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* From SEIU Healthcare…
After months of an intense public campaign to expose and reverse so-called “emergency” rule changes made by Gov. Bruce Rauner to the highly-successful Child Care Assistance Program – a statewide effort driven by providers, parents, children’s advocates, even First Lady Diana Rauner herself – a new report suggests the appearance of cracks in the governor’s dam.
This morning, the Peoria Journal Star reported that Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, sponsor of the legislation to overturn Rauner’s extreme administrative CCAP changes (SB 570), has identified – and in one case already converted – Republican legislators needed to reverse Rauner’s reckless and inhumane policy:
“With the possibility that not all Democrats would be present, she called on the audience to lobby local Republican representatives, even as she warned them that child care for low-income families is not a Republican or Democratic issue.
Gordon-Booth specifically mentioned Reps. Mike Unes, R-East Peoria, Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, and Dan Brady, R-Bloomington. She said another Republican legislator, Dave Leitch, R-Peoria, would vote for the bill but he is sick and unable to attend Thursday’s session.
Contacted later, Leitch said he would probably vote for the bill if he was able to travel to Springfield. “It’s one of the unfortunate casualties of not having a budget yet,” Leitch said. “But I hope it passes, it should pass.”
Earlier this month, SB 570 came up just one vote short on the floor of the Illinois House, and is likely to be reintroduced in Springfield in the coming weeks.
Republicans are now facing the hard reality that the public understands the truth behind Rauner’s extreme rule changes to CCAP, made by Rauner himself without public input or legislative debate – that they have absolutely nothing to do with the current budget impasse in Springfield, and are intended to dismantle the program entirely.
For months, Rauner and his allies have attempted to conflate these extreme, inhumane changes to the CCAP program with the budget impasse generally. Now, it appears the truth about this terrible policy – both cruel and harmful to Illinois’ economy – is now even understood by the Republican legislators Rauner has spent so much time trying to buy and bully.
The article is here.
With Rep. Esther Golar’s passing, the House Democrats are at least one vote shy of the 71 votes needed to pass the bill. So, with Rep. Leitch not attending due to illness and the expected absence of at least one other Democratic legislator, I doubt we can expect a vote.
The bill is on Postponed Consideration, so supporters aren’t facing a fast-approaching deadline. As long as Rep. Dunkin doesn’t skip town again and Rep. Leitch is eventually able to make it to Springfield the bill will likely pass on the next go-around.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 2:04 pm
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Why isn’t Rep.Leitch not able to be here to do his job?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 2:10 pm
It appears Mrs. Rauner changed her husband’s mind about the CCAP program.
Comment by Mama Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 2:12 pm
Bravo, this one hurt more than AFSCME in my opinion.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 2:13 pm
Anonymous:
I believe it says above that he is ill.
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 2:14 pm
–… the bill will likely pass on the next go-around.–
Yet every GOP legislator will already be on record as not voting for it when they had the chance.
Same with the increased K-12 funding approp. that the governor signed.
Heckuva job looking out for your peeps, Goldy.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 2:14 pm
Anonymous please re-read this statement.
“Dave Leitch, R-Peoria, would vote for the bill but he is sick and unable to attend Thursday’s session.”
Comment by Mama Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 2:14 pm
IMO- 71 shouldn’t have to be the magic number… as stated in the article, the heroin bill override didn’t need a super majority, and it passed overwhelmingly. Someone needs to do a “VW” and jury-rig those Present buttons to display YES!
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 2:26 pm
Didn’t Moffitt announce last week that he is not seeking re-election?
Also, a question–with the sad passing of Rep. Golar, do the Democrats still control (in theory at least) a supermajority? Or do you need 70 votes now for an override?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 2:32 pm
Fingers crossed. Unfortunately for far too many families, the damage is already done - one major Chicago metro provider has already seen 100 kids’ families lose their subsidies - and still counting…
Comment by 80s girl Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 2:37 pm
Rep. Leitch has been ill for quite a while. I hope he gets better soon and doesn’t add his name to the ever-growing list of representatives retiring.
Comment by Tournaround Agenda Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 2:51 pm
Don’t get why Jehan went public with individual names. Unless Rauner has already caved, that could backfire.
Comment by walker Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 3:02 pm
==Don’t get why Jehan went public with individual names==
I was thinking the same thing. Way to make it more difficult for them to vote their conscience…
Of course, GOP members being forced to vote against their judgment/conscience/districts is pretty absurd anyway.
I wonder for how long this can go on.
Comment by Abe the Babe Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 3:11 pm
Watching Bruce Rauner try to be a governor is like watching Slim Pickens riding that atomic bomb towards complete nuclear destruction in Dr. Strangelove.
Rod Blagojevich: “Miss me yet?”
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 3:11 pm
==he hard reality that the public understands==
That is the most inaccurate analysis I have seen in a while. Most of the public don’t even know what 5 billion dollars is, much less understand a cut in any particular program.
All the public understands is that my starvation is worse than anyone else so get the money from them.
Comment by the Patriot Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 3:20 pm
Not going to happen.
Comment by Liberty Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 3:23 pm
==Don’t get why Jehan went public with individual names==
It’s in the article:
“…she called on the audience to LOBBY (my emphasis) local Republican representatives,…
Gordon-Booth specifically mentioned Reps. Mike Unes, R-East Peoria, Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, and Dan Brady, R-Bloomington.”
It doesn’t hurt to remind people of who their elected representatives are!
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 3:27 pm
Well, if they are successful in restoring these subsidies, at least the money will no longer be going to “a Bentley driving pastor in Cicero” since I just read in the Tribune that he’s been convicted of his admirable participation in this program. Maybe some of the restored funds should be spent on following the money.
Comment by Gone, but not forgotten Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 3:31 pm
Anon221: you are correct. She just asked an audience to lobby them, and didn’t say they were waivering. Sometimes we read too quickly and see what we want to see. My mistake.
Comment by walker Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 3:53 pm
=== Not going to happen. ===
Sure it will. Although Rauner will concede as he did on the heroin bill rather than face the embarrassment.
I look forward to another speech from Ives, personally.
Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 3:56 pm
First, last, and always: 71 green lights.
Comment by Langhorne Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 5:05 pm
Walker- I’ve been guilty of speeding sometimes too:)
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 5:08 pm
Dunkin should be lobbyying them.
Comment by burbanite Wednesday, Sep 23, 15 @ 6:16 pm
Between the cuts to CCAP and Early Intervention, it seems that Rauner is gunning to take down any and all services for young children. Makes me wonder if he and his wife are acting out some type of psychodrama. Hey Gov’ner, if you need a good couples therapist, let me know. I can recommend some good ones!
Comment by Concerned Citizen Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 10:54 am