* Press release..
Cullerton provides cooling-off period for Rauner to rethink student aid veto
CHICAGO - Senate President John Cullerton issued the following statement regarding the status of SB2043:
“Thousands of students across Illinois rely on the Monetary Award Program to be able to attend college and pursue degrees. This year, the state isn’t honoring its commitment to them. The governor already vetoed funding once and now is threatening to do it again even before we’ve sent the proposal to his desk.
I would urge the governor to rethink his position, reconsider his priorities and not act rashly but rather in the best interests of these students, their futures and the future of Illinois.
We’re going to give him time to do just that. The Senate will send Senate Bill 2043 to the governor on Tuesday, Feb. 16. That gives him two weeks to ponder whether another veto is the best approach.
I hope the governor uses the time to rethink his veto announcement. And I hope those who understand the importance of the state’s student aid program will use the time to help convince the governor to do the right thing.”
* Meanwhile, I told subscribers about this last week…
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner wants lawmakers to address Illinois’ worst-in-the-nation pension crisis “right away.” But despite a rare agreement between Rauner and Democratic Senate President John Cullerton, it’s unlikely a bill will advance anytime soon.
Cullerton says it’s tougher than usual to pass a pension bill this year. That’s because of upcoming elections, union opposition, an Illinois Supreme Court ruling that declared a previous law unconstitutional and the ongoing state budget saga.
Cullerton says a pension bill could be part of a broader deal between Rauner and majority Democrats on a budget and other issues. […]
Rauner’s spokesman said Monday there’s “no good policy reason to delay.” He says the legislature could be “putting politics ahead of good policy.”
Subscribers know more.
*** UPDATE *** From the governor’s office…
Hi, Rich –
Mike asked me to send this to you:
“The Governor made clear he will veto SB 2043 because there is no way to pay for it – but he has offered a path toward compromise by agreeing to sign legislation that funds MAP, community colleges and universities tied to ways to pay for these important programs. Rather than playing politics with a dead piece of legislation, we urge the Senate to focus on finding real solutions and vote next week on legislation that would fund MAP grants with a fiscally responsible way to pay for them.”
Thanks,
ck
- jim - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:10 pm:
just more posturing — this time by Cullerton. He knows that Rauner is going to veto the bill, just as surely as he knows the GA passed the authorization without the funding to make it meaningful. The state is doomed.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:11 pm:
===We’re going to give him time to do just that. The Senate will send Senate Bill 2043 to the governor on Tuesday, Feb. 16. That gives him two weeks to ponder whether another veto is the best approach.===
A sensible governor would take heed.
Rep. Ron Sandack feels that pain is needed.
Just saying.
- hot chocolate - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:18 pm:
The ‘overnor can lose every remainin’ friend he has under the dome with an R next to their name if he signs the MAP grant bill. If he signs it, memories will quickly shift to that one time the ‘overnor urged all GOPers to vote no on the elementary and secondary education budget and then he kneecapped them and signed it and then bragged about it.
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:19 pm:
Paid for… how, exactly?
Spending money without including a means of paying for it, regardless of the reason? Have we learned nothing walking the path to this financial point?
- forwhatitsworth - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:19 pm:
===
- Blue dog dem - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:23 pm:
I was fortunate(?) to break bread with some very large GOP donors over the weekend. The MAP thing is dynamite. I may be wrong( don’t tell my wife I said that), but he may have to let this go eventually.
- RNUG - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:26 pm:
Looks like Cullerton is expecting some trust building cooperation in advance in exchange for pushing another pension “reform” bill that either isn’t going to pass court review or isn’t going to make much of a financial difference … since I expect very few people will voluntarily agree to diminish their pension.
- Anon221 - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:30 pm:
Blue dog dem- “…but he may have to let this go eventually.”
****
At some point, may be MAP or another hostage, his Crisis Creation Mission is going to hit home, HARD, in a Republican district. Someone of importance is going to feel the pain, and NOT see any gain. Then, who’s your friend, who’s your buddy??? Rauner may (hoping not) be in for 8 years. Very doubtful term limits will pass. So… if you are a legislator with ambitions of staying in office longer than the Guv, do you work for your constituents or the fear?
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:30 pm:
The Leg Leaders apparently like poison pills as much as the Gov.
The biggest poison pill of them all at this point? Unfunded spending.
- Anony - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:31 pm:
Oh, great…..now Cullerton has a hostage…
- Just Me - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:31 pm:
If we’re going to chastise the Republicans for putting up legislation that won’t pass, we should also chastise Democrats for passing legislation that won’t become law.
We have mixed government in this state, but neither side has come to that realization yet.
- RNUG - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:34 pm:
John,
The deal’s on hold.
Bruce
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:34 pm:
“Hi, ck-
Hostages are hostages.
Now it’s college students.
That’s on Governor Rauner. I can read fine.
Thanks!
ow”
- Cubs in '16 - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:34 pm:
Rauner’s spokesman said Monday there’s “no good policy reason to delay.” He says the legislature could be “putting politics ahead of good policy.”
The social service providers and recipients said there’s no good policy reason to delay (a budget agreement). They said the governor could be “putting politics ahead of good policy.”
Better
- HistoryRepeats - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:35 pm:
Why not amendatory veto it with some or all of the Gov’s provisions? This then gives the R’s a chance to vote FOR MAP funding and not have a repeat of the school funding legislation.
- Blue dog dem - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:36 pm:
Annon221. Just look around the state, you can probably find a state Senator who is retiring with a state university in his/her district. What the heck do they care about the Wrath of the RAUN Man?
- Anon221 - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:39 pm:
If Rauner is adamant about sweeping funds, then identify those that will be swept for the MAP grants- http://ledger.illinoiscomptroller.com/index.cfm/find-illinois-financial-standing/fund-descriptions1/
Show us your WORK!!!
- AnonymousOne - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:41 pm:
Yes, let’s allow the state to descend into the ever increasing spiral of total financial chaos and let the courts be the grown ups telling the governor and legislature what to do. They already told them to FIX the pension debt, but they’d rather play still rather than do the grown up work of addressing the mess they created (and the one the court told them they created).
- David Starrett - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:42 pm:
Amusing that campus administrators are only now figuring-out that they need students.
- BIG R. Ph. - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:42 pm:
Doesn’t seem to be any need for MAP grants at SIUE.
http://www.bnd.com/news/local/education/article57724988.html
Perhaps Rauner is right?
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:43 pm:
The other question I have is: why is Cullerton waiting to send the bill to Rauner the day before budget address?
- Anon221 - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:45 pm:
Blue dog dem- You don’t have to have a university of college in your district to feel the effects of no MAP grants or funding for higher learning. Rauner wants to Grow Jobs, well this is not the signal to send to businesses looking to relocate or start-up in Illinois.
From the ILBEDC (new, private arm of DCEO)-
“•A state of creation and innovation. 96 Nobel Prize winners. Welcome to world-class educational and research institutions, and some 200 institutions of higher education. The Internet was created here. We’re home to America’s premier national laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research.”
They might need to revise some of their claims in the coming months…
- Jaded - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:48 pm:
No way Rauner signs this bill. If he throws legislative Republicans under the bus again he will have a total mutiny on hands. The bill will be vetoed or av’d whether he gets it tomorrow, in two weeks, or in 30 days. That is not to say he won’t cut a deal with Cullerton on this issue, but it won’t involve signing SB 2043.
- A guy - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:49 pm:
I guess he’s sufficiently cool on this one.
- hockey fan - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:52 pm:
I wish some legislators will start to look past this moment. Past November. Into the future 3-5 years. Maybe longer.
What did you do when the state was being destroyed? Which side were you on? What did you do to stop the destruction of our state?
Some students who are now maybe being forced to drop out of college and never go back to complete their degrees may ask you those questions in a few years. I hope you have a good answer.
Not applying this thought to the Governor because I believe he is purposefully immune to all public sentiment.
- Team Sleep - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:52 pm:
One reason why I think late November or early December will be the timeframe for some wheeling and dealing lies in exactly with BDD stated. Several prominent Senators and Reps are retiring, and maybe that’s what it’ll take (at least in the House) to break the logjam. I’m not saying that Reps such as Ed Sullivan or Dave Leitch will just throw up their hands and say “WHATEVER!” but they won’t have to “burden” their eventual predecessors with votes or deals agreed to before the general election.
- Jack Stephens - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:56 pm:
One fiscally responsible way to pay for the MAP grants would be to reduce the top 1% and their dependence upon government entitlements.
- wordslinger - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 2:59 pm:
Couldn’t they just use the “funding source” the governor identified for the K-12 approp. that is his greatest accomplishment?
Just kidding.
The schools will never see the “historic funding level” the governor was bragging about last week. The revenues aren’t there. Not unless you violate every consent decree and blow off pension funding completely (although the state is blowing it off, to a degree).
Playing the “fiscal responsibility” card in the midst of the planned wreckage of FY16 is a real belly laugh.
The state is running billions in the red, even after abandoning billions in expected spending on social services and higher ed.
That ain’t shakin’ it up, that’s tearin’ it down.
It will take years to clean up the mess of the past 12 months.
- Ahoy! - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:00 pm:
I don’t know why we’re worried about having money to pay for things, we’ve never worried about it in the past and we’re doing just fine, fiscally speaking.
- Get a Job!! - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:12 pm:
@ HistoryRepeats
This is an appropriation bill……he cannot “Amendatory Veto” it. He can only reduce or eliminate line-items. He cannot insert substantive language into and approp bill.
- Anony - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:13 pm:
Well played, Ahoy.
- Sue - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:13 pm:
Yea John- the Governor is going to capitulate in exchange for your lousy pension bill which is unconstitutional and saves about one percent of the problem. LOL
- Georg Sande - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:14 pm:
Cullerton’s been reined in by his boss, again.
- Dawn - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:14 pm:
MJM will try to override it and make GOP vote against it AGAIN. The mailers are writing themselves.
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:15 pm:
It would be interesting to see Rauner use the Democrats own game against them and expose this for what it is.
AV the thing and include a provision tripling or quadrupling MAP grant funding. All the GOP votes for it, as do the Dems. Then take credit for massively increasing MAP grant funding.
And we immediately hasten the downward spiral towards insolvency. If you want to spend money without paying for it, fine. Let’s spend it all, hurry up, and hit the wall with full force instead of slowly via a million paper cuts.
- Loop Lady - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:16 pm:
Too bad Bruce…
Not a good development…
- 4 percent - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:19 pm:
Do you think that Cullerton and the Senate Dems would pass a $500 million tax cut for business? No, they would say that we don’t have the money. But they can pass MAP without paying for it? It’s a vitally important program that SHOULD be funded now but its simply one more political hot potato.
- kissfan - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:20 pm:
They already told them to FIX the pension debt, but they’d rather play still rather than do the grown up work of addressing the mess they created (and the one the court told them they created).
I don’t remember the court telling the Gov or Legislature to fix anything. They just said there attempt for a fix was unconstitutional. I’m still convinced the long game is to let the pensions default and then cry police powers.
- wordslinger - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:24 pm:
–Do you think that Cullerton and the Senate Dems would pass a $500 million tax cut for business?–
Stop by LaSalle and Jackson. Ask to see Mr. Duffy.
- Demoralized - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:25 pm:
==your lousy pension bill==
Um, it’s the Governor’s “lousy pension bill” too.
==Cullerton’s been reined in by his boss, again.==
Shouldn’t you be doing something more constructive than commenting on Capitol Fax Governor?
Seriously, some of you need help.
- RNUG - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:31 pm:
== … then cty police powers. ==
The IL SC made it pretty clear they weren’t going to buy any kind of police powers argument for a self-created mess. Period.
- Old and In the Way - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:39 pm:
Kissfan
Police powers? It won’t happen. Period. Should the state default it will be pensioners who are paid first with bond holders. The court HAS recommended a solution, pay what you owe.
In the history of the US only in the depths of the depression was one state allowed to use police powers to delay a foreclosure sale. That sale accounted for almost 40% of the farm land within the state. Another state (Arkansas) tried to use police powers to declare a moratorium on paying bond
interest and it was NOT allowed.
Despite your flip solution the police powers solution has not and will not fly. Can you imagine the pressure from the banks and financial interests in Illinois if you suspended bond payments? No, it simply will not happen. Sorry to disappoint you.
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:40 pm:
Since Madigan and Cullerton now support spending “FREE” money, does Rauner also get to add on an equal amount of imaginary funds of his own choosing?
And who has the money tree hiding in their yard? Madigan or Cullerton?
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:43 pm:
Rich
I think you may have inadvertently cut off the line in the Update where ck tells you what her boss is suggesting in terms of “ways to pay for these important programs”.
- A Citizen - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:46 pm:
Governor Rauner continues to do the job I voted for him to do. Thank you Gov., keep up the good work, intelligent citizens appreciate your hard work!
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:49 pm:
- A Citizen -
What job is that, destryin’ higher ed?
- Patrick Mauro - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:53 pm:
Bruce Rauner said in 2014 he would model his governorship after Walker and Snyder. Every day that is becoming more obvious. We have surrounding Lake MI the trifecta of awful political leadership.
- Excessively Rabid - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:57 pm:
I just want Rauner’s budget message to say how he wants to pay the bills this year and next, without any hypothetical pension savings to be attained in the sweet bye and bye. He can get some of his stuff if he’s willing to talk, but he can’t get it all before they even sit down. He has the responsibility to make the first move in the budget process and last year he faked it.
- ash - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:59 pm:
MAP grants will be useless (except at community colleges) unless university funding is addressed. If schools close, where will the students use the grants? Given that Chicago State has announced a March closure date, this is not drama and over reacting.
- Harry - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:06 pm:
I could swear that a couple of months ago Rauner very specifically said that pension reform was NOT a prerequisite for a budget deal, it would follow.
Now? Another statement that passed its sell-by date?
- btowntruth - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:10 pm:
Out of curiosity,how many commenters here have a “Raunerite” State Representative?
Mine is.
- Demoralized - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:22 pm:
==keep up the good work, intelligent citizens appreciate your hard work!==
They can’t be all that intelligent if they appreciate what’s going on.
- Anony - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:35 pm:
Demoralized - I think it’s possible to be intelligent AND agree with Rauner’s approach. Disagree all day long, but those who see things differently than us are not necessarily less intelligent.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:41 pm:
- Anony -
How so? You think hostages, and owning the ramifications of the hostages is worth it?
You think…
@RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate. - Ron Sandack, 9/28/15
How so? Explain?
- Demoralized - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:44 pm:
That was partial snark. But I do find it a bit disconcerting to think that anybody could “appreciate” the fact that we’re in month 7 with no budget and more and more “hostages” continue to “die” every day.
- Demoralized - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:45 pm:
Sorry - beginning month 8. Even more depressing.
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 5:03 pm:
If he vetoes sb 2043, it will effectively end his governorship.
- DuPage Bard - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 5:24 pm:
Take the draw! Bad move to veto, even worse to make your people vote against the override thereby having them vote against funding universities twice.
Take the draw!
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 5:26 pm:
If he signs sb 2043 after Republicans voted “no”, he will both effectively end his governorship and give Democrats free reign to add to Illinois’ debt.
- i still believe - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 5:28 pm:
I think it’s time to start a recall. This is absolute garbage. He treats the employees, elected officials, unfortunate, and students with total disdain. How long are we going to have to stand for this?
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 8:50 pm:
@4 Percent:
Anyone who has been around a day longer than Uber recalls Democrats passing a $371 million tax break package for business.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-12-16/business/chi-quinn-signs-searscme-tax-breaks-into-law-20111216_1_cme-and-cboe-sears-cme-employee-income-taxes
- mokenavince - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 10:13 pm:
I don’t see any future for this governor , this is not smart. The drift downward continues.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 11:15 pm:
Sure seems like the state can finance SB2043 the same way it’s funding prisons, Ag, conservation, etc., all the things that haven’t been budgeted for yet.
I mean, other than K-12, none of it has a “funding source.” Why is MAP and higher Ed any different?
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 11:45 pm:
Illinois’ politicians have never worried about how they’re going to pay for things before.
Why should they start now, right?
- Odysseus - Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 11:58 pm:
“Cullerton says it’s tougher than usual to pass a pension bill this year. That’s because of upcoming elections, union opposition, an Illinois Supreme Court ruling that declared a previous law unconstitutional and the ongoing state budget saga.”
Having a Supreme Court ruling doesn’t make passing any bill harder. Just stop doing unconstitutional things.
- Galesburger - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 3:31 am:
=Having a Supreme Court ruling doesn’t make passing any bill harder. Just stop doing unconstitutional things.=
Well said!
- walker - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 7:48 am:
Boy is Rauner a slow learner!
Cullerton just offered him a way to release his most dangerous hostage, without giving up his position. He even suggested that Rauner think it through before saying no. Not a major solution, but a pure political gift to Rauner refused.