104 Comments - atsuishin - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:13 pm: I think Rauner would be ok with no budget. only small portion of people using social services would vote for him anyway. No budget would basically guarantee that illinois will have a smaller government so rauner would achieve his goal. - Saluki - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:13 pm: 173 days till the election. Then another few months until new members are sworn in. Then we will have a budget. - Corporate Thug - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:13 pm: Yup. I see it too. Although I may be more optimistic than you Rich when it comes to lame duck session. Thats when you get your votes. - Formerly Known as Frenchie M - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:13 pm: It’s up to the GOP rank-and-file. We know where Rauner stands. - JS Mill - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:15 pm: “unimaginable dystopia” Yikes. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:18 pm: ===173 days till the election. Then another few months until new members are sworn in. Then we will have a budget.=== Only if there are enough voted to override. Rauner, more likely than not, will not get majorities in both chambers - illinoised - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:18 pm: Hyperbolic statements like that, by both sides, are feeding the impasse. - Homer J. Quinn - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:18 pm: if it goes this way, rauner’s popularity in Illinois will be somewhere below john wilkes booth’s. … but he won’t care; he’ll pull up stakes to one of his other houses and forget all this. that’s why you never vote for someone who’s rich enough to ignore public opinion. - lake county democrat - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:19 pm: “Leader Lang” is an oxymoron. Dunkin lost, Franks is leaving - use your supermajority power if you feel that way (or at least try to use it). - Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:19 pm: Boy. Um. Uh. Lou…. uhgg. I hope it is not true. And I hope people stop saying it. It is like when I hear people say social security is bankrupt and there is no way it will exist when I am 67. I said BS then, I say it now, and I will say it tomorrow. - Anon221 - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:20 pm: Dem leader Rep Lou Lang at union rally: “We don’t have a budget due to the terms of Bruce Rauner.” Fixed it. - Almost the Weekend - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:20 pm: Two things that bug me about this statement The fact that Democratic elected officials think social services can survive four years without a budget. This is more of a theory… Now Democrats have social service providers staunchly in their corner, they are in better shape without having a budget until 2018 politically speaking. I really hope that’s no the case, the most vulnerable citizens of IL have suffered enough. - How Ironic - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:21 pm: Well, I guess Bruce really is “shaking up” Springfield. What a leader. - jim - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:21 pm: unseemly for Lang to brag about not being willing to work out a compromise with the governor for such a long period of time. - Chicago 20 - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:22 pm: With a 30 something percent approval rating and a disapproval rating of over 50%, what makes you think Rauner is re-electable? - Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:23 pm: ===Also, too, what if Rauner is reelected?=== 2023 income tax rate is 8%. Backlog of bills is 30 billion. Heck, the feds might take over the state before then. - The Epic Failure Formerly Known as Illinois - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:23 pm: This would be a complete and epic failure. Everyone involved should be ashamed, but the Democrats especially. The tax rate is currently 3.75% and Rauner is offering 4.85%. That is a big give on the Republican side. The Dems need to give something back or everything will collapse. People can say Pat Quinn lost the race not Bruce Rauner winning, but it led to the same result. Illinois voted Bruce Rauner in and voted for a change. Not the same old policies that lead to bottom ten percent in metro equality employment that Rich posted earlier. Bravo Democrats, your policies or obviously helping us citizens of Illinois. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:23 pm: ===what makes you think Rauner is re-electable? === Lots of things. Unlimited money. Think $100 million + The possibility that Clinton is elected and that her first midterm is a disaster for Democrats. The possibility that the Dems nominate Quinn again. Etc. I’ve written about it before. - James Knell - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:24 pm: I’m sure Lou Lang does not expect our human service provider network to survive even a few more months without an actual budget. He knows Rauner, Drury, Philips, etc. BTW, did you know Rep. Drury is a former federal prosecutor? s n a r k - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:24 pm: ===With a 30 something percent approval rating and a disapproval rating of over 50%, what makes you think Rauner is re-electable?=== 1) Rod Blagojevich 2) ‘Round $70 million spent, without a primary opponent, directed to destroy any and all Dem challengers. I truly feel Rauner will get re-elected over being defeated… Today. - Dome Gnome - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:24 pm: I’m still hopeful that the November election will get us to 71/39. That’ll go a long way. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:26 pm: ===the November election will get us to=== And if it doesn’t? And what do you want the social service network to do in the meantime, genius? - CrazyHorse - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:27 pm: ==Also, too, what if Rauner is reelected?== If the Lang prediction of no budget under Rauner comes to fruition and Rauner manages to get reelected then I will have lost all faith in my fellow Illinoisans. - Almost the Weekend - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:28 pm: Chicago 20 Ever hear of the PQ redemption tour around the state. Nobody else seems interested. Add $100 million you are going against I’m pretty sure nobody wants to stake their political future on that race. If PQ runs Rauner wins. Lisa Madigan won’t run, her dad is still Speaker, I think she loses. I could see somebody at the federal level like Durbin or Bustos, but I don’t know why they would come back to the state level for the political fight of their life. PS: I would love to see what would happen if Rauner said he wouldn’t run in 2018 if the Speaker retired. Rauner accomplishes part of his turnaround agenda and could say he slayed the mythocal GOP nemesis. But would the Speaker do it? - Liandro - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:29 pm: I will never forget being in the room last year with other Mayors as it was explained to us, by a (D) state rep, that Rauner was down to asking only two items on his reform agenda…and that Madigan still had no interest whatsoever. Two. My takeaway at the time: the Democrats are going to do everything they can to ignore that the citizens put an (R) in office. They will refuse to deal with him, no matter the consequences. No reforms, no compromise, and presumably plenty of prep to blame the whole thing completely on the other side. To be fair to the state rep, he sounded pretty helpless and pointed the finger at (both) party leaders, and I have even less knowledge and influence than him as to what is actually being discussed. But all this to kill just two reforms? - NoGifts - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:29 pm: Unfortunately at this point it is an imaginable dystopia. - Corporate Thug - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:31 pm: And to the last part of your post, Rich. I think Rauner is only elected if Hillary wins the White House. I know that sounds weird, but If she wins I think there’s dem bloodbath in 18′. More than there would be in a normal non-presidential year. It’ll be real tough to beat him then. Aaannnnd you just send all that in the comments If Trump wins the Presidency, no way Rauner wins in 18. Don’t think it happens. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:32 pm: I don’t care if you rallied yesterday or today. Illinois needs a budget. This state can’t wait any more “months”. Period. No one will “survive” month and months and months more. That’s real. - James Knell - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:33 pm: == The possibility that the Dems nominate Quinn again. == … or Florida Recount Bill Daley. This internationally renown corporate Democrat is noted for his uncanny ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. - MrGrassroots - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:33 pm: I take nothing for granted. Just like there is a possibility of a President Trump (it’s true), there is a possibility of a second-tern=m for Governor Rauner. My argument on the success of Trump and Rauner is the weakness of the opposition. That said, know that I am a staunch Democrat. Hillary Clinton is a match for Trump, but she must run the right campaign. Rauner can be beaten by the right candidate, but at the moment I do not see one. - illinois manufacturer - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:37 pm: I may be wrong but this year money has just not mattered. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:41 pm: ===this year=== 2018 ain’t this year. - Dome Gnome - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:41 pm: =And if it doesn’t? And what do you want the social service network to do in the meantime, genius?= I’m just an ordinary mom, so it’s not often that I get called a genius, sarcastically or not. My daughter is 100% dependent on our social service system, so I’m mourning right along with you. There’s nothing pretty about this. - AnonymousOne - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:44 pm: Who would re elect Bruce Rauner? A vote for him based on…….what? Destruction of lives? Eliminator of universities/destroyer of futures of our young people? Uniter of citizens? Soaring reputation of our state? - Demoralized - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:45 pm: What in the heck is wrong with these people? It’s nothing but a game to these guys. But as long as they’re “winning” it’s all good right? If Rep. Lang truly believes that we could see this thing drag out for another couple of years then he and his fellow legislators should just go home, the Comptroller should put them WAY at the bottom of the stack for payment, and they can go around to all of the social service providers in their districts consoling them as they close their doors one by one. - Norseman - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:45 pm: I think we’re all getting OODA loopy. Inquiring minds are asking: 1. Will the Dems pass another budget on their own? 2. #1 plus intertwine the budget bills to tie other items to K-12? 3. Will Rauner hold out if no K-12 approp? 4. Will Lisa push for court ruling on state worker pay? 5. Will Spfld and other municipal utilities pull the plug due to overdue bills? 6. Will the courts rule in favor of the human services providers with contracts? 7. Will Rauner open prison doors because of no food? 8. Will Dorothy wake-up and still say there is no place like home? 9. Will … - cdog - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:45 pm: Intransigence know no party. The Dems will suffer too if they continue to appear unreasonable. On the $100m. Thankfully, it appears one of the lessons of the big bucks efforts re Dunkin and McCann was obvious. There is a saturation point in the audience for dumbed-down repetitive and manipulative advertising messages–saturation invites backdraft/blowback. People are smarter than they were given credit during that expensive effort in futility. - James Knell - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:46 pm: == Rauner can be beaten by the right candidate, but at the moment I do not see one. == It wouldn’t take a world beater. Just not a retread or a rank amateur. Quinn could have won in 2014, but what did Paul Vallas bring to the ticket? The wonk vote? Regardless, Rauner won’t be able to rely on this “blank slate” campaign in 2018, so he better work on driving Democrats out of the state really hard. That’s about all he has left. - Annonin' - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:46 pm: Perhaps Capt Fax can get the “administration officials” to comment on the BigBrain annnoucnement on Summer of Hate Speech, the $5 million drop to the CarWashKing, $2 million to Durkie as to whether those signals of “budget deal” - Joe M - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:47 pm: ==But all this to kill just two reforms? == Or, all this to push for two reforms that are not even related to the budget? Also, Rauner’s reforms are a moving target of more than two reforms. None of which can be proven to improve the budget. - Earnest - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:47 pm: I can see no budget happening, and I can see Rauner winning in 2018. Increasing frustration with incumbents works in his favor. He’ll have to stick with the generic”reforms” and lack of specifics though. He’s a good strategist and could be playing the long game to control the map. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:47 pm: ===It’s clear that Speaker Madigan and his most loyal members are doing whatever they can to derail negotiations and prevent a state budget deal. It’ll be up to rank and file Democrats to either fall in line with Madigan or push for a deal.=== At least they aren’t “frustrated”… Dear Rauner Press Shop, Instead of lumping Labor and Social Servies together, ya coulda tried to show… empathy. Too late, you blew that one. I guess you don’t want these voters to… come around? The hostile ignorance of “us versus them”… Amateur Hour. Try to be better. Oh. That’s right, they’re not “taxpayers”. They don’t count. Right? Exactly right. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:48 pm: ===Who would re elect Bruce Rauner?=== Lots of y’all didn’t think he’d win in the first place. The beauty of politics is that it’s not completely predictable. - GA Watcher - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:49 pm: Mayor Liandro: With all due respect, please watch the Governor’s speech last month to the State Chamber of Commerce. He begins around the 45:30 mark. He talks about how we need four types of reform, but then mentions specific reforms under each type. Count them up. There are twelve. http://livestream.com/blueroomstream/events/5178782 - Saluki - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:58 pm: I am a republican that has never voted for a democrat in my life. However myself and many of my republican friends are embarrassed by this Governor. I will vote for every democratic state level official that I can vote for. Anything to take the wheel from this guy. Bet the unions wished they had gotten behind Kirk Dillard a bit sooner. - Liandro - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:03 pm: @GA watcher: According to the Dem State Rep, at one point Rauner was down to two specific reforms as part of this year’s (good grief, last years I guess!) budget negotiations. Those are his words, not mine. I’m sure the Governor would continue to pursue discussion of the other proposals as part of other processes. That said, I obviously have no idea what was actually discussed by the tops at that time. I’m purely basing that of the report given to us by someone who, presumably, had little reason to present the Governor in a favorable light. - Anon221 - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:04 pm: My prediction (for what it’s worth)- the GA unites enough to be able to do overrides of Rauner’s vetoes, and between them and the judiciary, take back control of Illinois. Piece-mealing it may become the standard, at least through the FY 17 budget, BUT, and it’s a huge BUT, the judicial branch may stop consent decrees and court orders. Also, I have a feeling, regardless of who wins the Presidential election (after all, Trump on Rauner- “Never met him. Don’t know him.” translation- insignificant), the Federal dollars to Illinois for hosts of programs will be in very severe jeopardy. Not to mention, possible inquiries from the Feds on Rauner’s possible manipulation of bond sales. THAT could really put a crimp in a re-election possibility, but probably only if Clinton is elected. Trump would probably shell out a few millions to make a few more on these bonds. - AnonymousOne - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:05 pm: There are always the silent ones who approve but would never admit they like the way things are going. Under the anonymity of this site, I’d like to hear about the great strides and accomplishments our governor has made. Has this style of governance become the exemplary model for all states to follow or am I clueless about one single thing that has been a positive for Illinois? When I tell my out of state relatives about Rauner they don’t believe me—think I’ve been delusional or drunk. - James Knell - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:07 pm: Earnest seriously… == He’s a good strategist and could be playing the long game to control the map. == Rauner just polled the 6th most unpopular governor in America. No one in their right mind becomes widely & deeply hated as part of any strategy. - The Muse - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:11 pm: Have heard the same thing last year in August and laughed it off… Now I’m freaking out a little. It’s sad that a “miracle” at this point is legislators breaking from their respective leaders and making a deal among themselves. - Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:11 pm: (847) 673-1131, (217) 782-1252. Lou Lang’s Skokie and Springfield office numbers in case anyone besides me feels the need. I am so mad right now. And certainly the governor ain’t gonna listen. Reasonable republicans and democrats are our only way out of this mess. I suggest calling the ones who were at some point in the past reasonable but are no longer so today. - EconLady - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:15 pm: I don’t vilify Lang for his comment. It’s dawned on a lot of people that this may well be the Governor’s desired result. The Governor has chosen not to have a budget. It’s not like, if he had used the regular tools of his office which were fine for everyone before him (like the line-item veto), we would be in this situation. He has shredded all norms. - Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:15 pm: ===Lots of y’all didn’t think he’d win in the first place.=== So many people are stuck in their bubble. I never said he couldn’t win. I said he shouldn’t be allowed to win! It’s the same garbage with Trump. Everyone tells me he can’t win. People just don’t realize…. - pool boy - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:17 pm: It’s time for both sides to put on their big boy pants and come up with a solution. Government should help citizens, not pit them against each other. - Norseman - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:21 pm: === It’s time for both sides to put on their big boy pants and come up with a solution. Government should help citizens, not pit them against each other. === I wish I had a nickel for every time someone has said this. I’d be on my way on a nice trip to Tahiti. - The Dude Abides - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:23 pm: If I understand things correctly from comments made by Jim Durkin yesterday, the Governor is insisting that some collective bargaining changes be part of any deal as well as workman’s comp reform and redistricting reform. I will be surprised if the Democrats go along with the collective bargaining reform before November. Asking the Democrats to go along with collective bargaining reform before an election is like asking the GOP to vote for raising corporate taxes before an election, alienating a core constituency right before an election. My prediction is that unless collective bargaining is dropping from the reform agenda that Rauner is insisting on, there will be no deal before the election and the consequences will be for a lot of people as well as the state. I truly hope I’m wrong and that we can get a full budget done before July. - Anonymous - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:24 pm: When Rauner was done to “just two” reforms, how many subsections made up those two? - James Knell - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:25 pm: AnonymousOne… remember Mitt Romney’s fatal comment about the 47% of us who are parasites? http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/09/full-transcript-mitt-romney-secret-video#47percent It’s considered poor form for 1%ers and their supporters to say, “let them eat cake” in public. You have to at least buy them drinks. - FGFM - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:26 pm: FYI - I saw Pat Quinn walking down LaSalle Street today. #tannedrestedandready - The Captain - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:28 pm: It’s clear that Speaker Madigan and his most loyal members are doing whatever they can to derail negotiations and prevent a state budget deal. It’ll be up to rank and file Democrats to either fall in line with Madigan or push for a deal. Team Rauner has mistakenly believed since the beginning that there is this large pool of Democratic GA members who really want to vote for policy changes that would gut middle class wages so Rauner’s rich friends could take even larger profits from their businesses. It’s why IllinoisGo was created, to have this other pot of money this imaginary pool of Democrats could run to so they could vote for these great Rauner ideas to gut middle class wages, although with the exception of Dunkin it never materialized (that’s why IllinoisGO still has $6 million in the bank, they had no one else to spend their money on). Now, as indicated by the quote above, they’re hoping this imaginary pool of Democrats materializes again to save their budget hopes by first passing the Governor’s non-starter agenda. Team Rauner seems to think that the only thing standing in their way is Mike Madigan and if he died tomorrow the Turnaround Agenda would pass unanimously. They just don’t get the basic political reality that opposition to their agenda is broad and deep and if Mike Madigan went away tomorrow nothing would change. - fka Lester Holt's Mustache - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:29 pm: Interested to see what comes out at the end of session. Hopefully grand bargain can be struck on a two year budget, though I’m still pessimistic that Rauner will sign any deal that doesn’t include passage of every single item on his TA. It would set a bad precedent if the lasting impression of these past two years end up being “regardless of who voters elect to majorities in the Illinois legislature, all that any Governor has to do is hold funding for human service organizations hostage long enough and eventually the legislature will have to agree to whatever demands he/she makes.” - Juvenal - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:37 pm: Recognizing its quite possible that we will not have a budget during Rauner’s first term isn’t new. The human services infrastructure has already been noticeably damaged, and it will continue to suffer over the coming months, or years if that is how long it takes. But most importantly, the people that depend on it are suffering irreparable harm. Like the forests on Easter Island, programs and entire organizations are being felled daily as tribal leaders wage idolatrous wars. I don’t think it will ever reach a point of complete collapse. Organizations like LSSI will cut back severely to services covered by court order, and if they have to they will just stop partnering with the state to fund services altogether. Ironically, forcing contractors out of the way could end up being a huge win for AFSCME. - Ahoy! - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:37 pm: –Also, too, what if Rauner is reelected?– Then we might have to wait until 2022 when hopefully we have a fair map with non-rigged elections, or until Madigan is no longer speaker, whichever comes first. - Downstate Illinois - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:49 pm: It’s the House Dems who are very vunerable in targeted districts if they don’t offer a balanced budget as required by the state constitution. Failing to take seriously their oath of office can make a powerful campaign ad. Not to mention, they will be running with either a Soviet loving socialist or Hillary on the top of their ticket. Hillary might win Cook County, but her votes downstate will be similar to Quinn’s. - BBG Watch - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:55 pm: == It’s the House Dems who are very vunerable in targeted districts if they don’t offer a balanced budget as required by the state constitution. == That’s the governor’s job not the House Dems. - pool boy - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:00 pm: Norseman, have fun in Tahiti. Just remember, your glass isn’t half empty, it’s too big. - illinois manufacturer - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:01 pm: If this goes on to 2018…..who can even make a prsdicatikn based on the past - titan - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:09 pm: +++ Also, too, what if Rauner is reelected? +++ If we get to 2018 without a budget, will anyone currently in office be reelected? - Sue - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:13 pm: Madigan and his lemmings just don’t get it. The State and Chicago given are public Union regime are stuck essentially paying for three generations ( maybe 2 and. 1/2) of employees. The Actives and retirees. If you retire at 55 it’s no stretch of imagination that you will collect benefits for 30 plus years. Ok so we agreed to these programs and the constitution protects the benefits. So What. We are laying off teachers and other essential people so we can keep paying the benefits. All of this means we are sacrificing the future to pay for the past. CPS is bracing for gargantuan cuts and layoffs. So much for the students. Yet Zmadigan today gets his labor folks all riled up against the Governor who is insisting at reforms. You know what- stick to your guns and watch the whole thing crumble. Geez - Ghost - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:15 pm: on the what if Rauner is reelected, i would expect with that much Statewide support you would see a significant shift and Rauner supportive members of the GA. I speculate that by the election people will be coting to support one side or the other, so if Rauner returns it will be with a GA who will back him - illinois manufacturer - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:19 pm: Norseman@145 - fka Lester Holt's Mustache - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:21 pm: ==Ok so we agreed to these programs and the constitution protects the benefits. So What. == Lol, geez Louise are you thick. You should really use that argument in front of the Supreme Court. “Your honors, while I’m aware of the constitutional question in front of us, you must ask yourselves this question - so what?” - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:23 pm: - Sue - “You know what”…===Ok so we agreed to these programs and the constitution protects the benefits.=== That’s not up for discussion, lol “You know what”…===Yet Madigan today gets his labor folks all riled up against the Governor who is insisting at reforms.=== Reforms are a want, not a requirement in a budget. A budget has revenue and expenses, not reform. I’ve yet to see a budget have a “reforms” part on a ledger. Is that a Debit or a Credit… Expenditure or Revenue… I bet… if you looked in any accounting book, I’ll let you choos - Sue - “reforns” are not an accounting principle. Spin all you want. Yesterday… Half dozens and half dozens… Today… Thousands. “Why?” Rauner wants to, and in some case already is… destroying lives. Vetoes have consequences, even for those doing the vetoing. - fed up - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:37 pm: Isn’t this about undermining the dem base? Hold out on anti-union agenda and if social service, generally run, supported, and benefited by those on the left suffer or die not his problem. Never were his supporters anyway. His eye is on turning Illinois Red. Thing is Rauner did not overtly run on busting AFSCME. He just talked about “corrupt union bosses” right? Since it is clearer now what the true agenda is, might it significantly impact 2018? Dems base will be on fire by then IMAO especially if the labor board declares an impasse. Hilary or not. That said we have seen some stuff no one predicted. - Triple fat - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:49 pm: How is this Democrat’s doing? Are they supposed to make a Hobson’s choice on the turn around agenda? Sheesh! - JDuc - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:55 pm: I personally thought that the impasse would be quite long, never thought that it would be all 4 years, but frankly now it seens plausible. - Wensicia - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:59 pm: The courts and the credit rating agencies will flush Rauner out, eventually. He’ll have to come up with workable solutions he can negotiate with, not a 1.4% plan. If not, we’re Kansas by 2018 and that governor was reelected. - Juvenal - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:05 pm: @fed up - It’s a mistake to assume that all or even most of the people who benefit from human services programs or provide them are mostly Democrats. - Sue - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:10 pm: Oswego- so why doesn’t Madigan ask his members to vote on a budget along with the Senate. Maybe he doesn’t want to be associated 100 percent with the tax increases his labor support is demanding. What Raunervis doing is called politics- you want something from me - I want something in return - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:15 pm: - Sue - Revenue is required. Rauner needs Dems on a revenue Bill, not Dems pushing a #TaxHikeMik Bill. The time of Dems goin’ alone are far passed. #TaxHikeMike destroyed that avenue, so a Governor is now on his own, needin’ Dems. Politics, as you say… lol - Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:50 pm: “I don’t necessarily agree with the first part of your remarks, that in the end this will be negotiated between the governor, and the leaders. I don’t necessarily agree with that,” Madigan said. He later added, “(T)here are conversations going on but I don’t think you should proceed under any presumptions that are based upon what happened in the past… I don’t necessarily presume that there will be some kind of a deal put together between the governor and the legislative leaders.” Mike Madigan June 17 2015 It looks as though Speaker Madigan is determined to get what he wants, one way or another. Nothing successfully negotiated between the governor and the leaders. If that means no budget, so be it. - Demoralized - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:57 pm: ==and the constitution protects the benefits. So What. == So what? It seems to me Sue that you are more than willing to throw one group under the bus in order to take care of another group. Why is this always a zero sum game for some? It doesn’t have to be an either/or choice. - Keyrock - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 5:01 pm: OW- why does Rauner need revenue? A rational governor would. The State does. But if Rauner likes (and maybe even planned for) what is happening (including the decimation of social services and public higher ed), as we suspect, he may not “need” revenue. Chaos and decimation, have others have observed, may be a feature, not a bug. - Illinoisian - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 5:06 pm: All politics aside, is it actually possible to operate without a budget for four years? - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 5:11 pm: - Keyrock -, Rauner needs it because even if Rauner plans to close Eastern (Hey Reggie!) or bankrupt social service groups (Ounce is $7+ million in the hole, and their President did an Ad for Bruce. How’s that looking Ounce?)… whatever remains, needs revenue. While it’s purposeful, the end game is destroying, the “day after” will be revenue. Rebuilding, Rauner will get to use that revenue in his newly funded agencies to pay outsourced work. Revenue… revenue will happen, just not like anyone of U.S. imagined months ago. Rauner’s “press shop” response… “Choose wisely who you want to save you. You will be going down…”(?) - Mama - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 5:32 pm: There were no Republicans at the rally standing up for social service today! However, the Democrats did stand up for social services, the disabled, the schools, the colleges, and a lot more today. - Mama - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 5:34 pm: Since when has Rauner negotiated in good faith with Madigan? Everyone knows, it is either Rauner way or the highway. - Mama - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 5:44 pm: ==- Anon221 - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:04 pm: == There is no way Dunkin will ever vote with Madigan. Therefore, no chance in over-riding any vetoes until Dunkin & 2 other Dems are replaced in the House. - Norseman - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 5:45 pm: === There were no Republicans at the rally standing up for social service today! However, the Democrats did stand up for social services, the disabled, the schools, the colleges, and a lot more today. === Wrong Mama, according to reporter tweets, Republican Sen. Sam McCann was at the rally. - RNUG - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 5:48 pm: Unlike others I could mention, Sam McCann knows his district. - Pawn - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 5:58 pm: Rauner needs revenue to pay for the contracts he has issued. - RNUG - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 6:36 pm: == Rauner needs revenue to pay for the contracts he has issued. == … and budget appropriations. - peon - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 6:51 pm: The genius of the system is that it does not require smart or well-meaning politicians to work. Don’t pass budget ? Reality will instruct you on the consequences, although it takes time,. Only autocratic systems allow you to inflict destruction on the people indefinitely - we don’t have that. Rauner thinks this is a controlled bankruptcy proceeding - it’s not. - wordslinger - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 7:05 pm: –It looks as though Speaker Madigan is determined to get what he wants, one way or another. What is that? – Nothing successfully negotiated between the governor and the leaders. If that means no budget, so be it.– Obviously, he’s referring to the talks going on with rank-and-file members and the budget director. - Sue - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 7:24 pm: Madigan has for 34 years allowed the State to spend more then it should deferring the day of reckoning by short changing pension payments do it appeared he had balanced budgets. What’s 3 more years? - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 7:33 pm: - Sue - Please don’t play the victim. Thanks. - RNUG - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 7:56 pm: -Sue- Madigan didn’t do it alone. He had the cooperation of the rest of the GA and six different Governors. To refresh your memory: Walker - D Thompson - R Edgar - R Ryan - R Blago - D Quinn - D … and I kind of question including Quinn because he did push for the temp tax hike and did cut spending to get a balanced budget - Fly On the Wall - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:49 pm: The ignorance of what really goes on in the state house is amazing. All you insiders now Madigan does not want this resolved. He is the only reason this will not get resolved until he is ready. He has not cared about anyone his whole career except his power. If so worried Dems use your super-majorities, but that will never happen. Oh and RNUG, there has not been a balanced budget in 10 years. IDOR help refunds to businesses for almost 2 years under Quinn. That is not called a balance budget when you keep $2 billion of the taxpayers money. - Mama - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 10:57 pm: ==- Norseman - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 5:45 pm: == Sorry Norseman, I was not there when McCann spoke. I didn’t know he was there. - Anonymous - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 12:01 am: @ Fly On the Wall And neither does trying to buy votes or subsidize the general assembly when they disagree with you. - Norseman - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 1:16 am: Mama, no worries. - Anon221 - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 5:29 am: Mama, when I said the GA would need to unite in the House for overrides, I meant more Republucans voting with the Dems. Dunkin, Drury, and Franks are usually the reason there are never enough critical votes, so it’s going to take Rs to stand up to Rauner. - RNUG - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 6:46 am: == so it’s going to take Rs to stand up to Rauner. == And it’s going to have to be more than 2 or 3 on the tough votes like a tax increase the D’s aren’t going to do it by themselves and give the other side an advantage in the fall election. - Anon221 - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 7:49 am: RNUG- exactly! Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.