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* Sun-Times…
Rauner on Wednesday said he wants no more “special deals” for Chicago, a day after the Illinois Senate passed a property tax freeze bill that would also pick up $200 million in pension costs for Chicago Public Schools.
“Chicago shouldn’t be getting special deals. All communities should be treated the same,” Rauner said.
The governor said legislators should not be “cherry picking” what they want in terms of school funding.
“We should treat the people of Illinois equitably and fairly and stop giving special deals for Chicago,” he said. “Illinois should not be a dictatorship from Chicago.”
* Tribune…
Despite his strong words against giving Chicago favorable treatment, Rauner has supported efforts to do so in the past. In June, the governor backed a plan that would have allowed CPS to delay making a massive $634 million pension payment by several weeks. That plan stalled in the House, and Rauner floated an alternative idea to give CPS an upfront payment of $450 million in grant money that’s normally distributed over the course of the year.
All he was doing was attempting to “win” the day’s news cycle with a populist, base-feeding cheap shot at the city.
The campaign is over. It’s time to start governing, governor.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Doubling down in the city?…
What: Governor Holds Media Briefing Regarding Property Tax Legislation and Chicago Public Schools
Where: James R. Thompson Center – 16th Floor
100 W. Randolph, Chicago
Date: Thursday, August 6, 2015
Time: 2:00 p.m.
*** UPDATE 2 *** From the governor’s press conference…
The city has requested collective bargaining reforms and that should be acknowledged, he said.
— Becky Schlikerman (@schlikerman) August 6, 2015
So, either Claypool is lying or Rauner misunderstood?
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 11:53 am
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The Governor needs to love somebody beside himself on the TV screen
Comment by Jake Elwood Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 11:56 am
We’ve all been saying that for months, Rich. If only someone in the governor’s inner circle would convey the sentiment.
Comment by Tournaround Agenda Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 11:57 am
It’s been 7 months.
There is no budget, no overall labor peace, no significant Turnaround Agenda items passed, besides some well done criminal justice legislation, no clear legislative agenda rolled out or even close to executed…
… The Deputy for Legislative Affairs, and his snark is the only “amusing” aspect of the non-governing governance. A man mocking the processes is the highlight of the Administration.
I said in January;
Budget, AFSCME contract, Legislative wins seen as bipartisan.
That would have been an incredible first legislative session for any governor, let alone a rookie, a novice in the aspects of state government.
To paraphrase Candidate Bruce Rauner;
“Bruce Rauner failed…”
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 12:03 pm
Breaking News - Bruce Rauner has purchased a new yacht, christening it today after his many legislative accomplishments. It’s being aptly named “The U-Boat”.
Comment by How Ironic Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 12:05 pm
“Special deal”!? Cullerton’s bill sunsets the CPS block grant from the education formula (thereby abolishing a special deal Chicago gets and inviting the opposition of CTU,) and treats CPS the same as every other school district in the state when it comes to employer pension contribution. The bill levels the playing field.
Rich is right, this is Washington style win-the-news-cycle spin from Rauner. I can’t hear the reporters question in that video…did any of the reporters bother to ask Rauner how this constitutes a special deal?
Comment by Phil Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 12:07 pm
I too would like to see the Governor stop campaigning and start governing but 8 months into this administration it’s clear that that’s unlikely to happen any time soon, if ever, and there doesn’t appear to be anything on the horizon significant enough to change the Governor’s preferred tactics.
While I’m sure the general public is not eager to see a prolonged campaign-style war, I continue to hope that the opposition will better organize themselves to fight fire with fire, there is a lot of fertile ground here. Team Rauner hasn’t had to defend very often and they’ve exploited that luxury to play a lot (a lot) of offense. I hope that some combination of organized labor, the House Dems, the Senate Dems and/or Chicago’s 5th floor recognize that there are a number of opportunities to choose from to put Team Rauner on the defensive and it may help advance their interests if some entity was doing that.
After all, the Rauner team has demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice logical/philosophical consistency (see above) in order to win a news cycle. If the hope of the Democrats under the dome is to negotiate with the Governor on matters that are “reasonable” then it would be in their interests for someone to force him to defend those positions that are unreasonable, he’s shown a willingness to move off of unreasonable demands in the past when challenged.
Comment by The Captain Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 12:10 pm
Giving another $200+ million to Chicago every year from here until who knows when isn’t a great idea. I get that they need help, but the City really needs to show that they are serious about addressing their fiscal condition.
It’s been said a million times, but it’s time for the property taxpayers in Chicago to pony up. If the City can show it is serious then the state should step in and help. The state isn’t exactly on firm financial footing either.
Chicago has historically covered and levied their own pension costs. That all changed when the state bailed out Chicago in 1995 to give them “flexibility” with their funds and increased the amount the state gives to CPS (block grants). They turned that flexibility and injection of state funds into property tax relief.
It’s hard to feel sorry for the City when they purposefully put themselves into this situation.
Comment by Phenomynous Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 12:16 pm
=== The campaign is over. It’s time to start governing, governor. ===
But Rich, it’s so hard doing this governing stuff. Mickey isn’t giving me the toys I want and my servants haven’t been able to pry them from him. You gotta give a guy a little temper tantrum here and there.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 12:27 pm
==- Phenomynous - Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 12:16 pm:==
The $200 million is the normal cost for CPS pensions. If the state won’t pony up, then the suburbs and downstate should pick their pension costs up by their own bootstraps instead of divvying them up to everyone else–including Chicago.
As for the governor, there is no hope.
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 12:30 pm
More than 1/8 of the way through his term and still not actually doing the job.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 12:31 pm
I get that it’s the normal cost (plus some $ for health insurance). However, employers in TRS have never levied for pension costs. Chicago always has, and only in the past 20 years have they shirked their responsibility to do so.
My point is, Chicago has misused/abused relief and additional funding from the state and turned it into property tax relief. The City is the most property wealthy area in the state, they can afford to chip in some before the state cleans up the mess.
Comment by PC Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 12:43 pm
Above was me. Meant to address PC with the comment.
Comment by Phenomynous Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 12:45 pm
The Governor insists that restrictions on collective bargaining are key to straightening out local governments.The legislature singled out Chicago beginning in 1995 by restricting bargaining rights at CPS.It doesn’t seem that restrictions the CTU’S rights has solved the district’s problems. What evidence does the Governor have that it would solve anyone else’S problems?
Comment by Truthteller Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 12:46 pm
I dont see any method at all, sir.
I’m starting to think that the governor has surrounded himself with a bunch of high-paid superstar sycophants who won’t risk their phoney-baloney jobs by challenging him or keeping him engaged and on task.
The flip flops, the budget getting mostly funded without any input or legislative victory, the goofy and forgotten TV spot, the Mautino slam, the unnecessary downgrades…..
There’s not a strategy at work here.
That’s dangerous for any chief executive.
The governor needs a grown up in the room who has the guts to tell him when he’s full of stuff.
Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 12:50 pm
== Phenomynous ==
I’m with you in that there’s too much Springfield-bashing coming from City Hall. But remember, that 1995 “school reform” bill also drastically ramped down the amount of money Springfield allocated to the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund. Back then, the state picked up about a quarter of the employer contribution on Chicago’s behalf. Now the state picks up less than one percent, while picking up 100 percent for suburban and downstate school districts. So the $200 million in new funding proposed in Cullerton’s bill, combined with eliminating the block grant, does essentially “level the playing field” as a previous post noted.
That 1995 law really sewed a lot of the seeds that have CPS in such bad shape today. Let’s count the ways:
1) It gave the mayor total control of the schools, which had the effect of eliminating any dissenting voices that might have stopped some of the risky financing schemes that have blown up in the school board’s face.
2) It eliminated the dedicated teacher pension levy from Chicago property tax bills, which created the huge pension debt.
3) It gave the school board the ability to take pension holidays, which, one could argue, gave them the flexibility to pick up a bigger portion of the teachers’ employee contribution, creating an unsustainable benefit for teachers that Claypool and Rauner were both complaining about yesterday.
4) It created the special block grants for Chicago, which made a complicated statewide funding formula even more complicated and unfair to the rest of the state.
The 1995 “reform” was a Republican initiative under Edgar/Daniels/Pate, but Daley quietly backed it. So Daley-ites like Rahm and Claypool can’t complain too much.
Comment by BC Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:01 pm
Ooh, a press conference! Let me guess, more calls for breaking collective bargaining rights and blaming Madigan? His pressers have become as predictable as Madigan’s weekly “moderation” speeches.
Comment by Tournaround Agenda Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:02 pm
To the Update;
Isn’t that the M.O.?
Create fake leverage, get called, double down, begin and end U-Turn.
The Governor needs a Contrarian. He does. The Contrarian only needs to be listened to about 5% of the time, but that other 95% will make the Superstars game the moves out 1,000 times better than what we’ve seem these past 7 months.
Please, Z, get a Contrarian, even if it’s so you ,as COS, can have both you and Contrarian tell the Governor ways this will game out and have better results. Please.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:03 pm
This is getting so bad, I’ll not be surprised if Madigan asks the Gov to begin ‘U-Turning in moderation’. Currently he’s at ‘extreme U-turning’.
Comment by How Ironic Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:09 pm
A VanillaMan Metaphor
Bruce Rauner yesterday, clearly showed that he is the kind of guy who would make a car’s payment by stripping off the wheels and selling them to make a one month installment.
Then next month, he would make the car’s payment by stripping off the front fenders and selling them.
Then next month, Bruce would make the car’s payment by stripping off the rear fenders and selling them.
Then he would strip the engine parts and sell each of them to make the car payments.
Then when the car was bare, the money was gone, the car wasn’t able to go anywhere - then he would tell the bank to go ahead and repossess it because it was a very bad car that fell apart!
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:14 pm
I’m starting to think this Governor is delusional. I’m not surprised his own people can’t talk to him, except to cheerlead his agenda. This guy only hears what he wants to hear and twists it to fit whatever mood he’s in that day.
Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:18 pm
To the update. Inquiring minds want to know if we’ll see another u-turn. We’ll see if there’s an choral accompaniment singing Ring Around the Rosey.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:20 pm
VMan,
Nearly perfect! Although I suspect Rauner would sell his junker to delusional geriatrician, thereby washing his hands of the ‘debt’, right before it went to collections.
Comment by How Ironic Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:29 pm
“then he would tell the bank to go ahead and repossess it because it was a very bad car that fell apart!” because of the corrupt union bosses that made it of course.
Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:33 pm
I think the gist of what’s going on is that the Governor is not yet ready to give up on his losing battle to include anti-union provisions in legislation. I don’t see anything being settled until he does so.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:36 pm
@Demoralized
I think Rauner believes he’s going to win, and nobody can tell him he’s not.
Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:44 pm
I wonder if he’s going to talk about the dictatorship of Springfield over Chicago?
Comment by Anon Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:47 pm
Once again it is clear TeamBungle lost that chapter in their edition of Governor For Idiots
Comment by Anonin' Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:52 pm
Phenomynous writes: “The City is the most property wealthy area in the state, they can afford to chip in some before the state cleans up the mess.” According to the data generated in relation to the various school funding reform bills sponsored by Sen Manar Chicago is not in terms of property wealth the richest in the state. The terms normally used are Available Local Resources (ALR)per student or EAV per student in the geographic area.
Let’s recall commercial property is a different animal all together rather than residential property. There is also no question that the City of Chicago has a low property tax rate for schools and this has been discussed before, actually many times before on this blog.
CPS as part of any solution to its problems should call a PTELL referendum to try to raise the rates above the CPI level. It also needs to be understood that there are vast tracts of Chicago where property values are so low that they won’t generate a lot of money even with the higher rates. Communities like Englewood, South Austin, and Armour Square, on the city’s South Side have such low property values that they are similar to Gary Indiana or parts of East St Louis.
Comment by Rod Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 2:16 pm
What “reforms” is the city asking for governor?
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 2:32 pm
===So, either Claypool is lying or Rauner misunderstood?===
Why is Rauner always in the middle of an alleged miscommunication?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 2:35 pm
@OW,
I’m sensing another installment of “Rauner House” where in this episode, it’s one sight gag after another when Bumbling Bruce keeps ‘misremembering’ conversations.
Comment by How Ironic Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 2:44 pm
Rod,
What district benefits the most from the PTELL adjustment? ALR is based off of capped EAV, not actual wealth. And I wholeheartedly agree, and believe, the CTU should push hard for increased local support to the school system. It’s for the children.
Comment by Phenomynous Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 2:45 pm
As I said above, he hears what he wants to hear…
Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 2:47 pm
- How Ironic -
It could a two-part cliffhanger, but everyone forgot what part 1 was about(?)
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 2:50 pm
Rauner once heard that CPS wanted to lower costs, so he negotiated an agreement with them in his mind to do it through eliminating collective bargaining.
Comment by Tournaround Agenda Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 2:57 pm
Maybe it would be best to state who made this request and specifically what it is. The general nature of the statement has me doubting.
Comment by Union Dues Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 3:49 pm
Rich -
At this point, they are not U-Turns.
He is doing doughnuts in the Capitol parking lot.
Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 3:58 pm
VMan, I'’ve been meaning to tell you, and for what it’s worth, the product of your epiphany has been a joy to behold, a devastating smackdown to the reactionary plutocrats and their cheap-hustler hangers-on.
The perspective from the barrel is quite different, is it not?
But I don’t care how you got where you are, you’ve upped your game, immensely, not because I agree with you more, but because you’ve obviously educated yourself and are a lot more mature, realistic, and empathetic to your neighbors.
Good on you, kid, from this old, old, decrepit, scatter-brained man of 51.
For you and yours, keep raising hell, kid. They deserve it. And you’re good at it.
In these matters, I’m with you til the last dog dies.
Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 4:36 pm
===In these matters, I’m with you til the last dog dies.===
+1
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 4:37 pm
(Tips cap in respectful deference to - VanillaMan -)
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 5:01 pm
PC is 100 percent on the mark. The City for years got substantial additional funds under the education appropriations intended to reconcile that it paid its own pension costs for CPS. Daley rather then make the pension fund contributions asked Springfiled for a 10 year pension holiday. In the mid 90’s the CPS pension was close to being fully funded. What a shock that after making no contributions for 10 plus years that the fund is now at 46 percent. Chicago had the benefit of low property taxes and extra education funding from Springfield. For my two cents-Rauner should tell the City to fix its own self imposed problems.
Comment by Sue Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 5:24 pm
VMan, that was a work of art. Well done.
Comment by Jorge Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 7:22 pm
FYI, the first comment was not mine, but from a name jumper.
I hope my contributions to this website are not that lame.
Comment by Jake From Elwood Friday, Aug 7, 15 @ 9:50 am