Meh
Wednesday, Oct 7, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Eric Zorn admits that an extended special session probably won’t work, agrees that special sessions haven’t worked in the past to break logjams, but he wants one anyway…
A special session would “just cost more money,” said Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, dismissing the idea when talking to reporters in Effingham on Friday. “Let’s not have a special session. Let’s just negotiate in good faith.”
Nice idea, but how’s it been working out?
The legislative leaders and the governor haven’t sat down together since May 29, according to the office of Senate President John Cullerton. And since more than 90 percent of state spending is proceeding without a budget agreement, public pressure has not yet forced serious negotiations, capitulations or compromises.
Granted that special sessions are expensive — $50,000 a day for expenses is the estimate offered by Republican leaders — and don’t have a great track record when it comes to budget negotiations (former Gov. Rod Blagojevich merely underscored his political impotence with numerous feckless demands for special sessions).
But, as noted, they’re a bargain compared with the $16.4 million a day this posturing and inaction is costing us. And they just might work. […]
If a special session wouldn’t break the logjam it would at least dramatize and lend urgency to a story that, by dint of its depressing sameness day in and day out, has fallen out of the headlines.
This is just one more “lock ‘em all in a room” demands that we tend to see during times like these.
Not to mention that coverage of an extended special session would also likely fall out of the headlines.
* For example…
Illinois Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has said he has five big things he wants for the state of Illinois. On Aug. 25, the Illinois House of Representatives, which is lead by Democrats, brought one of the items up for a vote.
“This will provide tax relief to the people of Illinois,” explained Rep. John Bradley (D-Marion), who called the bill.
Representatives were about to vote on Rauner’s plan to freeze property taxes, something that would transform a main source of revenue for every town, city and school district in the entire state. One might think the fact that a Democrat was sponsoring one of Rauner’s ideas amidst all the infighting was a huge deal—but no.
The discussion—or lack thereof—lasted all of two minutes. The package was voted down, in flames. And the media—Illinois Public Radio included—ignored it.
Because, this had happened before. Many, many times.
Rep. Bradley called the exact same proposal July 21…and, on June 9, June 23, July 1, July 9, July 15, Aug. 5, Aug. 12 and, as noted earlier, on Aug. 25.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 2:58 pm:
Can someone explain how you can freeze property taxes but not allow any changes to collective bargaining, prevailing wage, work requirements etc? What allows the property taxes to be frozen if there is no flexibility in how the town spends money? How can Chicago property taxes be frozen? Where is the money supposed to come from for the increased pension contributions? It sounds like a bill that was crafted for attack ads and not to solve the problem of rising property taxes.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 2:59 pm:
“Good faith” negotiations don’t begin with unrelated preconditions.
If you pay a hostage-takers ransom, you just ensure more hostages will be taken in the future. There’s a word for the kind of tactic employed when you can’t achieve your goals through traditional, democratic means.
Maybe the govenor can explain and take questions, until there are no more, as to how his agenda is critical and worth the price of massive deficits and sabotaging core state responsibilities.
Maybe he could cuts spots and sell it to the public, with all those millions in campaign funds he’s sitting on.
Why hasn’t he done those things by now, if he believes in his agenda so fervently?
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 3:01 pm:
The Governor has asked for several nonspecific “reforms.” The General Assembly said no. Repeatedly. The state will eventually run out of cash to spend in the next few months.
In the meantime, those who rely on state services or on state financial assistance get to twist in the wind and uncertainty spreads like a cancer.
Lock them in a room? Heck, if this ends as badly as it might, I truly hope somebody gets locked in a prison.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 3:15 pm:
What a huge waste of time!
Zorn mentions the cost per session and justifies holding them anyway because the cost is nowhere near the daily cost of the impasse. So what, it’s still a cost for a wasted effort. We continually hear the mantra from politicians and columnists about cutting back on waste. How about not creating wasted spending.
- The Captain - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 3:18 pm:
Rauner is hoping the pressure of Democratic constituencies needing social services, combined with an angry voting public demanding action will become so great that they eventually cave and give him whatever he wants. That pressure is increasing daily and so long as he can outlast the pressure put on himself and his administration he thinks he has a chance to succeed. Today’s speech advanced his interests, the press will report on the he said/she said of it and even though most of us know it was regurgitated nonsense the general public will see his message that he’s trying to do something and the Democrats stand in the way. I understand what Rauner’s trying to do and I see him advancing his own interests.
Compare that with the Democrats. They are hoping that the public pressure on Rauner will become so great he’ll finally drop his demands that have no chance of success and get down to the business of governing. Clearly the more pressure applied the more likely that day comes sooner rather than later. But what are they doing to ramp up that pressure? For a time they tried holding subject matter committee hearings but that didn’t go well, either the Rauner administration employees they had hoped to embarrass didn’t show up or when they did the Rauner staffers often outmaneuvered them with previously unseen aggressive tactics.
Since then there has been very little. Every day I expect that some Democrat will hold a press conference or try some other tactic to increase the political pressure on Rauner and every day that day passes with no new attempts. It’s dumbfounding watching the Democrats, unlike Rauner they are doing so very little to advance their own interests. As someone has already said previously today hope is not a plan.
- John A Logan - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 3:23 pm:
This whole thing is making everyone look childish. I’d give a case of champagne and a dozen roses for Kirk Dillard right now.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 3:29 pm:
Republicans don’t believe that government is a good thing. People are just used to government services working, like turning on a tv, just expect it to work. So, over the next months, people in Illinois will now have an opportunity to see what government does everyday, as it shuts down.
Republicans should take the no government challenge and go a day without using a service that “we the people” come together to provide.
- AC - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 3:30 pm:
Rauner may be the one holding the budget hostage, but his playbook seems to be the same as the Democrats: try the same thing over and over again expecting different results.
- Sir Reel - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 3:38 pm:
I agree with Word. For months Rauner has been hyping his 5 ideas, saying they’ll “turnaound” Illinois’ economy. But he hasn’t offered a single statistic showing how they’ll do so. Like most politicians, he thinks his ideology is so obvious it doesn’t need to be proven. Come on Gov, how many jobs, how much income growth, how much economic growth? Why should the Democrats vote on his ideas?
- Jeep - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 3:42 pm:
I think he held this press conference because he is getting blamed for no budget. For every editorial laying it all on Madigan using Rauner superstar talking points, there’s other news articles blaming Rauner -FOP, university presidents, social services. If we keep going without a budget, this press conference will be soon forgotten. The more people get affected by no budget the more Rauner will be directly blamed. Madigan may get blame but Rauner will be alongside him like Capt Ahab tied to his white whale.
- walker - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 3:43 pm:
A cheap appeal to the buying audience.
- Cook County Commoner - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 3:46 pm:
What exactly is the “political” or “public” pressure on Gov. Rauner. He certainly doesn’t need re-election or money. Are the other elected Republicans exerting “pressure” on him because of their need for re-election? Does someone out there have a confidential psychological profile on Gov. Rauner explaining some self-imposed need, drive, compulsion, etc. which is driving his conduct? Or is he just a corporate type trying to turn around an essentially bankrupt state so it can pay for the necessary functions of government.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 4:01 pm:
Meeting is nothing, heck having everyone in one place, yeah ok…
Agreeing to get something done?
No one ready to that yet.
- anon - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 4:16 pm:
The dems have no interest in change—NONE. The way things are currently set up works well for them personally. They don’t care for the middle class.
- Juvenal - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 4:24 pm:
@Anon:
Democrats are effectively blocking Rauner’s efforts to raise taxes. You should be thrilled.
Unless you are a troll, of course.
- ottawa otter - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 4:27 pm:
This thing will play out. The wheels will come off, major financial damage will be inflicted far and wide, it will take years to undo the damage. Does anyone think Rauner really cares? If he can win this he runs for president with Koch brothers backing, if he doesn’t he just walks away with a smirk at the end of his term. It’s the Sam Zell playbook.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 4:35 pm:
I love the repeated “Rauner doesn’t care” comments posted on this blog. That must mean Madigan and Cullerton, the leaders of both branches of the legislature, also don’t care, since the majority / supermajority of them require to positively vote for a budget which Rauner can sign, without looking like another Pat Quinn.
I agree. Ignore these facts and blame only Rauner. Makes the status quo folks feel better!
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 5:22 pm:
@Louis G. Atsaves
Keep budget issues with budget issues and non-budget issues that won’t even go into effect for 5+ years separate. Also, Rauner should start doing his job, you know writing his own letters and taking responsibility for his actions. Do you see him promoting jobs? Saying what great things this state has? You talk about the status quo? Which party do you want to talk about that was in charge over the years do you want to start with?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 5:28 pm:
- Louis G Atsaves -
===I love the repeated “Rauner doesn’t care” comments===
@RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate.
Rauner literally doesn’t care, ask Ron Sandack.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 5:32 pm:
Kirk Dillard - and also Alan Greiman. We miss people who can bring people together and settle for half a loaf, for the sake of governing responsibly.
- Not it - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 6:59 pm:
My hope is Radogno and Cullerton negotiate on a deal, Rauner can claim he had no input, and then pass something workable to the House and the Speaker allows a vote, and Rauner signs it saying he’ll work on the rest of his agenda next/this year.
- Bushwacker - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 7:10 pm:
Gov. Rauner, leaders Cullerton and Madifan, must I remind all of you that you work for me……a voter and Illinois taxpayer. I have a great idea…….lets bring all negotiations on the budget and with Afsme into a transparent forum so ALL taxpayers can see what’s really being negotiated. Let’s put it on pay per view TV and we will make huge profits because I for one am sick of lies by both sides! Transparency is demanded……put your money where your mouth is before your inability to function causes our state to implode!
- Dj83E - Wednesday, Oct 7, 15 @ 9:27 pm:
Rich,
Thank you for presenting a true blog that captures the whole story. I take interest in your work and you deserve much more credit than you get. Keep holding the legislature and Rauner to the fire until they get something done for once. Hopefully Rauner is taking Rep Frank’s advice and using the headache medication he gave him, because he has another three years of this to go.