“Together,” Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner said to the Illinois General Assembly during his Feb. 15 budget address, “let’s look at each regulation we have, at every law we pass, and ask ourselves a simple question: How does this impact job creators?”
Rep. Will Guzzardi, a liberal Chicago Democrat, angrily responded via Twitter: “People w/disabilities? Children being murdered in streets? Immigrants living in fear? No no, with every vote, consider the CEO.”
It was, Guzzardi tells me, “the moment when Rauner lays bare what he really believes.” It was the governor’s much-vaunted Turnaround Agenda “stripped down to its core essence.”
The economic philosophies of Rauner and Guzzardi are a million miles apart, but that doesn’t mean that Guzzardi doesn’t see a path toward ending this two-year gridlock. “I really do think that there’s a way to get out of this that people from different sides of the spectrum could actually agree to,” he says. “But that requires compromise from both parties. And it also requires an understanding that everybody needs a win.”
Bingo.
Rauner has operated since day one with the firm belief that if he gets the pro-business reforms and other stuff he wants, then the Democrats will win when he signs some tax hikes into law and their pet programs are funded.
The harsh reality is, however, that the tax hikes and spending cuts required to put the budget into balance will be “painful, ugly and messy,” Guzzardi says. And it only gets worse if, on top of all that, Rauner also demands “all these other things we are going to hate,” like reducing benefits for working people.
Ever since the election, when House Democrats lost four downstate seats and picked up none in the suburbs where Hillary Clinton swamped Donald Trump, Guzzardi and some of his colleagues have been calling on their party leaders to work with them to develop priorities that could help unite the public behind Democrats.
House Speaker Michael Madigan responded with a list of pretty tired, old demands, like renewing a major corporate tax incentive that’s been on the books for years. And he’s again backing a millionaire’s tax that can’t be implemented until after voters have their say on it in 2018. The state simply can’t wait two more years for new revenues without dramatic and horribly painful cuts.
But now that the governor has encouraged the talks in the Senate aimed at forging a bipartisan “grand bargain,” Guzzardi thinks Democrats should start being “clear about what our priorities are and make some demands.”
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 9:17 am:
Guzzardi’s correct, and Rauner’s mistaken belief that Democrats “like” tax hikes is a big part of the reason we’re in this mess.
He’s also right to be taking a step up and trying to get new ideas into the political ecosystem.
- Earnest - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 9:32 am:
>the state’s “incredible challenges” provide “unprecedented opportunity.”
This “leverage” thing is catching on, but someone’s got to put their stick on the fulcrum. I do see the value in opportunity for positive change for the state in many different ways, but the more damage done, the fewer the positive opportunities.
I would suggest that our political leaders be reassured by the fact that there will continue to be lots of “leverage” available after a budget deal. It won’t dry up–there will be angry people all over the state because they don’t like their new taxes or lost something in the budget deal or didn’t get the kind of reforms they feel the state needs. Lots of room to keep fighting the good fight.
- Simple Simon - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 9:43 am:
Amen! The Dems have not made their case or their demands. Simply opposing Rauner’s misguided wants is not a good bargaining position. Millionaire’s tax, labor peace, minimum wage, school funding reform, etc all should be asked for in exchange for anything meaningful given to Rauner. But the Dems need to be wary and not ask for the moon in additional spending, lest they be seen as tone deaf to the real concerns about tax rates and growing the economy.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 9:45 am:
Rauners isn’t really interested in halting the collapsing Illinois economy, if his actions are taken as fact. He hasn’t lifted a finger to stop it. He is a governor who doesn’t seem to believe in a bright future, if his actions are taken into account.
Instead, Rauner wants businesses here to survive our collapse. His life boat is reserved for “job creators”, and “taxpayers” - not citizens. Rauner is not a governor, but a business advocate, using our Office to feather his own nest and those of his supporters.
Rauner’s actions expose him as a man disinterested in serving Illinois citizens. His actions reveal to us a man of such limited understanding of his role in government, he was never qualified to serve citizens in any governmental role.
Do not elect people who do not see what government is, and can do, for all citizens, regardless of their productivity assets.
- don the legend - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 10:05 am:
…it’s going to be hard for us to maintain our credibility.” A little too late for that!!
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 10:07 am:
With respect I don’t see why we should should throw extortionist business any “bones”. The carnage that is Illinois was brought about by rauners hostage action for bones. As OW says it doesn’t get you 60/30. Thus Rauner failed
Failed AND literally destroyed the state
- Peoria Citizen - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 10:09 am:
blah, blah, blah. all tweet, and no walk. from all sides. Make hard decisions, follow the constitutional law or admit it doesn’t matter, win or lose an election, that is the territory with the job you were elected for. Actions speak louder than tweets!
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 10:15 am:
I can live with pro-business reforms if they don’t gouge workers too deeply. I don’t want to pay workers pittances for lost limbs and make them suffer for the rest of their lives while corporate bigwigs and stockholders rake in the profits. We have to be careful.
- Joe M - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 10:25 am:
What is interesting about all Rauners talk about job creators, is that back when Rauner was campaigning for Governor, he was asked how many jobs as a businessman he had created in Illinois. And he couldn’t name any.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 10:27 am:
Sorry to go kinda of Eisenhower here but private profit should not be a public concern. I’m super against corporate personhood.
- Jocko - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 10:27 am:
Bruce just wants to bring us back to a simpler time…in this case, 1890.
Bruce’s talk about job creation reminds me of his inability (during the debate) to recall one company of his that created jobs.
- Roman - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 10:51 am:
== Rauner’s mistaken belief that Democrats “like” tax hikes is a big part of the reason we’re in this mess. ==
Yes. A big, big part. Voting for a tax increase is not a “win” for most Dems.
Shifting to a progressive tax structure or moving statewide constitutional offices back to presidential elections? Maybe.
- Johnnie C - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 11:09 am:
Here’s a call to action to all citizens. Call,write or email your State Reps and Senators and tell them that regardless of party it’s time to settle the budget mess!
- Texas Red - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 11:13 am:
=== I’m super against corporate personhood.
That has been settled more or less since 1886 and Santa Clara V. Souther Pacific Railrooad
- A veteran - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 11:23 am:
So the governor believe a win for democrats is “raising taxes ” it’s not a win it is the responsible thing to do to pay the bills and to care for the people of the state of Illinois.
It’s called leadership
- Archiesmom - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 11:34 am:
I feel as tired as Vanilla Man sounds in his post, and completely agree with Simple Simon. Obviously, I am incapable of being original today.
- Free Set of Steak Knives - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 11:34 am:
Work Com Reform RaunerCare, a safety net guarantee that illinois will ensure coverage for anyone dropped by ACA changes;
Term Limits Campaign Finance Reform; close the self-founder loophole and guarantee matching funding to the opponents of self-finders and cap breakers;
Property Tax Freeze Property Tax Relief, aka the Edgar Plan.
Automatic Voter Regislation
Move statewide elections to presidential year.
Move municipal elections to presidential year.
Require ballots in counties of fewer than 50,000 voters to contain a question on whether their county should be merged with each adjacent county with fewer than 50,000 every four years. If 50 percent of voters say yes in neighboring counties, merge them.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 12:21 pm:
True Texas Red but funny enough the decision, the majority, and the dissent do not mention a 14th amendment claim and yet it is interpreted at such. I still hate corporate personhood with a passion. Citizens United as well. Hilarious how you Raunerites love it but hate unions contributing only through their political pacs. Union due cannot be used to support political candidates. Only separate funds from members who contribute to union pacs can be used. AFSCME People for instance. Most right to work folks don’t know that.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 1:12 pm:
–“let’s look at each regulation we have, at every law we pass, and ask ourselves a simple question: How does this impact job creators?”–
How does running up billions in unpaid bills to vendors, neglecting infrastructure and gutting the state institutions that provide for adult job skills look to job creators?
If “job creators” get “excited” about term limits, I’d bet they’d be running in the Red Zone with polymorphous perversity about getting paid on time, a capital plan, and a commitment to adult vocational education.
- Mama - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 1:15 pm:
” And he’s again backing a millionaire’s tax that can’t be implemented until after voters have their say on it in 2018″
Rich, I thought we voted for the millionaire’s tax 4 years ago. If we didn’t vote for the millionaire’s tax, which tax did we vote for?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 1:20 pm:
“Rauner is not a governor, but a business advocate, using our Office to feather his own nest and those of his supporters.”
Rauner could be Trump’s twin.
- Mama - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 1:24 pm:
The only way Term Limits can pass the legislature is to make it apply to new legislators only starting with the 2018 election.
- Mama - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 1:26 pm:
What does moving statewide election of constitutional offices back to presidential elections solve?
Does it solve IL’s financial problems?
- RNUG - Tuesday, Feb 21, 17 @ 1:32 pm:
== I thought we voted for the millionaire’s tax 4 years ago. ==
You voted on an advisory referendum with no force of law; all it was was a suggestion. To implement it there has to be a Constitutional Amendment proposed and passed by the voters in 2018.