143 Comments - South of Sherman - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:23 am: If your goal is to rally public support to your point of view and against the governor’s agenda, this is EXACTLY the wrong way to go about it. Morons. - Ahoy! - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:23 am: Stay classy unions. - illini97 - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:24 am: Didn’t he say he was the guy to take the slings and arrows of unpopular decisions? - South of Sherman - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:24 am: If you’re trying to rally public support to your point of view and against the governor’s agenda, this is exactly the wrong way to go about it. You’re not helping. - LizPhairTax - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:25 am: Eh, not everyone can write giant checks. Free speech is free speech and you reap whatcha sow. - State worker - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:25 am: Not cool, c’mon people!! I don’t like him either but let’s be civilized!! - Georg Sande - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:26 am: The unions did themselves no favors here. Again. - Handle Bar Mustache - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:28 am: I’m surprised it has taken this long for the unfriendly crowds to start showing up at his events. Obscenities and violence are not acceptable, but showing up and speaking out is overdue. - Give Me A Break - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:28 am: Looks like it was an Up Day. - upstater - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:29 am: They are demonstrating the stereotype some have of them as “union thugs”. Upset as they are, they need to keep it clean. They aren’t helping their cause, and they are just giving perfect footage for Rauner of “union thugs”. - Mongo - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:29 am: I prefer civility in any debate. But he has asked for some of this. That said, calling him names won’t move him. So I would not do this, just because it isn’t effective. - so... - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:30 am: Thugs gonna thug - A guy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:30 am: Hmm. This will win over….no one. It’s a flash mob. It seems to me that people generally don’t care for flash mobs. Continuing this will hurt their message dramatically. This is savage behavior. Not sure why anyone would consider this helpful. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:31 am: It was 2 in 5 Labor Hiusehold voters that voted Rauner. Labor gets that down to one in five or one in six, then these protests work. Restraint is helpful, but when you are “misled” to your face, tempers flair. Rauner doesn’t care about Labor, so why is everyone so worried how Labor looks? - Handle Bar Mustache - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:32 am: This looks mild compared to AFSCME at the state fair a few years ago. - LizPhairTax - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:32 am: Yes, civilized. The civilized thing to do is form a $20 million PAC with two friends. The nerve of these brutes… - Stark - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:33 am: I love how anyone who dislikes the governor’s policies, and actually utilizes their first amendment rights, in a state without a fiscal operating budget for 12 months, can now be called “union thugs”. Yikes. - Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:33 am: He has spent years demonizing these people in the media. This was their only chance to speak their mind directly to him. Do I condone this behavior? No. Do I understand it. Absolutely. Really, what did he expect? - Belle - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:33 am: Unfortunately, he is probably going to use this against them and any Democratic supporters of the Unions. - Honeybear - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:34 am: I get that people may not like it, but these are natural and spontaneous emotions that are coming out of people. It’s the anger that has become the hallmark of this political season. Only here Rauner is rightly blamed and rebuked, although in course fashion. Peoples lives and livelihoods have been destroyed and attacked by this man and his quest to destroy ALL labor. Be ready oh sweet tender capfax folk who disdain the rough and course. It is only beginning. Rauner made life unsafe and uncomfortable for thousands. He can take being cussed out. C’mon it’s not like they laid him off or didn’t pay him or his medical bills or ruin his nonprofit agency or destroy his educational dreams or institution. They just cussed him. - Stark - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:34 am: Honeybear +1 - Joe M - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:35 am: On the other hand, if they had merely held hands and meekly sang kum bye la, then nobody would have paid any attention to them. Vietnam war protests often got very rowdy, but hey, they helped stop the war! - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:36 am: Stay classy - so… -, LOL - cdog - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:36 am: I question the label of “union crowd.” Could there have been some Illinoisans that are tired of Rauner’s ooda-loops and lies? This is free speech and he should expect more. He has sowed many rows of discontent and the harvest will be plenty. His tone today will be interesting….. - Former hillrod - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:36 am: C’mon people. This is exactly how the governor wants you to behave. Don’t willfully oblige him. It does nothing but bolster his view of unions and actually helps him make that point to the general population. Get a clue people. Be smart about your protests. - South of Sherman - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:37 am: Sorry for the echo. My first post didn’t show up, and I assumed I had typed a banned word. But apparently the strong language is warranted in this case. - Soccermom - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:38 am: Kinda makes you long for the days of the “standing boo-vations” - Ms. SHEESH - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:38 am: “”I respect protesters. I meet with them all the time,” Rauner said. But he said he didn’t want demonstrations to disrupt discussions on school funding.” - WIUOblivion - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:38 am: Mongo, with respect: Civility in debate, yes. But there’s been no debate (publicly, at least). Nothing but hyper-partisan statements (see the staircase soiree as an example). What one sows, one reaps. This applies 360 degrees. Sadly, until the tone changes, we’ll see more of this. - Carhartt Representative - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:40 am: Honeybear and Lizphairtax explain it perfectly. - Big Joe - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:40 am: I just don’t know what Rauner has in mind to gain from these visits. He can’t be so dumb as to think that people that are out of work are in his corner. When he makes himself visible in an area that is hurting, he should expect some vocal assaults. I’m not condoning the language, but there is no way to predict how people that are out of work will respond to the person solely reponsible for their pain and suffering. He should just hang around the legislators in Springfield, hoping to bring and end to this budget standoff, not go runnin’ around the state. - Ms. SHEESH - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:43 am: Agree. Honeybear and Lizphar explaine it perfectly. - Big Joe - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:44 am: Well stated, Honeybear11 - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:44 am: ==these are natural and spontaneous emotions that are coming out of people.== If by “natural and spontaneous” you mean completely staged and planned, then I agree. - Earnest - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:46 am: They demonstrated (sorry for the pun) they could get out some numbers with short notice. They could have been more effective if the articles could have been about their issues and not their profanities, though I know it can be hard to focus angry people. I don’t see this or anything other than House Republicans affecting Rauner’s intentional destruction, but maybe it will let House Republicans know there is more support out there for them than just Rauner $$. - Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:47 am: Rauner went to Ottawa and a State Fair broke out - Amalia - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:48 am: it’s going to be a long hot summer of political violence. - d.p.gumby - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:52 am: What makes everyone think that the crowd didn’t consist of Brucie’s wine club members protesting his visit to a brewpub? - so... - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:53 am: ==Stay classy - so… -, LOL== I’m not the one screaming obscenities at the Governor. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:53 am: –It’s a flash mob. It seems to me that people generally don’t care for flash mobs.– Cambridge English Dictionary: –Flash mob, noun, a group of people who arrange by social media to come together in a place at a certain time, perform something funny or silly then leave.– I think this was just in the old-fashioned American tradition of protesters yelling obscenities at a politician they believe is threatening their standard of living. Remember Pat Quinn’s warm greeting at the state fair a few years ago? - Dome Gnome - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:54 am: They’re saying what I’m feeling. - Illinois Bob - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:55 am: Gee, Madigan and Cullerton are at least as culpable for these budget problems as Rauner. Ummmm…how many protesters is HE getting, let alone this obscene and obnoxious? This isn’t “spontaneous” nor merely dissent. It’s well organized and political, to no one’s surprise. - Mongo - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:55 am: WIU, I agree. I shortened “severe disagreement about policies” to debate. I think the Gov is a (banned word) but shouting obscenities at him just doesn’t work. You are absolutely right about reap what you sow, but I think this was an intentional “sowing” with this scene in mind. - northsider (the original) - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:55 am: I may be giving way too much credit to the frat boys, but it seems like getting this response is the whole point of these otherwise purposeless visits. If it gets too bad I’m sure he’s got some Pinkerton’s on stand-by. - A Jack - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:56 am: The clip was short, but I did not see any AFSCME green shirts in the crowd. These people just as easily could be middle class taxpayers who are angry that Rauner’s impasse is creating a massive future tax hike on their backs. - Keyrock - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:57 am: Some of the “many Democrats” with whom the Governor has been meeting. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:58 am: - so… - Thug - a violent person, especially a criminal. So they were violent people, criminals? They swore, while frowned upon, wasn’t violent or criminal. Words matter. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:59 am: ===Ummmm…how many protesters is HE getting=== What’s stopping you, Bob? - LizPhairTax - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:00 am: =These people just as easily could be middle class taxpayers who are angry that Rauner’s impasse is creating a massive future tax hike on their backs.= Hard to say. We’d have to ask Governor Rauner if these are taxpayers, voters, citizens, or families. They’re all different in his eyes. - Smilin' Bruce - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:02 am: About him smilin’ — he smiles at press conferences when he’s asked a barely uncomfortable question. In those cases and this one it appears he is not taking it seriously and laughing it off. - Jack Kemp - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:02 am: “Natural and spontaneous.” Hilarious. The only tinge of evidence for that would be how woefully uniformed these bunch of clowns are. They don’t even know what the Governor showed up there to talk about. Right to Work? My goodness. I think the gentleman from Oswego calls that “dorm room” politics. - JS Mill - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:04 am: =This is savage behavior= LOL, yes these “savages” yelled naughty words at Mr. Tough Guy “I’ll take the arrows” governor. The same governor that is trying to cut their pay and lied during the campaign (apparently never ending) even though he was going to be honest and transparent. Yeah, THEY are the savages. - cdog - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:06 am: Let’s hope that this brings an end to “talk down Illinois” tour. /s ILL Bob says “This isn’t “spontaneous” nor merely dissent. It’s well organized and political, to no one’s surprise.” — I strongly doubt you are correct, but even if you are it is still free speech, still long overdue, and most likely the tip of the iceberg unless the road show discontinues. More of this is needed, and I am glad it’s finally beginning to happen. - Carhartt Representative - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:08 am: =Gee, Madigan and Cullerton are at least as culpable for these budget problems as Rauner. Ummmm…how many protesters is HE getting, let alone this obscene and obnoxious? This isn’t “spontaneous” nor merely dissent. It’s well organized and political, to no one’s surprise.= Well organized and political? So was it that they wanted to look heated in a way that could hurt them or was it that they wanted obscenities so that the local news couldn’t use footage? This was far from calculated. - Juice - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:09 am: So we’re supposed to feel pity for the guy who threatened “I will bury her” to a former colleague because now someone swore at him? Wake me up when he’s surrounded by a couple thousand protesters while trying to eat a pork chop on a stick. - PublicServant - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:09 am: The governor is operating in the extreme. The crowds represent the people, real people, who are being affected by his extreme agenda. I think this clues in folks to the gravity of Rauner’s actions. Reactions like this will help alert the populous that may not be directly affected, that many of their fellow Illinois citizens acting this extremely may have some legitimate grievances, and start to take a closer look, get past the rhetoric, and begin to catch on to the governor’s extreme agenda. - Cubs in '16 - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:09 am: ===The clip was short, but I did not see any AFSCME green shirts in the crowd. These people just as easily could be middle class taxpayers who are angry that Rauner’s impasse is creating a massive future tax hike on their backs.=== They could also be ordinary citizens with compassion for the most needy whose programs are dying on the vine every day the impasse drags on. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:10 am: I would also like the debate to be more “civilized” but as long as money=speech, then this is the only way forward. What Rauner and others are doing with their “speech” is far more obscene. Let’s not pretend that the wealthy are more civilized simply because they can speak with their pocketbooks. - Lurker - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:11 am: Anon 10:10 was me - pundent - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:11 am: =Gee, Madigan and Cullerton are at least as culpable for these budget problems as Rauner. Ummmm…how many protesters is HE getting, let alone this obscene and obnoxious?= They also aren’t campaigning and trying to divide the state so there’s that. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:13 am: ===They also aren’t campaigning=== LOL Didja miss their AFSCME rally speeches? - A guy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:13 am: Keep excusing this kind of behavior…people will (to quote you guys) vote accordingly. There was nothing productive about this. But, hey, it is their right. Fine with me. The spectacle isn’t advancing their cause. It isn’t. - Rod - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:14 am: Decorum Rich may well be an antiquated concept with the rise of Trump. Soon if we progress along the path we are on ideas of civility and respect for those elected whom we may vehemently disagree with will be a thing of the past. We are returning to the politics of Andrew Jackson’s time, it will get much uglier on both the right and the left. - JS Mill - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:20 am: =There was nothing productive about this.= You must be referring to the governors campaign speech (that you picked up the dime for) and I agree. His campaigning is tired and unproductive. Get back to Springfield and get something worked out. He is the governor for cryin’ out loud. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:24 am: Perspective? “Tillman’s Gift Card Extravagaza!”… Half dozens by half dozens. May 18th, the Rally of Social Services, Labor, and Democrats… Thousands… Keep whistling past the graveyard. The melding of those three groups Voted Accordingly in the primaries and took out Dunkin and dragged McCann across the Finish Line. Labor is rallying Labor. That’s the goal. - Honeybear - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:24 am: The clip was short, but I did not see any AFSCME green shirts in the crowd. I’m going to say it was mostly the Trades folk and effected social service people. AFSCME folk have a harder time quickly getting off of work. We were preparing for practically a month before the May 18th rally. The Trades folk sometimes have a bunch of folk in between jobs. No this anger is coming from the regular folk most effected by the impasse. Oh, the tender Raunerites. Poor things. It hurts when people say mean things doesn’t it? Welcome to our world mug. Raunerites bash us 24/7 calling us lazy and overpaid. Don’t like it when the tide is turned do you? No, you can expect more of this as the Labor othismos starts bearing down. I think the right got used to having regular folk get behind them. That’s why is so startling to them. - A guy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:24 am: JSM, you’re an educator. If any of these thespians have come from your district, put it on your website and show the world. If not, perhaps it can serve as an example. Have I missed your point? - Dr X - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:29 am: The obvious missin’ part of this story, is where is the Rauner driven van? He promised to drive his junker van. - JS Mill - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:30 am: =JSM, you’re an educator. If any of these thespians have come from your district, put it on your website and show the world. If not, perhaps it can serve as an example. Have I missed your point? = Clearly. I passed on being one of the stage props for the governors campaign barnstorming precisely because I am an educator. These “superintendents” are either willing dupes or shameful collaborators. If Madigan or any of his flunkies asked for the same thing, my response would be the same. So yeah, you missed my point. I am not supportive of any of these politicians and their games. I leave that to folks like you. - TinyDancer(FKA Sue) - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:38 am: ==If your goal is to rally public support to your point of view and against the governor’s agenda, this is EXACTLY the wrong way to go about it.== Right. What’s the matter with these people? Don’t they know that if they want to speak, the proper etiquette is to hire PR and buy air time? - Captain Illini - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:47 am: People sometimes forget that actions speak louder than words, and words have to get louder for them to stop actions from happening. I disagree with the actions of some in this video, but clearly the actions of the Governor have been screaming at many…it’s high time he heard the voices of those he’s demeaned and literally hurt. - Norseman - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:50 am: Would I have preferred them to protest without swearing? Of course. Do I understand their anger? Most definitely. Rauner has been vilifying union folks for years and is now actively attacking their livelihoods and therefore their families. “Gov. I can take the Arrows” can spew his vitriol and then go home to one of his 9 abodes or the Mansion; drink some wine or even share a beer with his frat boys while they talk trash about these barbarians. These folks will go home to continued worry and fear. Will the protests with course language hurt or help? I suspect the folks who say they won’t are Rauner supporters. Protesting is an age old effective political tool. Labor needs to do more and in greater numbers. I hope they urge curtailment of course language, it will still happen when emotions are involved. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:56 am: - Norseman -… +1 Perfect, well said. - Wensicia - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:58 am: If you deliberately stoke the fire don’t be surprised when the sparks fly up and burn you. I assume these aren’t the Democrats secretly approving Rauner’s agenda. - Federalist - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 11:02 am: I support unions and I know that Rauners goal is to destroy them. But shouting obscenities only helps Rauner. These people need to grow up. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 11:07 am: Rauner just got a little taste of what he so richly deserves. I’m surprised that it has taken this long. - Huh? - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 11:09 am: As I said yesterday, what did he expect when he came into a union town? The people clearly voiced their displeasure at 1.4%. 1.4% dissed the crowd by moving the venue from city hall to the court house. He had the building closed to prevent protests from interfering with his campaign speech. - Joe Bidenopolous - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 11:17 am: ===There was nothing productive about this.=== Also unproductive: * Guv’s campaign tour of state and local government facilities * the May 31 press conference (side note: *still* the only guy not wearing a tie) * Introduction of a budget way out of whack without suggesting revenues to support it * Constant good cop/bad cop maneuvers * the unflinching belief that somehow some way Democrats will whack their natural constituencies for the privilege of voting for a tax increase before a general election * The frat boys and their rhetorical flourishes that are more appropriate for rush week - East Central Illinois - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 11:20 am: Norseman @ 10:50 +2 - The Average Illinois Taxpayer - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 11:22 am: Honeybear- I am angry and emotional that I have to pay ever increasing taxes at the state and local level for schools and services that are lousy at best. Does this mean I get to seek out public employees and yell profanity at them without consequence? I mean its just cuss words, right? If you don’t like that idea how about just sending out some of your union leadership and I will direct my invective at them. You public employee union members are like spoiled children who feel entitled to your pensions and healthcare for the rest of your lives while the rest of us have to pay the freight. News Flash: There is no Santa Claus and you ain’t getting that pension no matter what the state constitution says because the money just ain’t there. Get angry at that. I wish someone would pay me to be a professional protestor. - Horse w/ no name - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 11:26 am: Dear union members, despite the fact that we have a governor whose stated purpose is to destroy you and force down your wages, the Capitol Fax blogger community would prefer that you pipe down and be more respectful. Gonna be long, hot summer - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 11:28 am: ===who feel entitled to your pensions and healthcare for the rest of your lives while the rest of us have to pay the freight.=== You seem a bit… Unaware… how constitutions work. I do hope yelling at clouds and telling people to get off your lawn helps since understanding the law is lost on ya. This is fun… ===…you ain’t getting that pension no matter what the state constitution says because the money just ain’t there.=== Not according to the ILSC… That pesky Constitution. - The Average Illinois Taxpayer - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 11:33 am: You seem a bit… Unaware… how economics works. Lots of us will be watching from Wisconsin and Indiana while you wave the Illinois Constitution over your mailbox expecting your pension check to arrive. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 11:37 am: ===Lots of us will be watching from Wisconsin and Indiana while you wave the Illinois Constitution over your mailbox expecting your pension check to arrive.=== LOL… I’m not getting a state pension, ever. Constitutions matter. That’s how it works. It’s not economics, ask the ILSC. State workers are also taxpayers. If you’re going to move, then move. You’re welcome! - Huh? - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 11:38 am: AIT - please pack up and move. Mayflower movers can be reached in Springfield at 217.546.1711 - BBG Watch - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 11:41 am: Looks like people are going to start taking their grievances directly to the Governor and their elected officials. They’re not listening now … maybe they thought if they took their messages directly … someone would finally start hearing them. We’re 11 months, 10 days without a budget. Real people are being affected. In the year of Trump, where everything said seems acceptable, I guess these folks feel like they’re doing the right thing. This is directly on Rauner. He is governor of the whole State. Madigan is just one district. BTW - loved his taped interview back in 2012 talking about unions, schools, teachers, privitization. What a snake! - Mad Brown - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 11:46 am: Average Taxpayer — you can be paid, by the IPI. I think they give our shirts and gift cars when they organize a ‘taxpayer’ protest. You must have missed that last protest they held. BUT I bet if you trot on over to their web site, they’ll sign you right up. I mean hate all you wish on those public workers who also pay taxes. I will say maybe you should be mad about your public education, because you obviously didn’t learn how government works. - Dan S - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 11:47 am: Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:58 am: - so… - Thug - a violent person, especially a criminal. So they were violent people, criminals? They swore, while frowned upon, wasn’t violent or criminal. Words matter. Had the target of this been a liberal the race card would fly, global warming would speed up, and the world as we know would come to an end. - Shake - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 11:51 am: It’s Going To Get A lot Worse For Rauner.. Better Beef Up Security… - Jack Kemp - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 12:05 pm: Willy, so is the Supreme Court going to get out its magic money machine and turn the crank until all those countless billions materialize from thin air? - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 12:08 pm: - Jack Kemp - Read - RNUG -, he’s explained, chapter and verse, the options and each “plus and minus” to those options. What isn’t optional is that the pensions, constitutionally, are guaranteed. - Dan S - With respect, I have read your comment a half dozen times. Still at a loss to your point. - A Jack - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 12:09 pm: While I don’t generally condone employers cursing at their employee, sometimes it may be necessary when that employee, the Governor, is particularly non-productive. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 12:09 pm: There is a line between heckling the governor and making him a victim of thuggish behavior. Please don’t let him portray himself as a victim. Please, I beg you. Lay off the vitriol. Mock him, respond to his bs, chant your brains out, but don’t make him a victim. Let him speak, let him move, let his events go on uninterrupted. We’ve got enough knuckleheads brawling in the streets at Trump rallies. We don’t need that here. And Bruce Rauner doesn’t deserve anyone’s sympathy. Our side should be very careful not to make him a sympathetic figure. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 12:11 pm: - The Average Illinois Taxpayer - How adoreable. Bankruptcy force state isn’t possible, nor is bankruptcy possible in Illinois, so the Detroit thingy doesn’t work either. Do you feel better typing it, or… lol. - A Jack - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 12:12 pm: However, had the Governor been a member of a union, he could file grievances against his employers that cursed at him. - Norseman - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 12:12 pm: Willy, you’ve done a yeoman’s job trying to educate those unwilling to learn or incapable of learning. Thanks for trying to teach the unteachable. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 12:17 pm: - 47th Ward - Sage advice. Well said. - Norseman - The utterly and purposeful disinformation ratcheted up the last few weeks… I shake my head - Echo The Bunnyman - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 12:17 pm: The issue that everyone needs to focus on is this. Not the fact that a few people were screaming obscenities, it’s the silent majority that elected him. Protest. Protest. Protest. But, that clip will hurt the argument in the long run. We’re broke, people understand that. - Recently Retired - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 12:19 pm: I recently retired after 30 plus years of law enforcement for the state. I’ve been yelled at plenty of times over the years for things that weren’t my fault with no consequences for the yeller, so go ahead and yell some more if it makes you fell better. From your post, I get the impression you think my pension is a gift from the state and its tax payers (which includes me and my family). Well, it’s not. I followed the rules as they applied to me and my co workers. The state took 12.5% from every pay check, which wasn’t optional. I EARNED my pension. I’m not sorry, I won’t apologize and I don’t feel be holding to anyone for what I earned. I don’t resent others for what they earned, don’t know why so many resent state employees for what we earned. Peace! - Honeybear - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 12:23 pm: –I am angry and emotional that I have to pay ever increasing taxes at the state and local level for schools and services that are lousy at best.– Oh my goodness you poor thing. Bless your heart. Look you have the money to pay your fairly assessed taxes. The people that I serve daily DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO EAT! And you think that that is less important than a cussing Rauner got for ACTUALLY ruining lives and livelihoods? –Does this mean I get to seek out public employees and yell profanity at them without consequence? I mean its just cuss words, right?– Go for it. It’s your right. Go ahead and yell and cuss someone because you don’t want to pay taxes to help the poor, disabled, or elderly, or help your state. That’s obviously your problem. Go ahead. But I doubt you’d do it because you wouldn’t like the response you’d get back. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 12:25 pm: ===…it’s the silent majority…=== Rauner, in the last statewide polling is under water. What else ya got? - Honeybear - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 12:25 pm: –I recently retired after 30 plus years of law enforcement for the state. I’ve been yelled at plenty of times over the years for things that weren’t my fault with no consequences for the yeller, so go ahead and yell some more if it makes you fell better. From your post, I get the impression you think my pension is a gift from the state and its tax payers (which includes me and my family). Well, it’s not. I followed the rules as they applied to me and my co workers. The state took 12.5% from every pay check, which wasn’t optional. I EARNED my pension. I’m not sorry, I won’t apologize and I don’t feel be holding to anyone for what I earned. I don’t resent others for what they earned, don’t know why so many resent state employees for what we earned. Peace! – There right there is a GREAT American, and Illinoisan. Thank you for your faithful and excellent service to our state. So well said! - Honeybear - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 12:38 pm: -that clip will hurt the argument in the long run. We’re broke, people understand that.– Nope, that clip is evidence that people don’t think we’re broke. They are starting to vocalize the anger that we’ve been lied too by Rauner, that we are not broke, but rather the money is being held hostage by Rauner and his owned Representatives for the purpose of “driving a wedge” between DEMS and Labor by destroying the social services and higher Ed in an effort to get the DEMS to abandon labor in order to save their programs. But rather it has emboldened and united labor and destroyed all private social services which is HORRIFICALLY okay with the Raunerites since they don’t have to cut an agency or program that is already DEAD. No the common folk might not understand what I just wrote but they do get that Grandma can’t get meals on wheels because of Rauner. They do get that the social service agencies are closed because of Rauner. They do get that their child can’t get a scholarship because of Rauner! The common folk are using what they have to throw at Rauner which is curse words! They are showing restraint by just cussing. These are regular folk here in Ottawa. Yes, and they are organized together for their protection by forming unions. Verbal pitchforks are what the villagers are going to use. - blue dog dem - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 1:17 pm: My prediction…AFSCME can kiss it all good bye. if there is a job action, you will see replacement workers and/ or national guard. Not rooting for it, just betting on it. - JS Mill - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 1:22 pm: = There is no Santa Claus and you ain’t getting that pension no matter what the state constitution says because the money just ain’t there= Your math is not very good and you clearly do not understand or want to understand how pensions work. I hear that RNUG and AA are running a series of informational workshops to educate the “average Illinois taxpayer” on the pension system. Tuition numbers pending, but residency requirements exist. - nadia - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 1:40 pm: Looks like the guy was trying out for the GOP Presidential Candidates campaign team. - DGD - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 1:43 pm: *State workers are also taxpayers* Umm, OW, they are net tax consumers. Please, keep up. - Honeybear - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 1:45 pm: Blue dog dem, yep, you are actually right. If we get forced out on strike OR accept Rauners Last/Best/Final offer our union will effectively break. But that’s been the case since Nov 2015. People just don’t know it yet. Regardless, I will not “falter” in my commitment to fight for my sisters and brothers and for the working folk. Mark my words. The state workforce will totally collapse. People don’t realize it’s collapsing right now. You’re not in state government, you wouldn’t know. CMS is hiding that one. Let’s see if Rich could pull a string to find out how many workers have left since Jan 2015. I bet we’re way down. Rauner will not be able to have a functional government when this is over. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 1:50 pm: === they are net tax consumers.=== Nope. Nice try. They’re not. Drive by ignorance doesn’t count, lol - Union Leader - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 1:59 pm: @ - Recently Retired - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 12:19 pm: Bravo! I am looking forward to my retirement in 6 years. - Augie - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 2:11 pm: While the video clearly shows one guy behaving like a doofus. I was there 99.9 percent of the protesters were vocal but not hostile. I’m not sure but I don’t believe any arrests were made. That should tell you it was no were near as bad as some in the press would have you believe. - Honeybear - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 2:27 pm: Bingo Augie! - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 3:14 pm: Honeybear - glad to hear we are not broke. 110 billion is unfunded pension liability and a backlog of bills worry me a lot. - Honeybear - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 3:26 pm: 110 billion is unfunded pension liability and a backlog of bills worry me a lot. Made infinitely worse by your owner, Rauner. Yep, he’s a great business man that. Doesn’t honor the states contracts. No we’re not broke. We have a revenue problem. Revenue is not a “give” as OW says. Revenue has always been necessary. Millions of dollars go to the Willard Ice building every day. - Denisquared - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 3:53 pm: This is what happens when you act like Trump………… The whole thing is very frustrating. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 3:55 pm: (Knowing nod to - Honeybear -) - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 4:01 pm: We are not broke because of Rauner. This has been going on for a lot longer than 18 months. If revenue was such a big problem for all of those years why are we just now getting call for taxes on the rich? Could it be that as the Great Senator Cullerton once said “Democrats like to spend money but don’t like raising taxes” - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 4:03 pm: ===We are not broke because of Rauner=== Correct. But we’re broke because of what Rauner requested. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 4:05 pm: - Lucky Pierre - ===We are not broke because of Rauner. This has been going on for a lot longer than 18 months.=== Representative? @RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate. - Ron Sandack, 9/28/15 Choices - Lucky Pierre -, choices. Rauner made them. Ask Ron Sandack. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 4:07 pm: ===Correct. But we’re broke because of what Rauner requested.=== This, first and foremost. Had Rauner silently let the tax lapse and roll back, boy what a heavy hammer Rauner would’ve had to hit the Dems. Rauner inserted himself, then made clear that leverage off “revenue” is more important than a budget stalemate. - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 4:15 pm: Well if we are broke because of what Rauner requested why don’t we do at least one other thing that he requested that will help our economy grow and create jobs. I don’t think Rauner requested in 2011 for the tax hike to be written to sunset in 2015. Perhaps you might want to share be blame for the revenue and spending problem with some of the other players. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 4:19 pm: - Lucky Pierre - But he did request that it indeed sunset. Rauner could’ve used the Thompson Pivot, ask for a 3 year staggered reduction and still have his hostages. But… Rauner didn’t. Rauner isn’t a passenger. Rauner inserted himself, a rookie mistake, now no pivot. - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 4:23 pm: Willy you are acting as if when Rauner say jump the GA says “how high?” I believe that is called willful ignorance. You are missing the point on the original intention of the sunset which Rauner had nothing to do with and as usual letting the GA off the hook. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 4:28 pm: Ugh! - Lucky Pierre - You already know this, for the 2,537th time… The Dems were going to let it expire, Rauner decided to insert himself. Dems knew that it was a mistake, so they “obliged” and accepted the Rauner praise. Seriously, if you want credibility with your arguments, be honest when honesty presents itself. - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 4:42 pm: Got it. We are broke because of something Rauner asked for before he was even inaugurated. The fact the Democrats approved every budget for the previous 12 years driving us deeper in to debt and then wrote a law where needed revenue would sunset is all Rauner’s fault? You would make a helluva divorce lawyer Willy. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 4:57 pm: - Lucky Pierre - I keep trying to think you are reasonable, you fail yourself every time. Your 12 years of victimhood is noted. Good luck. - Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 6:10 pm: Speaker Madigan decided last year he does not want a budget deal, or any sort of negotiated deal, with Governor Rauner. He said as much at the time, but no one understood. Rep Lang and Rep Currie recently hinted at the same. =“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 July 17 2015 =”We may or may not have a budget during the entire term of Bruce Rauner.”= Lou Lang May 18 2016 =”I don’t think we can afford to count on compromise.”= Barbara Flynn Currie May 25 2016 - YSW - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 6:44 pm: That’s a creative interpretation FKA. The more reality-based interpretation, upon reading what Madigan, Lang, and Currie actually said, is that they all fear there will be no budget under Rauner because - help yourself out here - why is this administration’s approach to reaching a budget unlike all other past administrations? - YSW - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 6:47 pm: Or, I should say, “how” is it different? Hint: insistence on a balanced budget is not it. - RNUG - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 7:56 pm: -OW- If I’m going to do pension classes, I’ll charge the General Assembly to educate them. They, and only they, can actually do something to solve the problem. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 8:00 pm: - The Average Illinois Taxpayer - Read everything I’ve wrote the last 4 or 5 years on pensions and constitutionality. Then read the court’s Kanerva and SB-1 decisions. Once you’re up to speed, we can discuss whether retirees will get paid. Hint: they get paid ahead of everybody except, maybe, the bondholders. - RNUG - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 8:00 pm: 8:00pm was I - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 8:03 pm: - RNUG - I can’t wait. Please make sure the gallery is open to (banned word) like me! - RNUG - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:28 pm: -OW- You’ve been here for all the sessions and probably already have the equivalent of an MA in pensions by now. I would stick to the basics in anything I would try to teach the GA. I - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:53 pm: - RNUG - It’s only by you, bud… … and - AA -, and - Norseman -, and - steve schnorf -… and Rich himself… giving a platform to you… that’s how I’ve learned. Thank you, and to all who share so selflessly. I’m grateful. After your seminars, drinks on me. OW - DGD - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:04 pm: Nor does consistent arrogance, OW. Please tell us all where state employees salaries come from. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:08 pm: - DGD - You have no case. If you had one you’d make the case. State workers are taxpayers, the are not net “tax eaters”, your anger and frustration aren’t facts. No one is on your lawn. - DGD - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:26 pm: Nice dodge, but I’ll play. Forget other taxing bodies for a moment, let’s focus on illinois taxes. Employee gets $1000 gross pay from the pot at the end of the rainbow, $30 give or take is deducted from said employees check in the form of state income tax and put back in the pot. Thats net $970 from the pot otherwise known as tax/fee/fine/revenue in the pocket of the state employee. Hence, net tax consumer. The state merely paid them 1000 and took 30 back. You’re pretty good at twisting the words of others, maybe you should look at becoming a political hack…oh, wait. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:36 pm: Hmm. State Gas Tax? Lottery? State User fees? Sales Tax? Local Property Tax from an employed person, owning a house? See, “simple” answers aren’t very simple. Then throw in if those jobs are then farmed out and given as contracts, according to your thoughts, those serving the state are “just as guilty” as being tax eaters. So your “$970″ really isn’t “$970″ Unless of course your state worker is naked, owns no car, never buys food, and stick piles cash to pay off fines for walking around naked to their state job, hungry… - Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 12:56 am: DGD: State workers are “workers” meaning they trade their labor for pay. A salary is not a handout, it is compensation for services rendered. The taxpayers get something for their taxes. In Illinois, the taxpayers have, for many years, received more services than they paid for, the difference was covered by not paying an adequate amount into the various pension funds. - RNUG - Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 6:55 am: DGD: using your logic, a company that got a $1M contract with the State to deliver office furniture but only paid $10K in corporate income tax would also be a “tax eater” because they were paid more than they paid the state. - Honeybear - Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 7:32 am: DGD, the State gets a better deal with me. They get a full day of Masters level social work (not so with you), they get the vast majority of my income gets plowed back into the local economy (more income than I imagine you can provide for your family) AND I willingly pay all my taxes (which I’m positive are higher than yours. Not least of which reason that you spend an inordinate amount of time trying to get out of them) Nope, I’m a HUGE net gain for my state. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 8:04 am: It’s not about just the unions anymore. You can place blame all you want but when you hurt people, hurting people hurt back. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.