Rauner defends grand bargain parameters
Friday, Feb 24, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* After not speaking to reporters since he gave his budget address, Gov. Rauner took questions yesterday, including on whether he helped or hurt the Senate’s attempt at reaching a bipartisan compromise…
“President Cullerton in the media asked me to weigh in. Democrats and Republicans in private asked me to weigh in. That’s what I did. I honored their request. And if you listen to what I said, everything that I laid out was very reasonable, very reasonable,” Rauner said. […]
Rauner’s parameters include a permanent property tax freeze in exchange for a permanent income tax hike. The Senate plan currently calls for a two-year property tax freeze. The governor also wants a limit on spending and further changes to the workers compensation law for employees hurt on the job, as business groups say the Senate’s plan to curb workers’ compensation costs doesn’t go far enough.
“We should do these things, and they should in no way infringe on or hurt the ability to get a final deal,” said Rauner, who noted the House approved a permanent property tax freeze earlier this year.
But that vote came during the lame-duck session when there was no possibility the bill would be taken up by the Senate, a move designed to provide political cover to Democrats. Local schools and towns oppose a property tax freeze, saying it would hurt their ability to tap into money for day-to-day operations.
Actually, President Cullerton said it would help get Republican votes if the governor came out in favor of the grand bargain. Instead, the governor laid down a list of his own demands.
- Honeybear - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 9:54 am:
Always back to perfidy.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 9:58 am:
===Actually, President Cullerton said it would help get Republican votes if the governor came out in favor of the grand bargain. Instead, the governor laid down a list of his own demands===
This is the ball game.
Rauner needs to put votes on the agreed Grand Bargain, not gum up the works. Radogno got it worse, getting it from all ends, then the Governor decides not to have her back, but put her in the box.
It’s difficult to see where Rauner wants a budget or a bargain… or Rauner has idea what the meaning of words are.
- Joe M - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 10:03 am:
Governor “My Way or the Highway” Ruaner speaks again.
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 10:03 am:
This thing is dead.
- slow down - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 10:04 am:
Rauner still hasn’t figured out the difference between campaigning and governing. If he were actually governing, he would be building support for the plan, and working behind the scenes to make it move. Rather, he’s making public demands that do nothing but slow down or sabotage the process.
- Come on - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 10:06 am:
His “demands” were a property tax freeze, which really just functions as a levy referendum similar to many other states, a spending cap, a plan to pay down the debt and some sort of term limits. Those are not only reasonable, but popular across party lines. I don’t believe his was an effort to kill the deal. it is an effort to make it politically palpable for EVERYONE.
- Flynn's mom - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 10:06 am:
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
- Rabid - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 10:07 am:
I like what you said “term limits get job creators excited and I can ask them” a reasonable person would give names
- Bobby Catalpa - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 10:12 am:
At what point do people realize that Rauner does not want a budget. He says he wants one. He meows and weeps that, yeah, he’s struggling — trying weally, weally hard — to get a budget — but the reality appears to be that he simply does not want one.
And, really, this makes sense. For Rauner’s agenda — one based on cutting services and cutting benefits — a budget wouldn’t help.
What’s driving Rauner’s agenda — and what will continue to drive his agenda — is the *lack* of a budget. It’s a political talking point, it’s proof that the “status quo” is broken, and it makes it look like he’s a statesman warrior out to give taxpayers — except, of course, union taxpayers — what they want. Which is: cutting.
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 10:17 am:
I’m not sure exactly what a good faith attempt at reaching a bipartisan compromise would look like, but definitely it wouldn’t look like this.
– MrJM
- JS Mill - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 10:17 am:
= functions as a levy referendum similar to many other states, a spending cap, a plan to pay down the debt and some sort of term limits.=
I guess when he talks about “local control” Rauner is just funnin’ with us?
How does a property tax freeze balance the state budget again?
- Robert the Bruce - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 10:18 am:
I wish the House leaders would endorse the Grand Bargain. That would better isolate Rauner as the clear problem.
- Last Bull Moose - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 10:22 am:
I expect the Grand Bargain to collapse. Rauner has opposed it through his proxies; IPI, and Proft. Property tax freezes are popular but bad policy. They extend the destruction of government to local levels.
The tying of bills together makes the approach easy to challenge in court. The pension proposal has problems as RNUG has pointed out.
As I said, I think the cumulative effect is to kill the effort.
- The Dude Abides - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 10:23 am:
@Come On.. Many times things that are popular with the populace are not sound ideas. That’s why political leaders have to be the adults in the room and show some political courage on occasion. Of course ideas such as property tax freezes and low income tax rates are popular, I don’t know anyone who says they like high taxes. The public also likes their social programs too such as financial aid for college students and assistance for special needs children, just to name a few. When it comes time to pay for them though they complain. That’s the reality of dealing with a public that generally isn’t up to speed on our budget situation. The Governor isn’t reasonable, never has been since day one. Being in non stop campaign mode and saying what the general public want to hear might help him get reelected but he is slowly killing the state by pursuing the course he’s been on for two years. He only wants to move the state forward on his terms.
Several weeks ago when there was optimism about a grand bargain my thoughts were that at some point the Governor would introduce the poison pill, which is what he always does, moving the goalposts if you will. The permanent property tax freeze is that poison pill.
- winners and losers - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 10:25 am:
The House leader is too smart to endorse the Grand Bargain.
The Grand Bargain is dead. Too many complex subjects packaged together (which may violate the one issue clause of the Illinois Constitution).
Any Senator that votes for it now will be hit on all sides in their next election (primary and general).
- golfman-r - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 10:27 am:
as I watched the budget address I reminded myself of what I learned in Sunday School - that there is good in everything. To that point I had been unable to find any good in Rauner. Then it occurred to me that Rauner has forever answered an age old question for us. Why did the chicken cross the road. Because Madigan and the chickens he controls.
- Jocko - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 10:32 am:
==[E]verything that I laid out was very reasonable, very reasonable==
If Trump has taught us anything, when the speaker uses two adjectives in a row…much less repeats it…an educated listener should view the statement as a contradiction.
- Huh? - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 10:36 am:
I’m confused, didn’t 1.4% repeatedly say that he is for local control? If he is so in favor of “local control”, why is 1.4% insisting on a property tax freeze?
Also, what percent of local property taxes are remitted to the State General Revenue Fund? Oh wait, I know that answer - 0%.
So why is 1.4% taking away local control of property taxes?
- VanillaMan - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 10:39 am:
What Rauner calls being pricipled and being persistent, is in reality, indolence. His actions don’t show governing. He sits and finger points and has every excuse in his little world not to take any actions.
It is the result of a generation of beliefs that gridlock is good and small government is good. Rauner is a governor who won’t govern, take responsibility for governing and sell his negligence and indolence as a political benefit.
Rauner’s approach can only work with citizens who think doing nothing makes government cheaper. What will bring Rauner down politically is to convince his supporters how Rauner is actually raising their taxes with his indolence.
Just telling voters that Rauner failed to accomplish anything as governor ISN’T enough. Take this furtjer by telling voters how Rauner’s indolence raised their taxes.
Doing nothing is more expensive than muddling through. If you thought Illinois was a bad tax value before, then just wait until taxes are increased to repair the damage of having an indolent governor has done.
- Been there, done that - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 10:44 am:
A property tax freeze will starve local government and an income tax increase will feed state government. Seems a little lopsided to me. Well at least he is following through with keepin’ it local - the pain that is.
- Arsenal - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 10:46 am:
==who noted the House approved a permanent property tax freeze earlier this year.==
Oh, are we now pointing to the House as the reasonable negotiators? We have always been at war with Eurasia.
- Rabid - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 10:58 am:
This clown must think property tax freeze puts madigan out of business
- Langhorne - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 11:01 am:
Words–We should do these things, and they should in no way infringe on or hurt the ability to get a final deal,”–
Deeds–changing demands, starve the beast, damage and destruction, fiddling while rome burns.
Which will come first–appeals court decision saying no pay, or strike/shutdown? Chaos either way.
- A Jack - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 11:06 am:
Well school funding reform has to be done before any permanent property tax freeze. Madigan formed a committee to look at the funding question yesterday. Of course Rauner’s BP had to make a snippy comment. Do Rauner’s people get bonuses per snippy comment?
- wordslinger - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 11:18 am:
–Democrats and Republicans in private asked me to weigh in.–
One thing that’s been clear the last two years — the governor enjoys amazing, universal, bipartisan support in all things among the voices in his head.
- NoGifts - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 11:21 am:
Property taxes would probably freeze themselves and might even be reduced if the state kicked in a increased amount of reliable funding for the schools.
- notbuyingit - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 11:22 am:
Just dreaming a little. What if all individual taxpayers and businesses, state employees included, refused to send in their retail tax, property tax, and income payments until they pass a budget. 3..2..1
- Mama - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 11:27 am:
“How does a property tax freeze balance the state budget again? ”
By keeping Rauner’s property taxes from going up???
- wordslinger - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 11:29 am:
–Property taxes would probably freeze themselves and might even be reduced if the state kicked in a increased amount of reliable funding for the schools.–
It’s just not that simple. Ninety percent of my Oak Park-River Forest High School district is funded by local sources. The state kicks in 6%.
There’s no way in the world the state is going to plow income tax dollars into suburbs like Oak Park, Hinsdale, Wilmette, etc., to knock down the property tax bills.
In fact, there’s a much better chance the state will soon start laying off pension payments on suburban and Downstate districts.
- CrazyHorse - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 11:35 am:
It’s hard seeing a budget under Rauner at this point outside of another stopgap. I hope I’m wrong, but outside of the next K-12 threat, I don’t see anything moving this guy to action.
- winners and losers - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 11:45 am:
A Jack - Yes, unless they just enjoy doing that.
wordslinger is 100 percent correct as to property taxes.
- The Real Just Me - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 12:12 pm:
Regarding the workers’ comp piece of the Grand Bargain, if I am not mistaken, the Governor said Illinois needs to be more like Massachusetts. Not only was that not very specific, but it was exactly the same thing the Governor said about workers’ comp in 2016, so it ignores all of the work done by the working group for over a year and by the months-long Grand Bargain negotiations that have resulted in SB12, which doesn’t look much like MA at all. Bridging the gap between SB12 and MA would be nearly impossible in any type of compromise. So without actually saying so, doesn’t that mean the Governor opposes the Grand Bargain WC piece? If so, why would any Senate Democrat vote for it when it hurts injured workers and does not include any insurance reform?
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 12:19 pm:
The more I see of Dem gubernatorial contenders, the more I think Rauner will be re-elected.
Can we go without a budget for 8 years? I think we can.
- Rabid - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 12:28 pm:
Beggars should not be choosers
- Roman - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 3:07 pm:
== Rauner still hasn’t figured out the difference between campaigning and governing ==
Yes. Someone interested in governing would call six or seven Senate Republicans into his office, ask them to vote for it, and promise he’ll protect them politically. That’s how things get done.
- walker - Friday, Feb 24, 17 @ 3:47 pm:
“How does a property tax freeze balance the state budget again? ”
What goes unsaid is that it provides political cover for Rauner, (and all legislators) for passing the income tax increase that is required to balance any budget proposal.
Note the permanent/temporary labels are just political maneuvers as well, because any “permanent” increase can be easily reversed later, while “temporary” sells better up front.