84 Comments - Anonymous - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:12 am: But when you’re the elected governor, head of this state, what do you care about the millions of people who live in it, right? - Give Me A Break - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:13 am: We almost need to scorecard for the last 24 hours on the blog. Yesterday, we had reports from Domestic Violence Providers, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Providers, University Leaders, Law Enforcement Leaders and reports of watering being shutoff off a DOT locations. Today we start with 911 centers. I guess the Shaking Up Springfield thing in now a 9 on the Richeter Scale. - cdog - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:13 am: “911? whatever. Here’s the 411, I am getting on my motorcycle and goin’ for ride! Come on, it’s Friday folks. Lightn’ up. Quit takin’ this stuff so seriously.” - Jose - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:15 am: I am literally ill after reading this. Will someone PLEASE do something to stop Rauner? - Give Me A Break - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:15 am: Sorry for the typos, need coffee, need it now. - Frenchie Mendoza - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:15 am: Rauner doesn’t read the new and doesn’t care about this. This is the leverage he’s been seeking since the primary. All that matters is that unions are decimated. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:15 am: The Owl; Where does “The Owl” stand? @RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate. Ron Sandack just doesn’t care too… - Roamin' Numeral - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:20 am: Busting unions must be totally amazing if it’s worth all of this. /s - Skeptic - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:21 am: “Sorry for the typos, need coffee, need it now.” Good thing you don’t work in Vienna…. - Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:23 am: Wow. Is that Sandack tweet legit? Because that’s really bad: Sorry, but busting unions is more important than saving lives. - walker - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:25 am: Used to be the budget held hostage for mostly non-budget changes. Only insiders cared. The first real impact was on social service providers. That’s remote from most voters. Generally good for Rauner. It has reached the state and local government operations themselves. When will the impact on general voters reach a critical mass? And which way will they break? - Anonymous - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:25 am: But how are those EDGE credits working out? I don’t think most people really know about the diversion of employee’s state tax paid out of each paycheck going straight back to their employer to keep for themselves (under the illusion of creating jobs). When people scream about those state taxes they pay, they assume they’re going one place when they are going right back to the boss. Do they know that? They’re not paying down the pension debt, or paying for roads! They’re padding the paycheck of their executives! There’s alot to be learned in the matter of corporate shenanigans. And they talk about unions? Micro-players in this game. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:25 am: The tweet is legit, “alright alright”. If I were an enterprising person, I’d screen shot that tweet… … If I were one… If I were a Union, Social Service provider or Advocate, a Democratic operative… I’d screen shot it… - Jeep - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:26 am: “The republican governor says…” This article like the ines from yesterday seem to indicate the governor’s efforts to put the budget blame on Madigan is wearing thin. When 911 is seriously degraded, the average illinois citizen will take notice, including the ones rooting for Rauner to “shake up Springfield.” - Jocko - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:28 am: ==There is only so much that the administration can control== Earth to Ron. This is one of those things. - Former Merit Comp Slave - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:33 am: Back to court? - Skeptic - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:36 am: I find it slightly interesting that the article says “Rauner” and “Democrats in the Legislature.” That’s quite a different spin from “Madigan and the politicians he controls.” - Wensicia - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:37 am: Drip, drip, drip… - Wordslinger - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:40 am: What’s the upside to all this sabotage again? Where’s that analysis that lays out the ROI on this destruction? Something beyond weasel words of “reform.” - Louis G. Atsaves - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:40 am: Let’s not despair over the budget impasse and the ever increasing hurt it brings to the residents of Illinois. The “why bother to talk twins” (Madigan and Cullerton) won’t be back in Springfield with their troops until 10/20/15. I have now realized that the “why bother” twins are right and Rauner is wrong. Nothing is wrong with this state. Nothing needs to change. Everything is perfect here. No turn around is necessary. I also suddenly realized I would rather be an Owl than an Ostritch. When ostritches do their thing, they expose an unflattering part of their anatomy. So while the ostritches blame only Rauner . . . - SourKraut - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:42 am: @Give Me A Break….. Unfortunately, you’re incorrect. It’s only a 1 on the Richter Scale and that’s why we are where we are. Not enough calamity yet to get things moving. It’s going to take something much worse than a dry toilet in Vienna to make people wake up. - PolPal56 - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:43 am: Maybe once bodies start piling up we can get a budget. You know, like the kind of body count economics airplane manufacturers and airlines have sometimes used when deciding whether to fix a problem. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:45 am: ===I also suddenly realized I would rather be an Owl…=== @RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate. People need to be hurt, not receive 911 service? You care less about people - Louis G Atsaves - Abd more about ending prevailing wage and destroying collective bargaining? Got it, - Louis G Atsaves - Then again, you promote “Martial Law” as acceptable too if the state shuts down, so there’s that. Right? Exactly right. - McEnuf - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:45 am: If someone dies because of Rauner’s veto of the law enforcement communications budget (especially after another campus shooting), the public will be outraged. The public’s safety should not be held hostage by the Governor to achieve his Turnaround Agenda. - thoughts matter - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:45 am: Remember the calamity we were thinking would happen, and that would be needed to shake-up the stand-off? Here’s part of where it’s going to happen. I said that it would take something that hit the middle (and I will add upper) class, some important family. 911 is for all of us. This will hit Rauners’ family or his friends just as hard as anyone else if the emergency cell phone call doesn’t result in finding the location of the emergency, or if the 911 center can’t take the call immediately. - PublicServant - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:46 am: It’s not a Budget Impasse, Louis. The governor is refusing to participate in any budget talks until he gets capitulation on his vendetta to bust the unions. So, it’s an right-wing ideological impasse. Reference the republican playbook on the federal level for the equivalent of what’s playing out here. - Wordslinger - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:48 am: Louis, I think you missed a couple of meaningless talking points. Are you the one who’s seen the ROI analysis that justifies the governor refusing to deal with the budget? What’s it say? What will that sunny day look like? - Skeptic - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:49 am: “Everything is perfect here. No turn around is necessary.” (Yes I realize that’s snark.) At least the bills got paid. That’s more than this dude can say. - Jacqueline Manassas Kennedy - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:53 am: Won’t HB 4305 “fix” this problem? - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:55 am: Um, - Louis G Atsaves -? Do you remember water being shut off and the threat of other utilities under past governors face the real possibility because that governor couldn’t count to 60 and 30? Yeah, me neither. What’s next, “ck” using a 3rd world, crank-powered, laptop… by candlelight… at the Capitol… typing… “Speaker Madugan and the legislators he controls…? - Louis G Atsaves -, how can you honestly say Rauner cares about the state? Rauner cares about the Raunerite Agenda, at the cost of the health of state workers, fresh water just for starters, but Rauner cares about the people of Illinois? “We’re sorry 911 is temporarily unavailable, please hold to be put on an email list to blame Speaker Madigan. If this is an actual emergency, ‘We’re frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate.’ Please hold…” - Louis G Atsaves - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 10:03 am: @Wordslinger, a moment ago you said “reform” was a weasel word. You understand that I now completely agree with you and the other ostriches, to paraphrase a famous movie line; “we don’t need no stinking reform here!” @ostritchoswegowilly, keep looking for those black helicopters. In the meantime, you may want to surface from the sand and take a few clear breaths. And yes, I would rather be in owl in this perfect changeless state of ours! - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 10:07 am: ===@ostritchoswegowilly=== Aw, - Louis G Atsaves -, I was more worried you might be able to really defend Rauner, that’s on me for giving you actual credit. ===And yes, I would rather be in owl in this perfect changeless state of ours!=== I think you’re more of a Lemming than an Owl, but we can debate your co-opting over some $100,000 wine, lol - hisgirlfriday - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 10:08 am: Denying 911 funds from a tax the state is still collecting? Just how many people have to die for Rauner to get what he wants to make himself richer at the expense of others who already have less? And to think some people said those nursing home ads were out of bounds last campaign… - Niblets - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 10:11 am: I can not believe this governor is so dedicated to crushing unions and those with even less power. Class warfare at it’s best. - Niblets - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 10:13 am: 10:11 comment intended for Quinn running for Gov. discussion. - Honeybear - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 10:14 am: When was that Sandack tweet? Does anyone know? - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 10:15 am: I asked… “- Louis G Atsaves -, how can you honestly say Rauner cares about the state? Rauner cares about the Raunerite Agenda, at the cost of the health of state workers, fresh water just for starters, but Rauner cares about the people of Illinois?” - Louis G Atsaves - responds… ===@ostritchoswegowilly, keep looking for those black helicopters. In the meantime, you may want to surface from the sand and take a few clear breaths. And yes, I would rather be in owl in this perfect changeless state of ours!=== So Rauner… doesn’t care… … or are you too lazy to think how to say Rauner doesn’t care… … or you can’t show Rauner… does care… I keep reading, still no answer if Rauner cares, so I’ll guess - Louis G Atsaves - doesn’t… know… if Rauner cares, or… - Wordslinger - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 10:15 am: Louis, why don’t you articulate the projected benefits of these “reforms” to justify their cost? What is the ROI? There has been some sober thought and analysis put into this, has there not? You don’t embark on a destructive course of action like this withougnt being confident of tangible, measurable benefits, do you? What are they? - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 10:18 am: - Honeybear - 9/28/15, 12:46 pm… “Or around there…” - Jake From Elwood - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 10:19 am: Do not be surprised if you hear that this is going to the courts imminently. It’s either that or more special legislation. But this won’t go on much longer. - Union Man - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 10:31 am: Is there a political-9 1 1 citizens can call when our state is in Emergency - Anon221 - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 10:32 am: http://www.911.gov/911-issues/funding.html Some interesting reading here. Seems like there should be some way Homeland Security can force the 911 payments. FCC seems to indicate it’s hands are tied: http://www.911.gov/pdf/Current-State-911-Funding.pdf “At the national level, there is no single federal department or agency with single or ultimate authority for 911 governance and oversight. There are multiple agencies that address issues across the continuum of emergency communications: 1) caller access, 2) 911, and 3) emergency responders. The FCC exerts its regulatory authority over telecommunications providers who provide 911 service, but has no authority over state and local jurisdictions who implement that service and no authority for regulating PSAPs. The National 911 Program, housed within the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) NHTSA, is charged with facilitating coordination among public and private sector 911 stakeholders at the local, state and federal levels, but has no jurisdiction to mandate policy. A number of federal agencies address the issues of emergency responders, including the Office of Emergency Communications and the U. S. Fire Administration at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), the Office of Emergency Medical Services at the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Justice, to name just a few.” - @MisterJayEm - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 10:35 am: “When was that Sandack tweet? Does anyone know?” September 28, 2015 at 12:46 PM. https://twitter.com/RonSandack/status/648554386654949376 – MrJM - Norseman - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 10:38 am: Louis seems to be taking snark lessons from Goldberg. That’s OK, Goldberg doesn’t have much to do now-a-days since Rauner refuses to negotiate a budget and if any legislation comes up all he as to do to whisper “no” into Durkin and Radogno’s ears. Maybe Louis will understand a simple analogy of the issues. A patient with a broken arm goes to Doctor Rauner. Dr. Rauner tells the patient that he wants to amputate. Needless to say, the patient doesn’t like that idea. He asks for alternative treatment. Dr. Rauner refuses. Now we all know the patient needs to be fixed, but the fix is not appropriate for the patient. Dr. Rauner will not do anything other than amputating the patient’s arm. Since Dr. Rauner is the only doc available to the patient, he is left to suffer. Meanwhile, Dr. Rauner’s lawyer is calling the patient’s family and friends ostriches for not blindly accepting Dr. Rauner’s judgement. Let’s work on other treatment options Louis. - RetiredStateEmployee - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 10:42 am: Louis, you don’t burn down the house because it needs remodeling. There is much to be done to correct the financial status of the state, but destroying the financial status for ideological reasons that no one can articulate the benefits of makes no sense. - Tournaround Agenda - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 10:57 am: I’m trying to wrap my head around the mindset of the Raunerites. Is it that they believe the state is so fundamentally broken that nothing can possibly make it worse, so any means necessary should be used to push through the governor’s proposals? - Mama - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 10:58 am: ++- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:25 am: ++ You hit the nail on the head. - cdog - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 11:01 am: This is too good from OW. Had to get it in here again! “We’re sorry 911 is temporarily unavailable, please hold to be put on an email list to blame Speaker Madigan. - FormerParatrooper - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 11:03 am: One of the real functions of State Government is to provide 911 services. The taxes are still being collected; the taxes are already destined to be used for this purpose and no other. Having a budget in place or not is in my opinion irrelevant to this passing along of funds to the proper agencies. Unless of course there is something I have missed in the State Constitution that would forbid such a thing. And I f I did miss it, I am sure someone will let me know. - DuPage - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 11:05 am: What if you need to report a car accident or other emergency? Will *999 still work or is it part of the 911 system? - Mama - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 11:10 am: If anyone dies Rauner will just blame someone else (such as a Democrat). The guv is following the Feds’ Tea Party’s rule book. If it isn’t broken, break it in the name of busting unions & making sure the Dems never get elected again! - Mason born - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 11:12 am: Louis An honest no snark question. Since we are going into October without a budget and the potential damage to the citizens of the state increase seemingly daily, with potential shutdown or reduction of 911 service as the latest example, at what point do you personally feel the Gov. needs to find compromise to bring this to a close. Is there a point in your mind? What if food vendors stop deliveries to IDOC facilities? I wonder what response should the Gov. use when a 10yr old is sobbing because her mommy died of a heart attack while she was on hold with 911? I don’t see Willy as an ostrich or you as an owl. For that matter Sandack Isn’t an owl either Owls are majestic respectable creatures well above politicians. The people fawning over the gov. and advising him are more like Baghdad Bob desperately screaming we are winning no matter what the facts and evidence shows. (We use to laugh that old Bob would scream how successful the Iraqi army was all the way to the EPW holding area.) Louis the Governor has lost this round. The dems aren’t folding to be honest he has strengthened the hand of the dems bringing them closer to their base than ever before. Honestly the man needs to find a compromise end this mess. He has 3+ years at least to get there step 1 is to bring in more R’s, this ain’t helping, step 2 is to build public support for his idea’s, blaming Madigan isn’t convincing anyone that your idea is better. - Anon221 - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 11:14 am: DuPage - “What if you need to report a car accident or other emergency? Will *999 still work or is it part of the 911 system?” Dial 0. - Louis G. Atsaves - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 11:27 am: @Mason born, while everyone else is mindlessly pointing fingers, you ask some good questions. Everyone needs to come to the table and start talking. Those talks should have happened prior to 7/1/15. For whatever reason we are in a free fall which only hurts when you hit rock bottom. Some have already hit rock bottom from a lack of court protection and schools (other than colleges) got a budget signature. For months I have repeatedly stated that it is time for EVERYONE to put their big boy pants on and negotiate. They are ALL responsible for this mess. The Twins are miffed because they need to share power they once exclusively had to themselves? Grow up! The Governor has made a few mistakes along the way but he is looking long term and not just year to year like the Twins want it. But they all have to talk. Otherwise things will get worse. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 11:31 am: - Mason born -, well done, thanks for bringing this back. Much respect. ===The Governor has made a few mistakes along the way but he is looking long term and not just year to year like the Twins want it.=== - Louis G Atsaves -, ok long term, explain the absolute must of prevailing wage and collective bargaining in that long term with specific dollar amounts, charts, even bar graphs, and then also close showing how Rauner has 71 and 36 or 60 and 30 come January to pass it. Thanks. - Louis G. Atsaves - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 11:34 am: @Mason born, the real losers are the people of Illinois. I don’t see any one side giving up or giving in. That is the new reality. I would advise the Governor to stand his ground. The new reality in Illinois is that the Twins and their caucuses aren’t used to that behavior. New reality calls for new behavior and tactics. But they all still have to put their big boy pants on and negotiate. In order to negotiate they need to talk. - Mama - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 11:39 am: Public outcry will not happen until the statewide TV news media decides there is a problem, shows the public what the problems are, & demands that people to take action. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 11:41 am: Then - Louis G Atsaves -, if you feel that Governor Rauner needs to stand his ground, then this tweet is true for you; @RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate. You are then - Louis G Atsaves - advocating a budget stalemate. If you advise to stand his ground, then decisions and ownership has consequences. - Louis G. Atsaves - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 11:45 am: @Wordslinger and @ostritchoswegowilly, this blog posted my lengthy analysis of how workers comp costs could be reduced to financially benefit the state. Now where are YOUR plans? - Wordslinger - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 11:48 am: Louis, my plan would be to enter negotiations on the FY16 fiscal disaster without preconditions. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 11:52 am: - Louis G Atsaves - 1) “@ostritchoswegowilly”? You’re a gubernatorial appointee and a member of standing of the Bar. 2) I asked very specifically - prevailing wage and Collective Bargaining for you to address. They are the hang ups. Please follow along. 3) Use the Google. I said I would’ve kept, for starters the income tax the same thru FYs 2015 and 2016, cutting half of the raise in FY2017 and going back to the old rate by FY2018… or… Follow the taxing advice by Comptroller Topinka, whichever I could pass thru the GA. I had 2 goals for the Rauner Administration, you can look them up; Pass a budget, Labor peace. Neither is accomplished in 8 months. - Mama - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 11:54 am: “For months I have repeatedly stated that it is time for EVERYONE to put their big boy pants on and negotiate. They are ALL responsible for this mess.” How can the Twins negotiate with the Rauner who refuses to compromise on busting the unions? - Louis G. Atsaves - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 11:58 am: @ostritchoswegowilly, I am not a gubernatorial appointee. Let’s see all your plans. @Wordslinger, you then promote continued failure in this state. Reform is a weasel word to you after all. - Mama - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 11:58 am: ++- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 11:52 am:++ Good points Willy. - Mason born - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:03 pm: Louis If the real losers are the peopl of the State as you say and I agree why on Gods name would you tell him to stand his ground??? Because the people should be made bigger losers? Please tell me why Bruce Rauner is exempted from the usual political rules? There is no public support for his agenda or are the dems receiving calks from constituents demanding the items in his turnaround agenda? The only support it has are the purchased caucus in the G.A. The gov isn’t even trying to sell this to the public. The gov needs to fold this hand and get some better cards before he tries again. Any other advice is asking for abject failure. Here is the future down this path a snaller GOP in the G.A. and a Dem gov. in ‘18. This is the opposite of competent Governance. Only this could make Quinn look competent. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:03 pm: - Louis G Atsaves -, can you send me the givernor’s that way I can address them point by point…, Thanks. Sorry about the appointee thingy, you can remain a classless non-appointee I guess. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:11 pm: What’s confusing me is someone as intelligent as - Louis G Atsaves wants to elevate ME to require ME to address what is MY plan (which I laid out, why, I dunno, lol) and make my ideas on par for discussion with the sitting Governor of the state of Illinois, and highlight Governor Rauner has no plan or is attempting no budgetary talks until Prevailing Wage and Collective Bargaining is reduced to the point of elimination. - Louis G Atsaves -, Rauner won. It’s his gig. If Rauner can’t do it, isn’t up to the task, unable to achieve thoughtful political governing, if he admits it, then we’ll all be better off. Use the Google, the taxing and revenues that Comptroller Topinka knew needed to exist IS my cornerstone. Rauner ignoring it is his. What’s next, you want me to debate Governor Rauner? - Wordslinger - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:18 pm: Louis, I’m sure the people losing their jobs due to the governor’s political strategy are greatly comforted in the unemployment line by your vague promises of “reform.” - Norseman - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:25 pm: === Please tell me why Bruce Rauner is exempted from the usual political rules? === Mason born, Rauner has created a new political paradigm due to his massive cash flow. He can afford to saturate controlled and uncontrolled media with the false message to people that they can have their governmental services but not have to pay the real cost for those services. All he needs to do is kill the unions so he can decrease public sector pay and benefits with impunity. It’s an easy sell by a false prophet. - Mason born - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:36 pm: Norseman I’m quite aware of that actually. I was curious how Louis would spin that since we are all the losers paying for the gov’s tactics as Louis states. Tactics Louis thinks are winning? One little correction the politicians of all stripes have been selling the “you can have your services without paying the full freight” long before Rauner joined the conversation. They just had a credit card (pensions) to use. - What Impasse? - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 12:57 pm: Where is the middle ground? - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 1:09 pm: ===Where is the middle ground?=== Oh this? This is the absolute easiest part, if you want to talk “budget” and “budget” only; Democrats are about $4-5 billion off on a budget, Rau re is about $3-4 billion off on a budget, today. (Given now what the courts have taken, and no real direction or policy recognized with monetary power) So, Rauner’s own… remember, I’m talking the governor’s… budget needs $4 billion, less his cuts. Rauner, the governor, requires, that’s not an option, additional revenue. “Middle Ground”? Figuring by a real, honest LL Crew from the Governor’s Office counting noses to get the revenue. “Why the problems?” Rauner is actually pretending that he doesn’t need revenue, and trying to leverage revenue that only “Democrats need” makes holding the budget hostage a total and complete farce that Rauner is budging on revenue to get collective bargaining and prevailing wage concessions that Democrats need to give to get revenue. It’s. A. Crock. The “Middle Ground” is Rauner doing; 1) Admitting that he too needs and requires revenues, and stopping the farce it’s only Denicrats. 2) Ending preconditions and pretending that the governor, Rauner having preconditions is in fact the Democrats’ fault for Rauner’s choice to stall negotiations That’s the ball game. That’s where “Middle Ground” needs to exist. - Anonymous - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 1:16 pm: I think Louis is to Rauner what Bill(RIP)was to Blagojevich. Only Louis is serious. Bill was yanking our chain while Louis wants us to wear them. - Daniel Plainview - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 2:04 pm: - Only Louis is serious. Bill was yanking our chain while Louis wants us to wear them. - Bill’s household also didn’t get $125k per year from Blago like Louis’ does from Rauner. - Louis G. Atsaves - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 2:17 pm: No talks scheduled. The Twins feel talking is a waste of time. So no talks. More suffering. According to all the ostriches here, this is all Rauner’s fault for not going along with past practices, which has financially destroyed this state. Last year the Twins and go-along Quinn passed a constitutionally “balanced” budget that was short by $4 billion. And this was when the tax increases were still around. How silly does that sound? Oh, they want a $4-5 billion shortfall this year. On their terms and only their terms. So ostritches, blame only Rauner? Or blame those who drove us down that path over the years. Or maybe everyone should finally sit down and start talking. Right now I agree with the majority of posters: It is all Rauner’s fault, it is only Rauner’s fault, the Twins are completely blameless, no reforms or changes are necessary, this state is the most perfectly run in the entire USA and a model for how other states should be run. I’d rather be an owl than an ostritch. - Mason born - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 2:28 pm: Louis Ate you enjoying beating up your straw man? You really are smarter than that. There isn’t one person on this entire board who has claimed the state was perfect before BVR. You are implying that anything other than complete submission to the Gov is a desire for status quo. This is precisely the same arguement BVR is attempting. If the only justified outcome in the governors mind is complete capitulation what exactly do you think is negotiable? Btw the Governor’s budget also called for a 4 billion shortfall. People in glass houses have no business throwing stones. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 2:31 pm: Oh - Louis G Atsaves -, ever the victim, lol. ===According to all the ostriches here, this is all Rauner’s fault for not going along with past practices…=== You mean submitting a budget? I know, how dare we ask the Governor to do his job… ===Last year the Twins and go-along Quinn passed a constitutionally “balanced” budget that was short by $4 billion. And this was when the tax increases were still around. How silly does that sound?=== - Louis G Atsaves - … ‘Nember when… ‘Nember when Governor Rauner signed the FY2015 Fix? And, and, and… and you ‘nember when Rauner the Gov-Elect begged for the tax level to let sunset and fall? ‘Nember? That was awsome.. Do you forget things, or are you blatantly dishonest on purpose? ===Oh, they want a $4-5 billion shortfall this year. On their terms and only their terms.=== Oh - Louis G Atsaves -, everyone is recognizing Rauner’s own shortfall budget came in, you guessed it $4-5 billion short. Good try. ===So ostritches, blame only Rauner? Or blame those who drove us down that path over the years. Or maybe everyone should finally sit down and start talking.=== Save the typing; “Fire Madigan”, “Because… Madigan” “Turnaround Agenda”. See, pretty easy to get all Raunerite Talking Points in a row for an easy check list primer. Well done! ===…no reforms or changes are necessary, this state is the most perfectly run in the entire USA and a model for how other states should be run.=== So you admit Rauner is holding the budget hostage, first, last, and only. Good on you, that’s real growth. ===I’d rather be an owl…=== You’re actually more Lemming. An Owl had to be coerced, you just followed off the cliff on your own… - Wordslinger - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 2:32 pm: Louis, for some reason you’re pretending that the FY16 fiscal meltdown is unintentional. It’s not. It’s the governor’s calculated political strategy. It is the “leverage.” “Otherwise, how would it get done?” - Skeptic - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 2:39 pm: “The Twins feel talking is a waste of time.” When one side doesn’t listen, it *is* a waste of time. - Skeptic - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 2:42 pm: At this point we need to give Rauner credit for what he *has* done. 1) He’s given up “Empowerment Zones” (after his bill went down in a flaming heap) and 2) He’s mostly given up “Pension Reform” (which was unconstitutional and was going to go down in a flaming heap anyway.) So there’s that. - Cassandra - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 2:50 pm: The public is probably not expressing much outrage because after a couple of decades of really terrible state governance, they’ve stopped paying much attention to what anybody says about the state’s finances. Perhaps a nod to a new governor who says he is trying to change things, but really, I wouldn’t wait for a citizens’ march on the Capitol or similar collective action. And if the providers haven’t figured out that they will likely have to wait until at least January for the money to start flowing, someone should kindly point it out to them. I mean, everybody can exhaust themselves talking about the evil Rauner, his evil motives, his evil everything, but really, it’s a democracy. We elected him. It wasn’t a coup. Would you want to live under another type of govt? A monarchy maybe? A theocracy? A military dictatorship? - Norseman - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 2:57 pm: Mason born, well said. Also Willy and Word have been doing well in responding to Louis. Louis is upping his Goldberg game, but short on animal recognition skills. - Blue dog dem - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 2:58 pm: In Monroe County(pop. 33,000), there is a dispatch center operated out of the county seat of Waterlloo. Nine miles up the road, Columbia(pop. 10,000), also runs a dispatch center. Is this the kind of duplicity that the Rauner admin. Is talking about? - Wordslinger - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 3:07 pm: – is this the kind of duplicity that the Rauner admin. is talking about?– No, but there are plenty of other examples of duplicity that they don’t care to talk about. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.