* We have Speaker Madigan’s reaction to today’s leaders meeting…
Madigan: Comprehensive, Full-Year Budgets Achievable When Governor Drops Attacks on Middle Class
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Speaker of the Illinois House Michael Madigan on Tuesday issued the following statement after Governor Rauner again insisted on passing his personal agenda before further discussions on a comprehensive state budget could take place:
“Progress has been made on budget items with Governor Rauner over the past year when he sets aside his non-budget agenda that attempts to lower the wages and standard of living of middle-class families.
“Illinois is in its 11th month without a state budget, and Governor Rauner’s refusal to make the budget his top priority has led to dreadful consequences for the elderly who rely on in-home care, victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, college students and universities, disabled persons, and providers of critical medical care.
“Since March 2015, the governor has worked with the Legislature to pass six budget measures. Not one of these measures was dependent on passage of his agenda that hurts middle-class families. Clearly, progress on the state budget is made when the governor sets aside his agenda that attacks the middle class.
“The governor’s continued insistence on passage of his agenda that hurts the middle class is a clear indication he is not interested in passing and implementing comprehensive, full-year budgets that do not decimate needed services relied upon by the people of Illinois.”
*** UPDATE 1 *** From someone who was in the meeting today…
Perhaps this was drafted prior to the meeting and released without consultation with the speaker or his chief of staff. Not sure who to believe: the Mike Madigan in the room today or the Mike Madigan in this press release.
Interesting.
*** UPDATE 2 *** As I told you earlier, the governor’s main thrust today was to convince Speaker Madigan to allow the non-budget working groups to move forward on a more formal basis. And Madigan did just that, which makes his above statement even more odd…
*** UPDATE 3 *** Hmm…
And collective bargaining…
*** UPDATE 4 *** I just talked to Steve Brown, who said, “We made the appointments because the governor requested it.”
Madigan, Brown said, “continues to believe that entangling the buget with his personal agenda is proven not to be an effective way to make budgets.”
* Brown also said that Madigan’s appointees will have a specific role at the negotiations. “On most of those topics, people will be able to go to those meetings and explain what the House has already done on those topics in the past year and a half.”
So, it’s most definitely “Nyet.”
- Liberty - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 12:44 pm:
Rauner says everyone is misled and Illinois is broke (except for a few of course)
I don’t think his letter helped Madigan change his mind.
- Mama - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 12:47 pm:
Rich, are you hearing about any positive changes?
- Chicago Taxpayer - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 12:47 pm:
Do you think Rauner’s agenda attacks the middle class? I couldn’t figure it out from Madigan’s statement.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 12:53 pm:
Sure looks like that from his usual talking points, the Madigan statement was drafted before he walked into the meeting.
We will find out soon enough.
- Nick Danger - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 12:53 pm:
MJM = political calculus - always
- burbanite - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 12:54 pm:
The statement looks just like the premeeting letter.
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 12:56 pm:
That statement reads like it was pre-drafted.
It contradicts the statements made to Amanda and others immediately after the meeting, which were more positive than I had hoped.
- Sue - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 12:57 pm:
Here’s a deal- tax increase in exchange for implementing Rauners AFSCME proposal and the Governor calls it a day
- Obamas Puppy - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 12:58 pm:
What was he going to say? No? Of course he will talk and when the conversation goes to turnaround items - bye bye.
- Extreme - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:01 pm:
Talking about workers comp reform doesnt have to mean attacking the middle class. Apparently Madigan is willing to discuss the stated Rauner agenda but not the hidden poison pills. His comments make sense.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:01 pm:
Someone needs to correct Rauner’s thinking. I would think the wealthy would like a robust middle class. After all, they’re the workers who pay the bills in this world. Decrease tax collection from the middle class (by busting unions, lowering wages), folks might have to look upward to get some tax revenue. Has he not thought of this consequence?
- Try-4-Truth - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:02 pm:
=====- Sue - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 12:57 pm:
Here’s a deal- tax increase in exchange for implementing Rauners AFSCME proposal and the Governor calls it a day====
That would make no sense. That is the deal that was offered last year. Why would Speaker Madigan agree to it now?
- MSIX - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:06 pm:
It’s a safe bet for Madigan to agree to talks on pension reform since he knows none of the reforms will ever make it past the ILSC. At most, the $180k+ deal that Rauner wants *may* have some traction, but we’ll see.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:07 pm:
To the Post and all 3 updates…
Could be a stall game, to 71 and 36…
Talk, talk, talk… Time runs out. “Now what?”
Could be…
- Just Me - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:08 pm:
How can you negotiate with someone who says one thing in a private meeting and then says the exact opposite in public?
- Honeybear - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:09 pm:
I give up. First we’re not going to get sold down the river. Then it looks like we are.
- Norseman - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:10 pm:
You want to talk about your poison pills - ok. Agreement - no.
- Austin Blvd - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:14 pm:
Today’s Madigan takeaway:
The state budget and Rauner’s reforms will never be linked. Passing a budget is not contingent on passing reforms.
In other words, Dems will again do all the budget lifting while Republicans follow Rauner’s orders: i.e., sit back, do nothing, and wail and gnash their teeth.
By agreeing to appoint people to non-budget committees, Madigan is not making the budget contingent on the success of those discussions.
- checkers - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:15 pm:
I think it’s admirable that the Speaker agreed to appoint representatives to the group. He didn’t say “No” and he is reasonably trying to reach an agreement on a budget while not harming working class families. It would appear that the Governor and other leaders are still tightly wedded to their demands to take away rights from working people. Any change to collective bargaining would only open the door to more attacks from Rauner in the near future. The Speaker is right to stand up for middle class families and not be bullied by those who would sell out these working people just to cave in to the Governor.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:17 pm:
Further….
The released statement is true.
Talking talking talking, about everything and anything is true.
Not mutually exclusive and not working against the other.
“I’m going to let you make your case, then I’m going to be against it like I am now”.
Could be…
- GOP Extremist - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:19 pm:
Hang in there Speaker!!
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:19 pm:
To update X4,
Yep, “We’ll talk. Sure… I’m going to let you make your case, then I’m going to be against it like I am now”.
The play is clear.
- L.A. - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:25 pm:
The FBI talks to hostage takers all the time…first thing the FBI tries to do is open up a line of communication. Doesn’t mean they give the hostage taker a free plane ticket to Bangladesh, or an armored tank.
- Shermanite - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:25 pm:
Which comes first? Illinois gets a signed budget or the Cubs play the White Sox in the World Series?
- From the 'Dale to HP - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:28 pm:
Seems like a text book case of someone (the Republicans) attempting to to get in front of a story and create the narrative. Not that they’re wrong, but they’re pushing this pretty hard…
- Chumley - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:36 pm:
If you had to point to one thing that caused this impasse to last as long as it has, it’s Rauner’s plant in Madigan’s primary.
This won’t end until Madigan is satisfied that he has punished Rauner appropriately.
- Just Because - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:37 pm:
the White Sox in the World Series
- Anonymous - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:39 pm:
Steve always seems to be in a different room than most others.
- Anon221 - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:45 pm:
Lede could be, “N(ot) yet.”
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:47 pm:
To Update 4 - We will not offer any alternative suggestions for improving the state. Our apointees will just show up to say NO.
No compromise. No reforms. No counter proposals. No new ideas. No alternatives. No change. No progress. The man who knows state government perhaps better than anyone refuses to say anything more than NO.
A few months ago, I said this applied to both Rauner and Madign ==We had to burn down the village to save it==. Now it seems more fitting of just Madigan. This process is shameful.
- Captain Illini - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:51 pm:
Well…I can’t say both the Speaker and Governor haven’t been consistent. It’s just like the old saying: “Let’s agree to respect each other’s views, no matter how wrong your may be.”
(sigh)
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:52 pm:
He wouldn’t help actively lead the bipartisna budget working group, he won’t offer any new balanced budget suggestions of his own, he won’t discuss any sort of reforms and he won’t offer any new reforms of his own.
This is absurd.
- Saluki Matt - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:53 pm:
Not yet, but closer?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:54 pm:
===but closer? ===
Nyet.
- Rabid - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:59 pm:
Rep elect Stratton and Edgar for non budgeteers
- Saluki Matt - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 2:11 pm:
The Southern Illinoisan says:
“Illinois’ legislative leaders have agreed in principle to budget negotiations that involve both a tax increase and some items from Gov. Bruce Rauner’s pro-business, union-weakening “turnaround agenda.”
Sure doesn’t sound like it by Madigan’s press release.
Republicans must realize that Rauner’s two out of balance budget proposals were an admission that cuts alone are not enough to solve the deficit. Therefore, any statements on his willingness to raise taxes is meaningless because a tax increase is necessary and coming with or without the Turnaround Agenda. Rauner and Republicans simply have no mathematical choice. Democrats, on the other hand, are not and will never be in a position where they have no choice but to accept the Turnaround Agenda.
- BK Bro - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 2:26 pm:
Sounds like another non-productive meetings. Dems won’t compromise an inch on collective bargaining, prevailing wage, etc. Repubs not interested in any form of tax increase.
Both sides should continue to craft their political strategy around blaming the other for no budget. IT seems that’s the only battle that’s going to happen.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 2:33 pm:
Man alive is this ever frustrating!!!!!!!!!
Do something positive for the State you jagalopes!!! (I am so made and frustrated with these guys that I had to make up a word)
I am just so sick of all of them, Madigan the most probably.
- A guy - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 2:37 pm:
===I am just so sick of all of them, Madigan the most probably.===
It prompts the question; “are you middle class?”
- Anonymous - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 2:52 pm:
Make up word - “Jackholes”. Works for me, and angrily discriptive
- Nick Danger - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 2:52 pm:
MJM = hostages taken over. political calculus always
- molly maguire - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 2:53 pm:
Rich, you da man, but are you sure that doesn’t show progress on Madigan’s side? Of course he is trying to keep the old narrative alive, but he could have just as easily not agreed to send anyone to the future meetings. I read this as a positive step. But I trust your judgement.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:00 pm:
===I read this as a positive step===
Fine, now re-read Steve Brown’s comments and tell me that’s positive.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:07 pm:
@ A guy- since my response was deleted (probably a good thing) let me just say this…
Your questions has little to no relevance. I state my frustration with the whole group in Springfield an you cherry pick one person. Have you read Rich’s earlier posts? The Jack Franks quote?
It is on everyone of them. The seem to suffer from group onset personality disorder when speaking individually. The seem to forget or want us to forget that they are all culpable in very degrees but still culpable for this ongoing disaster.
Am I in the middle class? I am among the 99% of citizens that are getting the short end of the stick, if that is a “class” so be it, but I am pretty fed up with the whole lot of them.
- The Dude Abides - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:11 pm:
I’m afraid that I agree with OW’s comment that Madigan is stalling. He knows that if the budget isn’t resolved by November the Governor and his party will bear the brunt of it.
- Anon221 - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:14 pm:
Failed in House. Contained poison pills. Why not just a clean bill, Bradley???
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?GAID=13&GA=99&DocNum=673&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=88&LegID=85147&SpecSess=&Session=
- Facts are Stubborn Things - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 4:06 pm:
You could have a few limited reforms, but mjm is not wanting to link them to the budget. Move on the property tax freeze, legal limited pension reform, and workers comp and then call on Rauner to set down and get the budget passed.
- Mama - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 4:54 pm:
Rauner & the media he controls, does not seem to care whether their statements are factual or not.
- peon - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 5:50 pm:
Do we really want a future where every Governor (Republican or Democratic) uses the budget process, state contract obligations, the poor, etc., as the vehicle to get policy they can’t get through the regular process, i.e. by winning seats ?
Because that’s what we would be buying.
- anon - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 5:50 pm:
=== I would think the wealthy would like a robust middle class. ===
I think the wealthy prefers profits going to shareholders and management rather than sharing more of them with the rank-and-file workers, the way it was done in the 50s and 60s when unions had muscle in the private sector.
- RNUG - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 6:01 am:
My head was spinning this morning after reading the SJ-R version of the meeting outcome. They definitely put a positive light on it …