact that they are not even meeting shows no one is ready to blink, suffering be damned.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 7, 15 @ 11:01 am:
rauner owns this and admits it because he is insisting on his turn around agenda before he deals with the budget.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Jul 7, 15 @ 11:04 am:
Look for more ads to convince folks that Rauner isn’t to blame for the budget problems.
- Common sense in Illinois - Tuesday, Jul 7, 15 @ 11:05 am:
Great summation, Rich. I truly believe the Raunerites want to see a shutdown. These entreaties to AFSCME rank and file are filled with crocidile tears. Mr. Rauner may truly believe his leverage will increase on his so-called Turnaround Agenda if he holds the keys to the locked doors of government. On the other hand, one has to ask how much damage is to be done before legislative leaders take action. Every target and then some become at risk for 2016.
- Shoedoctor - Tuesday, Jul 7, 15 @ 11:17 am:
The budget is Rauner’s only leverage Anonymous. With super majorities in the House and Senate the Democrats will not compromise on anything Rauner wants. Come on that is common sense!
- Rick - Tuesday, Jul 7, 15 @ 11:18 am:
Wordslinger is in the right ballpark. Rauner miscalculated how much help Rahm would give him. He overestimated how much the mayor was willing to help, but more importantly, he overestimated how much influence Rahm actually has in Springfield. Rahm can help mediate, but he can only actually deliver a couple of votes.
Rauner isn’t alone…the media, downtown business leaders, and the entire City Club political class in Chicago seem to think its 1965 and that the mayor can put 15 or 16 House votes and 7 or 8 Senate votes on any bill he wants. It’s just not like that anymore. Rauner is finding out the hard way.
- Wordslinger - Tuesday, Jul 7, 15 @ 11:28 am:
ShoeDoctor, you are correct, the governor has made it clear that he doesn’t want a budget of any kind, balanced or unbalanced, until his non-budget agenda has been passed.
Except the K-12 budget. And the money to pay state employees. He wants those.
Tnose two together can’t amount to much of GRF, right? Plus the continuing approps and what the courts and federales have already said you have to fund. Not much at all. Lots of leverage left against…… who, again?
- Shoedoctor - Tuesday, Jul 7, 15 @ 11:39 am:
The City of Chicago needs the States help Wordslinger on a Casino, CPS and the pension issues. I would guess Cullerton, Madigan and Rahm will eventually cave on Workers comp. Rahm says it will save the city a ton of money.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 7, 15 @ 11:44 am:
- shoedoctor -,
Then you accept Rauner owns the state shutdown.
Thanks!
- Robert the Bruce - Tuesday, Jul 7, 15 @ 12:07 pm:
Excellent column!
==When the speaker wouldn’t sign off on a key component of Cullerton’s plan, the president backed off.==
Why?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jul 7, 15 @ 12:11 pm:
===Why?===
I think something got cut from my column.
- Aldyth - Tuesday, Jul 7, 15 @ 12:16 pm:
Now that the judgment has been delivered and state employees can only be paid the federal minimum wage while there is no budget in place, perhaps we’ll see the governor do something other than bluff and threaten? Those prison guards, state police, doctors and nurses, and everyone else employed by the state aren’t going to be satisfied with this arrangement.
- Tammy T. - Tuesday, Jul 7, 15 @ 12:50 pm:
==…the media, downtown business leaders, and the entire City Club political class in Chicago seem to think its 1965 and that the mayor can put 15 or 16 House votes and 7 or 8 Senate votes on any bill he wants. It’s just not like that anymore. ==
Agreed. That brings up a good topic for a Question of the Day, Rich:
Who has more influence over Chicago-based state legislators, Rahm Emanuel or Karen Lewis?
- Team Sleep - Tuesday, Jul 7, 15 @ 1:07 pm:
Good article, Rich. Perhaps, though, we should use the term “strisngulation” to fuse “strangle” with “triangulation”.
- Team Sleep - Tuesday, Jul 7, 15 @ 1:13 pm:
Sorry - striangulation. Darn it!
- Mama - Tuesday, Jul 7, 15 @ 10:51 pm:
“The budget is Rauner’s only leverage Anonymous. With super majorities in the House and Senate the Democrats will not compromise on anything Rauner wants. Come on that is common sense!”
Rauner’s leverage will cause some people to lose their home &/or car, etc.. You are not looking at the big picture.