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* With emphasis added…
“People think it’s a fight about the budget. It’s not really about the budget. It’s about the future of the state. Speaker (Michael) Madigan and his legislators, what they want to fight me on is to raise taxes. That’s not the answer. Or to cut services. That’s not the answer either.”
Rauner said he wants to fight “the wasteful bureaucracy” and make Illinois “a pro-growth state.”
“Now we’re winning, but it’s taking longer than I’d like,” he admitted. “But what I’ve said I won’t do is raise taxes on the people of Illinois until I know we’re getting more value for your taxes, and we’ve got real strong economic growth creating jobs in the state.
“Until I can say that, we are never raising taxes in this state.”
In the past, Rauner has indicated some willingness to increase taxes once parts of his reform agenda were enacted, but he took a more strident anti-tax tone Wednesday.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 8:47 am
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Sounds like the same message to me. “….until I know we’re getting more value for your taxes….
That sounds like he still understands new revenue will be part of the solution.
Comment by allknowingmasterofracoondom Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 8:49 am
==It’s not really about the budget==
A stunning admission.
Comment by AC Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 8:50 am
Tell that to the businesses, Realtors, university employees and students in Carbondale, Macomb, and Charleston.
Hostages.
Comment by Ray del Camino Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 8:51 am
That says it all. If I don’t get what I want…..I’m taking my ball and going home. No room for compromise. It’s my TA, or nothing gets done and more people will suffer until you break down and give me what I want.
Comment by Big Joe Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 8:51 am
I seem to have mislaid the winning part. Could someone please explain to me what precisely we have won?
Comment by Another prof Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 8:51 am
Funny how much this winning feels like losing to all the people losing their jobs and those not receiving essential services.
Comment by AnotherSadStateWorker Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 8:53 am
I’m sure that this feels like a victory for everybody in the state who has suffered with this lack of budget. Winning!
Comment by Carhartt Representative Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 8:55 am
Who’s the we of “we’re winning”?
Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 8:55 am
==Rauner said he wants to fight “the wasteful bureaucracy” and make Illinois “a pro-growth state.”==
Translated: Rauner said he wants to fight AFSCME/SEIU and make Illinois a Right to Work (for less) state.
Comment by AC Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 8:56 am
I don’t see winning for anyone. I just see chaos.
Comment by Rahm's Parking Meter Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 8:57 am
Winning?
Winning what?
This is Rauner making it up as he goes along. He wins when he gets the votes in the GA.
From what I’ve seen — and read recently — he’s nowhere near getting the votes he needs. In fact, I’m guessing that he’s lost a couple of votes recently.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 8:57 am
Duh, Win’n!!! Ramblin’s of a mad man.
Comment by GOP Extremist Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 8:59 am
Madigan obviously feels he is winning as well, and also believes this “epic struggle” as he called it is also about “the future of this state”.
None of this should surprise anyone paying attention. Rauner just says it and is more open about it.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 8:59 am
AC +1
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 8:59 am
“I love the smell of unemployed bureaucrats in the morning. It’s like VICTORY!”
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:00 am
I don’t think the words “we” and “winning” mean the same thing to Governor Rauner as they do to me.
Comment by SAP Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:04 am
Pro-growth. Superstars. Winning. He’s a billion dollar speak and say just spouting nonsense.
You know what else is a growth? Cancer. Not all growth is good.
Comment by LizPhairTax Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:04 am
His whole attitude of winning vs. losing is why there’s a stalemate. ‘Winning’ infers a game or competition. Thus, if it’s a competition ie. ‘fight to the death’ how can there be compromise? I’ve never before seen a governor approach the job in this manner.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:07 am
“Winning”
I don’t think that word means what he thinks it means.
Comment by Gruntled University Employee Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:08 am
This is infuriating. Someone needs to ask Rauner who exactly he believes is winning because it certainly isn’t the people of this State. Unpaid bills and debt is going higher, services are getting decimated, social service agencies are being shuttered or significantly reducing the services they provide. Universities are hurting and students are losing their opportunity to get an education. I can’t think of a single demographic that is actually benefitting from this hardline stance.
Comment by Anonymouth Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:10 am
Translation:
“You will let me destroy unions or I will continue to make sure poor people suffer more!”
“And I will never stop until either enough of the Republican Party leaves me or people vote out enough of my allies to where the GA can consistently override my vetoes.”
“Poor people! I know it is hard but your pain will all be worth it in the end!”
Comment by There is power in a union... Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:11 am
“Winning”??? Winning what? Tell that to the 198 Eastern Illinois University staff members that just got laid off yesterday and today. Both sides, dems and GOP, are not even in the game, and unfortunately the people of this state are the collateral damage caused by our politicians to just sit and wait each other out. The reluctance of BOTH Madigan and Rauner to sit down and get a budget passed is causing real life-changing issues all across this state.
Comment by East Central Illinois Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:11 am
It’s about the budget for my agency and my clients. I don’t know who’s winning, but we are definitely losing.
Comment by Try-4-Truth Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:12 am
Everytime he says winning I see Charlie Sheen. Rauner is winning just about as much as Charlie.
Comment by Tired of it all Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:13 am
“Winning?” That slogan worked well for Charlie Sheen, too.
Comment by chiatty Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:14 am
If creating crisis and chaos was his goal, then he is “winning”.
Comment by FAIRNESS AND FAIRNESS ONLY Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:16 am
===“Until I can say that, we are never raising taxes in this state.”===
We’re going to ride this into junk bond status — however if the State defaults on a general obligation bond, the courts can order a tax increase or other additional levy to pay for it.
Maybe that will be the state’s saving grace.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:16 am
=The reluctance of BOTH Madigan and Rauner to sit down and get a budget passed is causing real life-changing issues all across this state.=
Are you suggesting that Madigan could get the 60 votes required to decimate unions if he would only sit down and talk to Rauner?
Comment by pundent Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:16 am
Mathematically challenged. Taxes went down on January 1, 2015. Where is all the growth that resulted from that? Why didn’t that cause growth that made our tax receipts increase?
No growth resulted from that, because it’s a lie. Tax reductions don’t cause growth. It’s a bald-faced lie with no data to support it. Lowering taxes doesn’t promote growth. It only causes the bill backlog to get bigger.
Raise taxes, pay down the bill backlog, fund pensions. That’s what needs to be done.
Comment by Fusion Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:16 am
Yeah the State is going to hell in a handbasket but we’re winning! And if it’s not about the budget Governor, then propose and submit a balanced one, your deal.
Comment by XDNR Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:17 am
Taxes are not going to be raised, so takibg thus stabs is disingenuous at best. The #TaxHikeMike schtick made that option so toxic, so saying he won’t raise taxes just feeds a foregone conclusion.
“Winning”?
A budget is a governor’s priorities and agenda, weighed and measured, shown to the people where a governor believes the state should be going.
Saying you’re winning, without a budget, proves nothing in changing the direction of Illinois.
Thems the rules. Sorry
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:18 am
Not much difference between Bruce’s Bureaucrats and any other bureaucrat.
Comment by Jack Stephens Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:18 am
More word-salad obfuscation as to the real plan.
It’s bizarre to talk of being “pro-growth” when you’ve engineered a situation in which Illinois businesses and non-profits are not being paid billions they are owed for goods and services provided to the state.
I don’t think you’ll find an economist who would tell you that taking the wrecking ball to the higher education system is a “pro-growth” strategy.
Billions are a lot. When you basically steal billions of dollars worth of goods and services, that’s not “pro-growth.”
In the real world, the “growth” happens when you get the money for the job you were contracted for.
When you don’t get the money for the job you were contracted for, you end up tossing people out of work and going out of business.
Which is happening. Forced unemployment, “squeezing the beast,” is also not a “pro-growth strategy” in the real world.
The governor’s own “rationales” show the projected “economic and fiscal” benefits of his “reforms” wouldn’t come close to covering the cost-to-date of his strategy. $6.2 billion in unpaid bills for “hundreds of millions” in savings? It’s absurd.
Having said that, I think the governor is “winning.” It’s just that his objectives, strategy and tactics are appalling. That’s why he spins like crazy, pretending that what is happening isn’t part of the plan.
But if he didn’t want it go down like this, it wouldn’t be happening. Not at the eight-month mark. This is the real plan in action.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:18 am
“wasteful bureaucracy” definition:
social services and MAP grants.
“winning” definition:
throwing all who benefit from the above under the bus.
Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:21 am
IF (until I know we’re getting more value for your taxes) = (until you pass the Turnaround agenda) THEN [nothing new]
IF (until I know we’re getting more value for your taxes, and we’ve got real strong economic growth creating jobs in the state.) = (until you pass the Turnaround Agenda) AND (until the IL economy improves) THEN [We could be in for a long wait. The economic benefits of the TA agenda are dubious and would take years to take effect in the rosiest scenario.]
Comment by X-prof Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:22 am
“what they want to fight me on is to raise taxes. That’s not the answer. Or to cut services”
No one is fighting him on cutting services–he has done that completely on his own by not line iteming the previously submitted budgets.
Comment by TOTM Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:25 am
Rauner=Winning=I get my way on everything
Comment by illinifan Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:26 am
If this is what “winning” looks like to the governor, I shudder to think what losing looks like. Or, is today opposite day?
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:28 am
2016 is the year GOP lawmakers (and their leaders) are going to realize the severe consequences and catastrophic mistake it was to become wholly owned subsidiaries of the governor.
The next budget (and revenues, if any) is going to be totally up to them, plus a handful of Dems who will get them to the constitutional majorities needed for passage (or more to override). Schools can’t open and universities have closed because we need the Turnaround Agenda is going to be incomprehensible to voters.
Best of luck defending and being tied to the Governor Who Wouldn’t Govern.
Comment by Moe Berg Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:29 am
“Winning”, so said Charlie Sheen during his breakdown. I always think of Charlie when Bruce claims he is “winning”! Minds that think alike?
Comment by cardsmama Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:30 am
What he and the Democrats rarely talk about, predictably, is the fact that the middle class bears the weight of the tax system, and we aren’t doing well at all economically. A tax increase will hurt us as a group.
And it gets worse.As more income flows to the one percent, Illinois’ flat tax will become increasingly unfair.
Rich folks make big campaign contributions and a lot of top pols are rich. Republicans are the designated bad guys in Illinois, but what have the Democrats done to rectify these inequities, other than advocate for solving the states fiscal problems at the middle class Taxpayer ATM (Mayor Rahm’s term). That line in front of the ATM is not just composed of Republicans.
Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:31 am
Wont raise taxes or cut services? Blago all over again.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:32 am
Tired of it all. I just typed nearly the same thing about Charlie Sheen, then saw your post. I see so many similarities in the 2.
Comment by cardsmama Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:33 am
Honest Question:
What would be the politics of attaching a specific level of increased taxation to a specific appropriation. For instance, what if to the current Map Grant appropriation bill, a tax of .x% or .0x% were added to the state income tax. A veto would then unambiguously mean that BKR was against the Map grants and did not think they were worth the money. Likewise a G.A. vote against such a bill.
Is this even possible under the rules, and if so, would it work?
Sorry. Honest question.
Comment by History Prof Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:33 am
Illinois:
Worst in the nation in population loss.
Near the bottom of 50 states in job growth.
4th highest tax burden in the nation.
Comment by Tone Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:34 am
++“Until I can say that, we are never raising taxes in this state.”++
++“Now we’re winning, but it’s taking longer than I’d like,” he admitted.++
Everyone and every business who had a contract with the state of IL in FY16 (July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016) will never be reimbursed for their services. Unless their reimbursement is ordered by the courts. It appears those folks will have to file bankruptcy. Does the guv not care about the people who are being financially ruined by the state? “Now we’re winning”???
Comment by Mama Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:36 am
History Prof, the constitution says that appropriation bills must be limited to the subject of appropriations. Since revenues are a substantive matter, it’s not possible.
Comment by Juice Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:37 am
I’ve been following this blog for a while. And never have I seen something in the political realm that made me so angry as this callous, arrogant, and quite frankly, incorrect, statement by Rauner.
Games are won. Are the lives of Illinois residents a game to this dude? What is it he thinks he’s winning? What is the marker of victory here? As far as I can tell, Madigan hasn’t conceded on any of His Highness’s demands, nor has Madigan agreed not to raise taxes. How does he even think he’s winning this mere chess game?
I will have to comment further when I’ve had time to calm down.
Comment by Ferris Wheel Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:39 am
Mom was right, actions speak louder than words. Rauner keeps changing what is required before he will actually agree to revenue, cuts, and a complete budget.
So we have to conclude he deliberately wants to “starve the
beast”, because that is winning to him. And there are beneficial side effects along the way (esp to a vulture capitalist):
–destroy the social service network, harming SEIU, and leading to for profit strategic mergers he is actively assisting
–cut higher ed to zero, thats even better than the 30% cut he
wanted, deplete reserves to see who survives, and privatize to fill gaps. When a comm coll pres asked if she could expect back payments, once we have a budget, rauner said “dont count on it”.
AFSCME? Working our way to an impasse, to force a strike. Blame greedy, overpaid, inefficient state employees and their union.
MAP grants? Collateral damage. “Its unconsionable we dont have a budget”, madigan wants to raise taxes.
This is winning to rauner, so stay the course.
Comment by Langhorne Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:40 am
If you said you were worried that Obama’s appearance would only lead to Rauner digging in his heels even further, please come claim your chicken dinner.
Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:40 am
The Governor needs to look up the term Pyrhic Victory.
Comment by State Engineer Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:42 am
No new revenues equals massive loss of jobs in IL. Rauner statement, “But what I’ve said I won’t do is raise taxes on the people of Illinois until I know we’re getting more value for your taxes, and we’ve got real strong economic growth creating jobs in the state.” How can one create jobs & have a strong economic growth while bankrupting businesses, and laying off a lot of middle class people?
Comment by Mama Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:43 am
So much for president Obama’s ‘finding common ground’ lecture. Both sides of the aisle in IL are entrenched, close-minded, and uncivil. I think the partisan standing/cheering during his speech even surprised the president.
Comment by justacitizen Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:45 am
hisgirlfriday is on it. Intentionally or not, Rauner is doing the exact same thing Blagojevich did during his 6 years as Governor - driving up spending and ruling out a tax increase to pay for it all.
Comment by Lester Holt's Mustache Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:46 am
OW- With deep respect, but tax hikes (note the plural) will and are happening across the state. If the state income tax is so toxic that no one will touch that as an option for a year (or more- look how long it took to get to 5 and 7 last time)simply because it hurts their re-election possibilities, then the People of Illinois will be hit with other taxes. Among these will be increased property taxes, sales taxes, local and city taxes, and any others that Rauner’s deflection of state costs will cause for LOCAL control. In the meantime we all lose as Rauner’s massive CUTS take effect, with or without a budget or the amendatory veto (squeeze and chaos crisis method). If the Governor and the Legislature choose to just ignore the fact the FY16 ever occurred, and let businesses (including post-secondary schools, medical facilities, non-profits, and any other vendor owed monies for services ALREADY provided), then the can has not only been kicked, it has been CRUSHED. The Governor OWNS, but we still OWE, and we will be paying for all of this well into our futures.
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:52 am
“In the meantime we all lose as Rauner’s massive CUTS take effect”
No, we don’t all lose if cuts take effect. Most of us win. The state simply spends too much.
Comment by Tone Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:55 am
“…let businesses (including post-secondary schools, medical facilities, non-profits, and any other vendor owed monies for services ALREADY provided) go without payments…”
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:55 am
Winning? Only in the Dystopian universe envisioned by an uncaring billionaire.
No victories are Pyrrhic if you don’t understand suffering, I suppose. They’re only the acrid smell of politics in the morning…
Comment by Independent retired lawyer, journalist Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:56 am
Winning?
When words become meaningless, so do the people who speak them.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 10:00 am
House Republicans, you’ve been out in the wilderness for so long. Under Democtratic Governors you were stuck in the land of voting ‘no.’ Under a Raunerian Governor, you’re still in the land of ‘no’ with some yellows thrown in.
Do you realize the power you have right now? Think how much you could get out of the Democrats right now. Think of the social service providers and the people who are sick or poor or in need. Think of the students whose future is threatened. Thing of the hole that gets deeper every day. This is your moment. Come on in by the fire and take charge of the story.
Comment by Earnest Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 10:08 am
State Engineer + 1
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 10:10 am
“How can one create jobs & have a strong economic growth while bankrupting businesses, and laying off a lot of middle class people?”
That’s pretty scary, that the executive of this state is a glassy-eyed believer in fantasyland politics and economics. The Sun-Times just did a great editorial on this, on how Rauner not letting go of his unrealistic demands is damaging us.
I’m seeing this in other op-ed pieces as well, where Rauner is rightly blamed for his large share of this horrible crisis. In those articles, Democrats are blamed for their share of the problems over the years, but the writers point out the massive harm that Rauner is now causing because of his fanatical obsession with damaging unions.
“Both sides of the aisle in IL are entrenched, close-minded, and uncivil.”
This is the very false equivalence that I’ve seen mentioned or implied in a few op-ed/editorial pieces. Rauner is the one who won’t accept any workers compensation or property tax reform without anti-union poison pills. Democrats appear to be willing to do spending cuts, workers comp and property tax reform–things that are not near and dear to many of their voters.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 10:13 am
++- Langhorne - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:40 am:++
“This is winning to rauner, so stay the course.”
Hmm… Langhorne, are you telling Rauner to stay on this course of destruction?
Comment by Mama Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 10:16 am
—Hmm… Langhorne, are you telling Rauner to stay on this course of destruction?—
Good god, no. I was channeling rauner. I think rauner is a disaster. He is destroying the state, for reasons of ideology.
Comment by Langhorne Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 10:36 am
Oops, Anonymous @ 9:00am was me.
Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 10:40 am
Strikes me this is partially a response to Obama and partially a response the new GOP-oriented, pro-business Civic Federation report (see above in blog) calling for higher taxes. Funny, but nowhere in the Civic Federation report does it say the state needs the turnaround agenda.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 10:47 am
“Now, we’re winning…”
If you’ve ever wondered whether Bruce Rauner cares about you, the governor himself has given you the tools to find out.
Today, with no Illinois budget and social services collapsing, Bruce Rauner and the people he cares about are winning. Not sometime in the future. He said they’re winning now.
If you feel like you’re winning, right now, then I have good news for you: you’re part of the “we” that Bruce Rauner cares about. Congratulations!
Unfortunately, if you don’t feel like you’re winning in today’s Illinois, let me confirm your suspicions: Bruce Rauner does not care about you.
You’re either us or you’re them. You’re either in or you’re out. He either cares about you — or he hammers you.
It really is that simple.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 10:50 am
@MisterJayEm @ 10:50 am: “You’re either us or you’re them. You’re either in or you’re out. He either cares about you — or he hammers you.”
“It really is that simple.”
MrJayEM, Lets see if I have this right? In order to be with him, I have to go ’scr*w myself’???
Comment by Mama Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 11:07 am
“In order to be with him, I have to go ’scr*w myself’???”
Sorry. I don’t make the rules.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 11:13 am
Translation:
Hey, I’m not hurtin any…
Comment by Liberty Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 11:13 am
Thanks Honeybear!
The only people winning are those who bet that Obama’s visit wouldn’t bring us closer to a resolution, and I suspect all if them would have preferred to have been wrong.
Comment by AC Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 11:26 am
- Tone - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 9:55 am:
===“In the meantime we all lose as Rauner’s massive CUTS take effect”
No, we don’t all lose if cuts take effect. Most of us win. The state simply spends too much.===
Please, Mr. Tone, name the cuts you want to see. Please be specific and give me the line item and dollar amount. If we spend too much, please tell me where.
You can’t just say things, please have facts. That’s what Pres. Obama told me yesterday.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 11:35 am
===“In the meantime we all lose as Rauner’s massive CUTS take effect”
No, we don’t all lose if cuts take effect. Most of us win. –
Tone, your’re off the Raunerbot message.
You’re being honest as to the real motivations, but you’re definitely off-message.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 11:48 am
Tone- Please, tell me, who “us” is?
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 12:01 pm
- Anon221 -,
Sorry, I’m way busy with some things and trying to head into the City.
Keep in mind, bud, all that will be fixed, even the lower taxes locally, with the Union Poison Pills;
Property taxes, school funding, muni budgets…
End collective bargaining, drop prevailing wage.
That’s the “Rauner Answer”
Sorry I took so long.
With respect, OW
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 12:13 pm
No problem, OW:)
And I get the “humor” in your reply, but in all seriousness, Rauner really has no interest in local issues. If he can disconnect government (at any level, but especially at the state level right now) from interfering in ANY way with private business, he only sees that as a positive. Any government is bad government, and if you want “government”, then YOU pay for it. Anyway, that’s my impression of the current situation.
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 12:18 pm
QUIZ: Bruce or Charlie?
“People say you have to work on your resentments. Yeah, no, I’m gonna hang onto them and they’re gonna fuel my attack.”
“We’ll hurt you and your family.”
“I have a different constitution. I have a different brain; I have a different heart”
“I don’t have a Rolls. I don’t have a jet.”
“I’m dealing with fools and trolls and soft targets.”
“I will bury her.”
“I’m a lover of fairs and corn dogs.”
“I invented Tulsa, OK…in my sleep”
“Life all comes down to a few moments. This is one of them.”
“you can’t focus on things that matter if all you’ve been is asleep for forty years.”
“We have a duty to minimize how much we have to take from you.”
“I’m a big hunter. Avid fisherman. Hiker. Climber. Scuba diver. Skier.”
“…yet the opposition felt it necessary to still harass me with old gibberish…Odd? Perhaps. Transparent? You betcha!”
“We’re winning”
Comment by crazybleedingheart Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 12:21 pm
History Prof–
I think it might be possible, to a degree, by establishing separate special funds with specified dedicated revenues, such that the revenue would only go into the Fund under certain circumstances, and the Fund could only spend on its approved purpose(s) and limited by the revenues it has available.
I think that could work, but it would be hell to set up across the entire GRF budget.
Comment by Harry Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 12:33 pm
What exactly has Rauner won?
Comment by forwhatitsworth Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 1:04 pm
Rich, from the President’s Speech:
“When I hear voices in either party boast about their refusal to compromise as an accomplishment in and of itself, I am not impressed. All that does is prevent what most Americans would consider actual accomplishments - like fixing roads, educating kids, passing budgets, cleaning our environment, making our streets safe.”
@PresidentObama Yeah, still not impressed @BruceRauner
Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 1:34 pm
Rich, your blog articles needs to hit the newspapers statewide. The voters should read your news articles & vote accordingly. It appears the public does not understand what is coming down the tubes & how it will change their lives.
Comment by Mama Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 1:42 pm
++- wordslinger @ 9:18 am: ++
You hit the nail on the head. Thank you
Comment by Mama Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 1:46 pm
Soooo, Rauner’s idea of winning is continuing to burn bridges to the voters he will need to fuel the onslaught of his New Financial Order??
In Illinois, the number of people trying to attain quality of life and eke out a living is growing. The number of disaffected Turnaround Agenda supporters is dwindling, as they, too, are affected. This shifting balance will not represent “winning” for the governor.
Comment by Stumpy's bunker Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 1:59 pm
To Tone’s negative casting of “Worst” in population loss.
Regarding population loss, maybe Illinois should downsize, less roads, universities, aid, etc.
For decades Il has wanted more services than voters have been willing to pay for (See Structural Imbalance). There’s evidence that they still don’t want to pay as any Support for increasing taxes to match the services received is career suicide for policy makers.
Comment by Qui Tam Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 2:17 pm