* The Senate passed an appropriations bill today on party lines that the governor does not like, to say the least. From Gov. Rauner’s office…
“Senate Democrats today admitted that this bill would do nothing to help higher education, MAP students or social services because there is no money to pay for it. Rather than adding billions to our debt and risk further delaying payments to social service providers, the General Assembly needs to stay in Springfield and negotiate a balanced budget alongside structural reforms that create jobs and grow our economy.”
They aren’t staying. Spring break has sprung. And considering the dueling press releases from yesterday, no negotiations are gonna happen for a while anyway.
* We’ll let Sen. Gary Forby’s press release stand for the Democrats…
Southern Illinois University and other state universities would finally get state support and potentially scale back program cuts and layoffs thanks to legislation Senator Gary Forby (D-Benton) supported Thursday in the Illinois Senate.
Forby helped the Senate approve legislation that includes $185 million in support for SIU. The vote comes just days after university leaders warned lawmakers that deep cuts and layoffs were coming because the state had stopped supporting state schools.
“State schools deserve state support,” Forby said. “SIU is the economic engine of our region. We must work hard to keep this institution open and keep jobs in Southern Illinois. The fact that more than 300 faculty and administrative professionals could be laid off is outrageous.”
The proposal Forby supported also cements an Amtrak deal to keep trains running through Carbondale and elsewhere in the state.
Gov. Rauner and state transportation officials announced a deal with Amtrak in February. However, because the governor last year vetoed the budget that includes Amtrak funding, he had no spending authority to honor that contract. The legislation Forby helped pass gives the governor the authority to honor that contract.
“Amtrak is a vital transportation option. Thousands of SIU students and staff rely on it along with tourists coming to enjoy all Southern Illinois has to offer. I’m glad the governor abandoned his efforts to slash Amtrak service and will now have the ability to back up the contract he signed,” said Forby.
The measure, Senate Bill 2059, passed the Senate with a vote of 39 to 18 and will now go to the House for consideration.
…Adding… OK, I think Sen. Daniel Biss’ press release does a better job of countering the governor’s position, so here it is…
Sen. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) joined Democratic lawmakers Thursday in offering the Rauner administration guidance on spending priorities by voting for an appropriations bill that authorizes payments for the state’s human service providers, universities and more as the budget impasse drags on.
“Right now 90 percent of Illinois government is moving along on autopilot because of court orders and consent decrees. The other 10 percent is on the verge of shutting down. That 10 percent is just as vital as the other 90 percent,” Biss said.
The Senate approved legislation Thursday that authorizes Gov. Bruce Rauner to meet the state’s contractual obligations with human service providers and Amtrak rail service, pay for universities and colleges, and put money toward libraries, rape crisis centers, autism programs, homelessness, after-school programs, school construction grants, job training, mental health services, medical screenings and research, local tourism and more.
As Gov. Rauner’s impasse with the Legislature over a state budget continues, human service providers statewide are closing their doors because the state has not paid them since July. The same is true for public universities around the state.
“What’s being allowed to happen in Illinois is completely irrational and patently unfair. We need a spending plan, we need to hammer out a way to pay for it and we need to do what’s right for Illinois before it’s too late to recover,” Biss said.
- Norseman - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:33 pm:
I’m sure Cullerton would like to negotiate a budget. A budget.
- Macbeth - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:37 pm:
Friday surprise will be labor board deciding in favor of Rauner v. AFSCME.
Monday will see Rauner’s contact imposed — and AFSCME in court seeking emergency relief.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:37 pm:
===”…a balanced budget alongside structural reforms that create jobs and grow our economy.”===
The Rauner Press and Legislative Shops…
Willfully Ignornant, hoping everyone is Blissfully Unaware.
Seriously, both Shops… aren’t you guys embarrassed… yet?
===”..,a balanced budget alongside structural reforms that create jobs and grow our economy.”===
Pitiful.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:40 pm:
=a balanced budget alongside structural reforms that create jobs and grow our economy.=
Not supported by facts presented in evidence.
- Benny Profane - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:40 pm:
—
. I wonder what the “Friday Surprise” will be.
—
Friday surprise will be Rauner fast-tracking his labor board versus AFSCME.
Decision: in favor of Rauner.
Monday morning: Rauner imposes new contract.
Monday afternoon: AFSCME sues for emergency relief.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:40 pm:
Keep this up Governor and you’ll be alongside the incredible shrinking Republican legislative caucuses watching the Democrats ram home a balanced budget.
You want to get in the game or watch from the sidelines? Between Rauner’s nihilism and the likely Trump factor, this is shaping up to be a very, very bad year for the Republicans.
- Wensicia - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:41 pm:
In the meantime, Rauner keeps vetoing support for higher education. and social services. Yep, that’ll raise his approval numbers.
- Thoughts Matter - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:41 pm:
Until and unless Gov. Rauner understands government, and that election results mean something, there is no point to the legislature meeting… Until the GOP GA decides to represent their voters. And only the ones that have opponents in Nivember are going to wake up and start representing their voters.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:44 pm:
Why is it pitiful to ask for a balanced budget and reforms of state government? What percentage of Illinois citizens don’t believe we need drastic reforms in state government? What is the logic of passing a spending bill with no revenue? Please explain
- Johnny Pyle Driver - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:46 pm:
::sees Governor press release::
::CTRL+F “alongside structural reforms”::
::goes back to sleep::
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:47 pm:
To Biss,
I know “Biss Fans” think I may not “like” him by thinking Mendoza was the smart Dem play, but that statement really puts front and center why Biss will move up, when timed right, and will be a formidable foe when it happens.
- Team Sleep - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:49 pm:
Biss should have been the slated candidate for Comptroller. With well-thought reasoning and the smarts to back it up, he would have cruised to victory.
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:50 pm:
Lucky P, that is a very good point. I too am disappointed that the governor presented a budget that was over 6 billion out of balance.
- burbanite - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:51 pm:
They need to be Bissfully aware! Love the start of the sentence, “As Gov. Rauner’s impasse” Nailed it, exactly right this is the Governor’s impasse. The Executive Branch is clearly prohibited from discussing anything that does not include the words “structural reforms” in it. Call it what it is, specifically, what are they and what, specifically, will they save us? At this point, no reform will make up for the financial losses the State and the City of Chicago are suffering as a result of this Governor’s obsession. At least not in my lifetime. Billions with a B and quantifiable.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:51 pm:
===Why is it pitiful to ask for a balanced budget and reforms of state government?===
Because Rauner doesn’t want any of that. Rauner wants to bust Unions, that’s it. The Poison Pils tell me so.
===What percentage of Illinois citizens don’t believe we need drastic reforms in state government?===
Not one person here has said we don’t. Please, enough with the ignorant strawmen you know are phony.
===What is the logic of passing a spending bill with no revenue? Please explain===
Rauner’s own solutions require revenue
Any response by the Rauner Press Shop ignoring that fact is pitiful and ignorant to the situation.
Please, seriously, learn what’s going on.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:52 pm:
- Team Sleep -
You don’t think a Chicago, city-wide elected, Latina won’t win after seeing yesterday?
Hmm.
- btowntruth - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:53 pm:
When Rauner proposes an actual balanced budget to the General Assembly,then maybe I might listen to his talk about debts and deficits.
- Me Too - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:55 pm:
Pierre,
Unless the plan is to welch on contracts already signed, and stiff our universities, this doesn’t increase what’s owed by a dime, it merely allows those contracts to be paid. They will go into the queue like everything else, but funds can be used to honor the debts.
Right now 90% of State contracts can be paid by court order. That’s not to say they are all being paid in a timely fashion, but they are in line to be paid. These can’t go into line until there’s an appropriation, but they are debts none the less. That’s why the governor’s position is ludicrous. When our unis start shutting down, I sure hope you enjoy living in the laughing stock of the country. I sure hope tilting at windmills trying to destroy unions will have been worth crippling the state economy for decades and literally starving seniors and putting people on the streets. What for? What did we do that for? “Structural Reform”? Tell me again how “Structural Reform” even gets us back to where we were a year ago debt wise. You can’t.
- IllinoisBoi - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:56 pm:
“All but one of Illinois’ metro areas see unemployment rates rise in January”
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/4593638183634905abd993b2bc614d55/IL–Illinois-Metro-Unemployment
WINNING.
- Team Sleep - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 2:59 pm:
Willy - first, no one could have predicted that outcome when the slating occurred. Second, the man is a math guru. I respect him immensely. Third, in times like these we want people who understand the complexities of government and the budgeting process, correct? Well…there are few (if any) people in the GA or otherwise who fit the bill like Senator Biss - and you know my political affiliation.
- There is power in a union... - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 3:00 pm:
What are people basing the “Friday surprise”being the labor board ruling on? State panel isn’t due to meet until April 14th. And haven’t seen an ALJ recommended decision yet.
- Me Too - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 3:02 pm:
You know, if we keep going without a budget the court will keep mandating spending at FY2015 levels and next year’s deficit will be even higher (while still stiffing social services and Higher Ed) because it will have a lower tax rate for the entire year. Keep tilting guys. You’ll slay a giant one of these days. I know they don’t care how bad it gets so long as they get their way, but you’d think that they’d realize at some point that the situation is going to border on the collapse of our entire economy. Even the wealthiest will take a massive hit when that happens… Unless they’re shorting our bonds that is.
- GA Watcher - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 3:04 pm:
IllinoisBoi: One edit: WINNIN’
- Bulbous1 - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 3:05 pm:
“The other 10 percent is on the verge of shutting down.” Part of that 10% now includes utility bills for police communication towers in Southern Illinois. If the utility companies pull the plug many police and fire agencies including ISP will lose radio communications. No radios mean no way to send an ambulance to your home or a cop to your crash.
Public Safety will be Dead.In.The.Water.
- Facts are Stubborn Things - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 3:07 pm:
how about stay in town and negotiate a budget with both cuts and revenue?
- Joe M - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 3:08 pm:
==Why is it pitiful to ask for a balanced budget and reforms of state government==
Because the benefit of Rauner’s structural reforms only amount to about a 1.4% benefit.
https://capitolfax.com/2016/01/14/todays-number-14-percent/
That may even be optimistic. Many studies have shown that anti-union agendas like doing away with prevailing wages and unions - and becoming a right to work state do great harm to a state’s economy.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 3:09 pm:
- Team Sleep -,
With great respect,
‘tween us? The Primary reinforced the idea that 2016 is going yo be a referendum on Rauner, and frankly, a city-wide elected Chicago Latina, already figured into that plan, is more formidable than a state senator from Evanston.
That’s was “known”, yesterday was the trial run on Rauner. News flash, Rauner is toxic.
Again, with respect.
- Team Sleep - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 3:16 pm:
Willy - with respect, the time for “figureheads” is over. No offense to Miss Mendoza, but there is no way she holds a candle to Senator Biss in terms of budget and long-term planning smarts and/or skills. And if this election is for sure a referendum on Governor Rauner, then anyone could win, right?! Including a Senator from Evanston who understands math and statistics better than anyone in the General Assembly.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 3:19 pm:
===No offense to Miss Mendoza, but there is no way she holds a candle to Senator Biss in terms of budget and long-term planning smarts and/or skills===
She doesn’t have to.
Mendoza is running against Munger, not Biss…
===ction is for sure a referendum on Governor Rauner, then anyone could win, right?! Including a Senator from Evanston who understands math and statistics better than anyone in the General Assembly.===
The Chicago Hispanic vote.
That’s the ball game.
Why do you think Chuy Garcia was dragged into Primary Races?
- Jeep - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 3:24 pm:
To “negotiate”requires both sides discuss and reach an agreement. Rauner’s definition of negotiate is “just pass my turnaround agenda and destroy the unions already or no budget for you!”
And regarding others predictions about the Labor Board…if they rule in favor of Rauner everyone will know they are a sham.
- btowntruth - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 3:30 pm:
So Rauner says “the General Assembly needs to stay in Springfield.”?
Call them into special session then,Mister Governor.
Article IV,Section 5,Paragraph (b) of the Illinois State Constitution says you can by stating the purpose of the session.
So do it or don’t say they should stay.
- @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 3:33 pm:
Shorter Rauner: “You will respect my authoritah!”
– MrJM
- Educ - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 3:34 pm:
Who on earth are they supposed to negotiate with? Rauner has yet to bother to show up with a budget.
- SAP - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 3:56 pm:
TS: I agree that Sen Biss is the more qualified candidate, But slating Mendoza is not about winning the Comptroller’s race. It’s about having a good Latina candidate near the top of the ticket to bolster down-ballot contests.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 3:58 pm:
Workers comp reform has virtually nothing to do with unions. Term limits has virtually nothing to do with unions. Redistricting has nothing to do with unions. In Chicago where certain issues are restricted from collective bargaining unions are not destroyed . Where are the democrats proposals for structural reform of state government and consolidation of the 7,000 units of local government that would actually allow for a property tax freeze that did not kick the can down the road. It is not all about unions. Those that want no reforms just claim it is
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 4:10 pm:
- Lucky Pierre -
None of those were the Poison Pills.
Ugh.
- kenny 16 - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 4:10 pm:
This entire administration is totally incompetent. What a disaster for the GOP.
- The Dude Abides - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 4:12 pm:
Rauner will keep on holding hostages hoping that eventually he’ll get those union busting concessions. Madigan will continue to hold out, because he knows who will receive most of the blame in November. As OW sometimes says, Governor’s own things. The longer this goes on the longer and more painful it will take to fix this state. Busting Unions isn’t worth it but Rauner’s mission in life is to end Union power and make Illinois RTW.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 4:17 pm:
Tell the Democrats to show up and do their job. Tired of it all………time to get to work!
- Agree? - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 4:46 pm:
Anyone else agree…………Rauner has to go! What a crisis he has put a lot of people through. Take all your money $$$$ and hit the road. This isn’t political. Send us another R Governor. Take your structural agenda with you, Mr. Know-it-All!
- How Ironic - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 4:47 pm:
@ - Anonymous - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 4:17 pm: “Tell the Democrats to show up and do their job.”
Slow day at the frat house? Seeing as Gov Bruce “Workin’ hard at hardly workin’” Rauner hasn’t fulfilled his CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED DUTY by presenting a balanced budget (or any budget for that matter) to be debated…what do suggest “the Democrats” show up to do?
Bruce ‘The Impotent’ Rauner needs to, you know…do his job first.
- Rail Provocateur - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 4:49 pm:
IDOT should take the opportunity to negotiate with Amtrak more frequency in schedules, at least on the Chicago-Champaign-Carbondale corridor, as the greater convenience in schedule options directly increases passenger volume. In the 1960s, the Illinois Central Railroad operated a train every 2 hours on this corridor.
For the sake of mobility and economic development, Illinois should complete its infrastructure improvements to provide passenger rail service between Chicago-Moline and Chicago-Rockford.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 5:57 pm:
–… a balanced budget alongside structural reforms that create jobs and grow our economy.”–
If that meaningless phrase is their drinking game, the Frat Boys are well on their way to Betty Ford.
What are the “structural reforms” today, and just how will they “grow our economy”?
In business, if you claim a plan of action will lead to growth, you put it down in writing so that the assumptions, data and projected growth can be put to the test before you move forward.
Clearly, the Rauner administration hasn’t bothered with anything like that.
The phrase is just empty words to distract from the “squeeze the beast” strategy and the “necessary shakeout” objectives of lost jobs and killed programs.
Couple that shakeout with greatly increased debt, and you lower the possible spending baseline for years to come.
That’s coming along just swell, if you’re into that sort of thing.
- PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 8:06 pm:
What’s his hang up on calling an emergency session?
- Peon - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 8:10 pm:
This engineered crisis strategy will unravel fast once a critical level of harm is exceeded. If you squeeze the beast too hard, it dies, and a few big things are about to expire (colleges, big charities, state vendor credit extensions, etc.).
The Greek debt standoff (merits aside) ended very abruptly when people were queuing at the ATMs. There is an equivalent point in every game of political chicken - control and leverage evaporate if you overplay your hand.
We know that the the loss of a large range of social service, the state museum, half of Luteran services are not “enough”. Not yet the “ATM” moment. But it is coming sooner rather than later.
- Norseman - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 8:16 pm:
=== What’s his hang up on calling an emergency session? ===
My take is that he’s not prepared to negotiate yet - still thinks his stranglehold on the caucuses is holding, and he saw how silly Blago looked when he repeatedly called failed special sessions.
- Blago's Hare - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 9:09 pm:
Norseman: accurate
- Jimmy H - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 9:47 pm:
Rauner negotiate? Pay attention, he will never negotiate. This is precisely what he wants to happen to Illinois. He is winning. His idea of winning is from the point of view of the Kochs, the only good Illinois is a broken and tamed Illinois. Wake up people, his concept of success is way divergent from those that actually care about our state. Jim Edgar hit the nail on the head months ago; take what he said to heart. Edgar cares about Illinois. Only way out is for the legislature to pass veto proof legislation.
- DuPage Bard - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 10:11 pm:
Who will they negotiate with? The GOP GA is essentially neutered. They can’t take a vote until they get approval. So at this point they might as well just stay home and let the Governor and the SDems do it. Also the Gov should stop constantly insulting people if he really wants to get something done.
But let’s be real he likes this and wants it to continue.
- Doc Saluki - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 10:59 pm:
Good governors aim to have academic buildings named after them: this one is going to have his name on ruins unless he changes his tune.
- Peon - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 11:02 pm:
The governor will not negotiate but reality will call him on his hand soon enough. He is holding a pair of twos but doubling down every week.
- AlabamaShake - Thursday, Mar 17, 16 @ 11:58 pm:
**But slating Mendoza is not about winning the Comptroller’s race. It’s about having a good Latina candidate near the top of the ticket to bolster down-ballot contests.**
Yea - I’m sure that lots of people will show up to vote for the Comptroller candidate. That should work well.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 18, 16 @ 5:36 am:
===Yea - I’m sure that lots of people will show up to vote for the Comptroller candidate. That should work well.===
It’s about overall turnout, especially for a Latina, and in Chicago.
I’m sure the Democrats are hoping it works out well too, lol.
- Anon221 - Friday, Mar 18, 16 @ 5:50 am:
Jimmy H- the way out is to have more and more Rs vote against Rauner’s vetoes. Rauner will continue to veto. Take that as a given. At this point there is no D supermajority in the House- Dunkin and sometimes Drury and Franks. Rs will have to push green for their constituents and not yellow or red for Rauner. When will they? Well, even the Tully Monster was recently found to have a backbone;)
- Aloha - Friday, Mar 18, 16 @ 7:03 am:
Dillard doesn’t look so bad now does he!!
- Abe the Babe - Friday, Mar 18, 16 @ 7:06 am:
==It is not all about unions. Those that want no reforms just claim it is==
@ LP, 1, those items have almost nothing to to do with a budget and 2 the union poison pills are the ones that always get dropped into any bill coming out of the governor’s office.
And, those items you listed are all legitimate items that can be debated. But why are you endorsing a strategy whereby one party gets to inflict pain on entire subsets of our society until those “reforms” are enacted?
I will make a note of your endorsement of this tactic the next time a democratic governor holds up all funding until universal healthcare is passed. You will be first in line defending this approach, correct?
- Dilemma - Friday, Mar 18, 16 @ 8:51 am:
At this point it is just silly to suggest that the TA agenda (which only speculatively might change future revenue) should be a hindrance on completing a budget for a fiscal year that it certainly will not affect.
Let’s get a budget done, keep the state stable and healthy, and THEN the governor can work to convince the public and legislature that his TA agenda will help the state and its citizens. I’m certain they have plenty of evidence to make that case, otherwise, why would they have put the state billions of dollars into the hole?
- Jimmy H - Friday, Mar 18, 16 @ 9:27 am:
- Anon221 - Friday, Mar 18, 16 @ 5:50 am:
100% in agreement with you. Now that the primaries are over I hope some of the Republican members will push Green. If not some will lose in November. It might be 2017 before there’s movement. A sickening thought…