* The governor tweeted out a message to legislative Democrats today…
* Transcript…
I’m calling on Democratic legislators to put taxpayers and critical human services ahead of their own personal gain by dropping the lawsuit to prioritize their paychecks. Paying politicians shouldn’t be put ahead of human services or school funding. It’s simply insulting to demand otherwise. This lawsuit is a stunning reminder of why we need term limits and real change in Springfield.
I’ve also called on Comptroller Mendoza to fight this in court. Hire an outside attorney and work every day against this lawsuit just like Comptroller Munger did.
Democrats should do the right thing and end this frivolous lawsuit. Democrats need to put human services and taxpayers ahead of themselves. They should be putting pressure on their leadership to work with Republicans on passing a balanced budget with reforms that create jobs, lower property taxes and improve our schools. If they won’t do a balanced budget, they shouldn’t be paid first. No budget, no pay.
A guy who makes $185 million a year probably wouldn’t miss six months’ pay. Just sayin…
- wordslinger - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:23 pm:
Says the $14 Billion Backlog Man.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:24 pm:
Jaime Andrade is driving nights for Uber to pay his mortgage.
Governor Out-of-Touch doesn’t know anything about living paycheck to paycheck.
- Annonin' - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:24 pm:
BigBrain is a hoot. Think he will ever understand that the legislators he is squeezing will continue to stand up to his bonanza for 1%ers for as long as it takes.
- very old soil - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:25 pm:
C’mon Rich, I bet he would miss $94 million.
- blue dog dem - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:26 pm:
this man is a true fiscal conservative. He makes me sooooo proud.
- So_Ill - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:27 pm:
Yes, lets get rid of all these poors who can’t work for free for 6 months and get an entire legislature of millionaires who don’t need the money! Great thinking
- Dome Gnome - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:27 pm:
Huh. Impressive. He knows how to say “human services.”
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:27 pm:
Amend the Constitution to require a budget to be enacted before legislators are paid. That would likely be just as popular with the public (and just as unpopular with the legislators) as term limits.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:27 pm:
Rauner keeps reminding me why I’m glad we have a constitution, and why with Rauner, this state needs a constitution more than ever.
The rest is Rauner’s utter ignorance shining through. As always.
This is why Rauner can’t get 60 and 30. This is showing why Rauner doesn’t WANT… 60 and 30. This is why Democrats caving would cripple Illinois by folding to the hostage-taker.
Oswego Willy
- Anon221 - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:27 pm:
The lawsuit will answer the question- can she or can’t she. It had to be done, and Rauner does not like it in the least. It challenges his ability to leverage when and where and how he pleases. If the court rules the State Constitution is indeed to document that must be followed, what will Rauner do then…appeal??? He got away with a lot in his first two years. Now things are starting to catch up to him and it’s not going to be pretty. Trying to flip paying human services and school funding back onto the Dems is pathetic when he wanted that crisis in the first place.
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:28 pm:
Ever wonder if the governor thinks Twitter and FaceBook Live are tracking him?
- Pundent - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:28 pm:
=work every day against this lawsuit just like Comptroller Munger did= Huh? Wasn’t this lawsuit filed on Munger’s last day in office? How did she “work every day” against it?
It seems to me that the constitutional questions here are fairly clear. So is the lawsuit frivolous or is it our constitution?
- Gruntled University Employee - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:28 pm:
==I’m calling on Democratic legislators to put taxpayers and critical human services ahead of their own personal gain by dropping the lawsuit to prioritize their paychecks.==
All I can say is wow…just wow.
- jon r - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:28 pm:
Even when going through bankruptcy the company paid everyone . Vendors on the other hand got stiffed. The guy’s at the top even got bonuses to stay even though they were part of the reason we were there ( in bankruptcy }
- Norseman - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:31 pm:
Playing to the haters and uninformed. Unfortunately, it works. As shown by our future commander in tweet.
- walker - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:34 pm:
How can our Governor say with a straight face that Human Services are a high priority for him?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:36 pm:
- Truth -
Your ignorance would make sense if it wasn’t for that pesky constitution.
But, I hope you feel better saying it.
- I'mDone - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:37 pm:
It’s time to end this frivolous administration. Some legislators have no other source of income because they’re devoting their time to public service. What Rauner does is blackmail.
- Thoughts Matter - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:37 pm:
Didn’t he and the Comptrollers take an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic? Or is that only in the federal oath? Do we need to have the National Guard explain it to him?
He is the example that people use when they complain that rich people get elected, who don’t understand the working man.
Stop tweeting and start governing. Oops, G’s included, he probably doesn’t get the concepts when they are correctly spelled.
- Johnnie F. - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:37 pm:
Um no Bruce. It’s actually a stunning reminder of why we need a Governor who wants to actually govern, b/c he understands the difficulties of the paycheck-to-paycheck-living middle class.
- AlfondoGonz - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:37 pm:
“I’m calling on Democratic legislators to put *** critical human services ahead of their own personal gain.”
Is this guy for real?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:38 pm:
Lawmakers complaining over not being paid for six months is an example of why we need term limits? Please. Imagine the litigation this guy would start if one of his investment funds didn’t pay dividends that he was entitled to for six months.
- HangingOn - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:39 pm:
For some reason I am reminded of a line from Heathers:
Thank you (Mr Rauner), you call me when the shuttle lands.
Next it will be “The state workers are public servants, they should be more worried about the poor than their own paychecks.” “Then “Those vendors should worry more about keeping this great state running than the money we owe them.” Where will it end?
- Tominchicago - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:40 pm:
Just wondering if Munger made Rauner’s All Stars queue up to get paid?
- Roscoe Tom - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:42 pm:
Sue the governor in Mandamus (which compels a public official to do what he is required to do) to produce a budget as the constitution states.
- Dem Rapid Response - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:42 pm:
“Given the chance to put taxpayers and human services first, Bruce Rauner fought for millions in tax breaks for himself, huge taxpayer subsidies for Com-Ed, and millions of dollars in bonuses for his own political cronies.
That is why polls show the majority of Illinoisans think he is doing a lousy job.”
- Grand Avenue - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:42 pm:
“No budget no pay” must have polled like at 80%+.
This is a political winner for Rauner. The only other thing he should do is offer to pay the “Outside Attorney” for Mendoza out of his own pocket so taxpayers won’t be on the hook - because right now Mendoza has the option of declaring she will settle the suit because it’s a no-brainer Welch et al will win and she doesn’t want to saddle the state with unnecessary legal fees.
If Rauner offers to pay the attorney fees then Mendoza can’t make that argument.
- LeadingInDecatur - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:43 pm:
Raunerite legislators should put taxpayers & critical human services ahead of personal gain & pass a progressive tax and a balanced budget.
1$ salary my eye!
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:45 pm:
Good for Rauner and Mendoza.
Legislators are part time jobs that earn $70K+ a year.
- Thoughts Matter - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:48 pm:
Ok- they swear to support both the US and Illinois constitutions and to faithfully discharge the duties of the office to the best of their ability. Which they are failing at.
- RNUG - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:49 pm:
No. The lawsuit is a reminder about how smart our founding fathets were to set up separation of powers in our government and the power of a carefully crafted Constitution.
- Will Caskey - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:51 pm:
Apparently further state policy is going to be set by the courts until at least 2019, probably 2023.
- RNUG - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:53 pm:
To the General Assembly … with this latest putburst, Rauner is clearly violating his oath to follow the Constitution of this State, and advocating another elected official do the same, so you now have valid grounds to start impeachment proceedings. Unfortunately, it will appear to be political payback to the public … do you’ll probably settle for having a judge school him on this issue instead.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:53 pm:
I just did the math and the governor makes roughly a few million dollars more in a month than the entire General Assembly makes in a year.
lol
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:54 pm:
===Democratic legislators should put taxpayers & critical human services ahead of personal gain & drop the lawsuit prioritizing their paychecks===
Republican governor should put taxpayers, college students, the mentally ill, critical human services and all citizens of Illinois ahead of personal gain and drop the turn around agenda prioritizing his own perceived misgivings.
- RNUG - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:55 pm:
== I just did the math and the governor makes roughly a few million dollars more in a month than the entire General Assembly makes in a year. ==
That really puts it in perspective.
- Will Caskey - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:55 pm:
Rich-
How dare you care about your paychecks, says man not getting a state paycheck.
(Not that this covers HDems in glory being able to negotiate how this lawsuit is handled but not, like, a tax increase and budget)
- ILGOV2018 - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:56 pm:
Do as I say and not as I do.
- Truth - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:57 pm:
Willy, I do feel better and the constitution will play out for the elected few in a court. Some do live payday to payday. No disagreement here. Our vendors also have bills to pay. Start paying all of the bills (reps, vendors, etc) in order of their respective reimbursement date.
- AlfondoGonz - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:58 pm:
I respectfully urge anyone who supports this man to reconsider.
- up2now - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:59 pm:
I’m surprised a couple of legislators haven’t gotten part-time jobs for the publicity.
- Chicago 20 - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 4:02 pm:
Rauner’s oath of office.
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the duties appertaining to the office of Governor of the State of Illinois; and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of this State; and will also support the Constitution of the United States.”
Rauner says one thing and does another. Obviously upholding the constitution of Illinois is not a concern.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 4:04 pm:
The only thing Munger worked hard on every day was being a wingman. As for her general work ethic, as soon as she lost the election she went on vacation. There’s a month left in your term, the vacation can wait.
- RNUG - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 4:07 pm:
== Rauner says one thing and does another. ==
It does say “to the best of my ability”.
Evidence to date would suggest he does not have the ability to follow constitutional law.
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 4:09 pm:
Bruce Rauner is a stunning reminder of why we need competence and intelligence in the governor’s office.
- Tommydanger - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 4:09 pm:
There are penalties and consequences for filing frivolous lawsuits. I’m guessing by the ferocity of the orchestrated responses,the governor understands the lawsuit is anything but frivolous.
I think we need the guy with the cart from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, walking around the governor’s mansion yelling, “bring out yer budget!”
- TominChicago - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 4:11 pm:
- Roscoe Tom - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 3:42 pm:
“Sue the governor in Mandamus (which compels a public official to do what he is required to do) to produce a budget as the constitution states.”
A writ of mandamus can only compel an official to perform a ministerial act, meaning something over which that official exercises no discretion. Hard to see how that fits with regard to the submission of a balanced budget.
- jim - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 4:12 pm:
IF this is all Bruce Rauner’s fault and a clear affront to the Illinois Constitution, why did Mendoza, a Democrat and Madigan loyality, adopt Munger’s allegedly despicable policy.
that doesn’t make any sense. Maybe Rauner, Munger and Mendoza are right.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 4:13 pm:
== Rauner: Legislative pay lawsuit a “stunning reminder of why we need term limits and real change” ==
Unfortunately, this guy forgets that elections are our term limits; he just doesn’t like the answers.
He is right that his spew is ‘a stunning reminder’ that IL absolutely needs ‘real change’ - At The Governor Level!
C’mon, Brucie! Give ALL of IL the most WONDERFUL Christmas present of all! Pull a Palin & resign half way thru !!!
- Anon - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 4:14 pm:
Hmm… he wants legislators to go unpaid and rank and file state employees to keep getting paid with no budget.
That means legislators should get paid and rank and file shouldn’t.
- Katiedid - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 4:15 pm:
Didn’t one of the Republican lawmakers recently attempt (and possibly succeed; I’m obviously fuzzy on the details) to use campaign funds for living expenses because he wasn’t getting a paycheck?
That was “different,” I’m assuming? /s
- Anon - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 4:18 pm:
Maybe Trump can give him a job at an embassy in Greenland.
C’mon, Brucie! Give ALL of IL the most WONDERFUL Christmas present of all! Pull a Palin & resign half way thru !!!
- A Jack - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 4:23 pm:
Per the Constitution, the Governor proposes a budget and then the GA appropriates. Propose one Governor.
By the way, shouldn’t the Governor’s staff, his superstars, have their pay delayed as well? How dare the superstars put their personal gain over human services?
- ILGOV2018 - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 4:24 pm:
Rauner is living in the Bizzaro World!
- Huh? - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 4:29 pm:
Heaven forbid the Republican’t members of the GA benefit from this lawsuit. If the Democrats prevail in the lawsuit, the Republican’t get their pay checks too. How many of them are scriping by without a paycheck?
- Trapped in the 'burbs - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 4:31 pm:
By the time the Governor wins, the citizens will all have lost. Remember when both sides used to compromise? Nobody got everything. The state’s most vulnerable citizens suffer. Being mega-rich wasn’t enough. It reminds me of the movie stars that also want to be rock stars. I’d really like to not see either of them until they have a budget. Rauner needs to propose a budget (according to the state constitution) and turn it over to the legislators. Then he can run his television ads. Until then, please leave the citizens alone.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 4:40 pm:
–Bruce Rauner is a stunning reminder of why we need competence and intelligence in the governor’s office.–
Again, I think that’s a fundamental miscalculation. Rauner is not stupid or incompetent. I believe Rauner is carrying out his plan of destruction and is succeeding on his terms.
You don’t continue with these actions, with these predictable results, for nearly two years unless you want this stuff to happen.
Check out his political stalker crew:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAf0QnLFS7Q
- LizPhairTax - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 4:52 pm:
“Hire an outside attorney”
hire
ˈhī(ə)r/
verb
1.
employ (someone) for wages.
- BEAR 3 - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 4:59 pm:
People do not normally work without remuneration.Lack of compensation is hurting the legislative process. It is a disincentive to negotiate and settle. The Governor must lead and be the man for all the people & not his EGO1
- Wensicia - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 4:59 pm:
Well, Rauner makes a good case for why the governor of this state should be confined to a single term.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 5:05 pm:
He’s pandering to the south of I-80 crowd.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 5:07 pm:
Wordslinger is correct. The governor is not an idiot.
- PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 5:36 pm:
“….. and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of this State; and will also support the Constitution of the United States.”
If that’s his best, his best ain’t good enough.
- 618er - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 5:37 pm:
This guy makes 50% more in one day than the median annual income of illinoisians including legislators and the much derided state workers. How the Democratic leadership,members, and party in general doesn’t start hammering him is beyond me..
- ArchPundit - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 5:41 pm:
It was a bad and unconstitutional idea when Quinn tried it and it’s the same now. Kind of like both Quinn’s and Rauner’s attempts at pension reform. We might as well have kept Quinn at this point.
Squeezy being recycled soon?
- It's All About Me - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 6:07 pm:
Interestingly the legislators aren’t negotiating the budget, the governor is, but yet he blames them.
- peon - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 6:08 pm:
So either we are assumed to be dumb as rocks, or he actually has no self-awareness of the near-parody of this.
Neither are reassuring.
- Rabid - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 6:14 pm:
Stunning reminder how the comptroller term limits worked out. Are you going to lower or freeze property taxes?
- JS Mill - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 7:27 pm:
There is sweet irony in his demand that Mendoza “hire an outside attorney”.
With what money? Where would this attorney go in the backlog of bills.
Only in Illinois. And people cheer this stuff.
- justacitizen - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 7:35 pm:
===You don’t continue with these actions, with these predictable results, for nearly two years unless you want this stuff to happen.===
I know the Words, OW’s and RNUG’s dominate this website, but many outside your world believe fundamental changes in IL govt. are necessary. Hard to believe, isn’t it?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 7:41 pm:
===…but many outside your world believe fundamental changes in IL govt. are necessary. Hard to believe, isn’t it?===
That pesky constitution.
Popular isn’t necessarily legal.
- RNUG - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 7:44 pm:
-justacitizen-
You may not believe it, but I’m a Libertarian / Conservative (depending on the issue) who would like to see things change … but the changes need to be legal and constitutional. There are changes I’d like to see made, but you work within the system to get things done.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 8:09 pm:
just, I’m certain that there needs to be a fundamental change to fix the $13 billion FY17 deficit and the exploding backlog of bills.
What are you suggesting?
- Shark Sandwich - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 8:51 pm:
I remember a time when the GOP had a reverence and respect for the rule of law. Hard to believe, isn’t it?
- Chicago 20 - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 9:07 pm:
Is Rauner’s end game to decay the State’s finances to a point where the selling off of State assets and income generators to the connected becomes acceptable which ultimately leaves bankruptcy as the only option to discharge the State’s mounting debts?
Then the question is at what threshold is our venture capital financial expert Governor personally liable for engineering these events?
- Rabid - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 9:36 pm:
Term limits will end frivolous constitutional lawsuits? Is that why the job creators won’t come? Fundament change is ideas that command respect not demand respect. Nobody’s buying what your selling
- droppin' g's - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 9:38 pm:
More fun with numbers: Last year, Rauner made more than $21,000 an hour…that’s not prorated for a 40 hour work week — that’s 21k every hour of every day. While he sleeps each night, he collects twice the money in dividends that a legislator earns all year.
- Rabid - Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 7:04 am:
Brainy Bruce has declared war on legislators, judges, public employees, trade unions, non profits, lawyers, and the venerable. That’s boss
- Not It - Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 7:16 am:
Point me to a politician that doesn’t take advantage of a popular idea and I’ll show you someone who will be unemployed after the next election.
- Rabid - Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 7:20 am:
Munger?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 7:34 am:
- Not It -
It’s never been about its popularity but it’s totally about its constitutionality.
Being “ruled” by a constitution is far better than being ruled by anyone willing to ignore the constitution.
- Gulch - Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 7:52 am:
I guess the “public service” really means “I need a job”. Illinois is one of the highest paid states for legislatures. Really, do we need to pay people to tell us how to live our lives. It is really sickening to see that people think this way. Love those Dems. Do what I say, not what I do.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 8:08 am:
- Gulch -
Bitterness never trumps constitutionality.
- JS Mill - Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 8:09 am:
@- Gulch - Yes, the billionaire class and the leisure class have your back little worker bee.
What is sickening is how easily duped people like you are.
Rauner and those like him have created an atmosphere where people like you battle against your own best interest with a smile.
Stay in line there fella.
- Earnest - Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 8:52 am:
Why don’t the Democrats say something like: there are dozen’s of Republicans who want to sue with us, but they are afraid to buck Madigan. I mean, Rauner.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 8:56 am:
- Earnest -
Why make it about Democrats and Republicans, it’s about the constitution.
Rauner wants the partisanship antics, so why give in when you have the constitution? You don’t.
- Earnest - Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:03 am:
OW, meant to be a little snarky, comparing Rauner’s frequent behavior of saying he’s talked to lots of Democrats who agree with him to the Democratic responses. Re-reading it now, terrible writing on my part.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:11 am:
- Earnest -
No worries at all.
Actually, I thought that you are much more thoughtful and this was out of character.
Knowing now it’s snark, yep, I hear ya, makes total sense.
That’s on me too.
OW
- James Knell - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 12:15 pm:
The south of France was made for the super rich. Please Governor, go there. Stay there. Leave us alone.
And thanks JS Mills for your comments above.