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* Uh-oh…
Recently, State Representative Ken Dunkin held a press conference boasting his plan to save Chicago State University (CSU) and several other state universities from financial collapse. What Representative Dunkin failed to mention is how seniors, people facing foreclosures, human services and LIHEAP would all fall victim to fund sweeps tied to funding his legislation. Senator Emil Jones III, Chairman of the Senate Black Caucus introduced Senate Bill 2272, which funds CSU without evoking harm to some of our most vulnerable citizens like Rep. Dunkin’s bill would cause.
Below is Senator Jones’ statement:
“The legislation that my colleague and good friend Ken Dunkin is proposing comes with a few strings attached. Ken’s bill is funded by a separate demand from the governor and Republicans in the form of Senate Bill 3044, which steals funds from LIHEAP, the Human Services fund, foreclosure prevention programs, money for our crumbling schools and a fund that provides long-term care for seniors.
“So sometimes, the things our ‘allies’ suggest aren’t really what they seem to be. Legislation I am sponsoring spends tax money we have collected and hasn’t been spent to fund CSU. On a side note, I would like to applaud CSU’s students and faculty for their poise and willingness to make adjustments while the governor, his allies and Republicans play politics with your futures. Back to Ken, let’s get on the same page and pass my bill that solves problems and doesn’t create them.”
* Jones’ approp bill already has a few black co-sponsors…
Appropriates $25,000,000 from the Education Assistance Fund to the Board of Trustees of Chicago State University for ordinary and contingent expenses. Provides that the appropriation authority is valid for costs incurred from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016. Effective immediately.
The Education Assistance Fund is explained by Voices for Illinois Children…
The Education Assistance Fund, which is used for both elementary - secondary and higher education, receives a share of income tax revenue as well as proceeds from riverboat gambling.
Very interesting move, especially since the Senate Black Caucus has never been much of a Madigan support group (to say the least).
* Gov. Rauner indicated yesterday that he could support the Dunkin bill, but the Tribune’s Kim Geiger takes a look at the embattled legislator’s higher ed bailout proposal…
“I’ve got to understand that bill a little better but that’s a way, but then we’ll have the money, and I could support that,” Rauner said.
Technically, the state doesn’t have the money. Dunkin’s bill relies on an accounting gimmick that allows the state not to pay back dollars that were borrowed last year from special state accounts. Rauner’s administration borrowed the $454 million last year at the start of the budget impasse to have cash on hand to help get the state through the stalemate. The money is required to be paid back by the end of the year, making it a liability on the state’s books. Dunkin’s bill would only take effect if a separate bill is approved that allows the state to never pay that money back.
In effect, Dunkin’s bill spends money that’s already been spent. Rauner, meanwhile, has been defending his decision to veto a bill that would have funded tuition grants for college students, saying the General Assembly has to stop trying to spend money it doesn’t have.
“I’m open to whatever works, but we’ve got to spend money that we have,” Rauner said Wednesday. “We’ve got to stop trying to spend money that we don’t have.”
She’s right and so is Sen. Jones. The money was borrowed just before the end of last fiscal year (15) and was intended to be used this fiscal year (16) to get through tight times, but isn’t scheduled to be paid back until next fiscal year (17), when more money comes in. Gov. Rauner’s proposed budget would “forgive” that debt, but not until next fiscal year (17).
*** UPDATE 1 *** From a senior administration official…
GOMB has reviewed the proposal and believes it would not result in any service or program disruptions or reductions. That is why GOMB felt comfortable making that proposal in the FY17 budget. This is quite obviously opposition driven by politics rather than what’s best for public universities and community colleges in crisis.
Well, that last sentence is surely correct, on both sides.
And if there’s $200 million in extra money laying around, perhaps the governor shouldn’t have vetoed the MAP grant bill and kept the actual spending to that amount, which he has the power to do.
*** UPDATE 2 *** The complete list of special funds that were swept last year and were supposed to be repaid next fiscal year is here. Bunch of sacred cows in there.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 8:25 am
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Get it done, folks. There is no better way to lift folks out of poverty like allowing them to demand a higher salary by having a college education. Pass SB 2272!!
Comment by The Muse Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 8:30 am
It should not be lost on anyone that it’s Son of Emil leading the response. Like him or not, The former Senate President was one of the biggest and most consistent champions of CSU. Within the community that the University serves, the credibility gap between Emil Jones and Ken Dunkin might as well be the difference between the Earth and the Moon.
Comment by ILPundit Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 8:32 am
If the money really is in that fund, this is a no brainer. What is NOT getting funded by the EAF if this is, though? Are we robbing some other University?
Comment by illini97 Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 8:34 am
You mention that Jones’ approp bill has a few black co-sponsors. Note that one of those co-sponsors is Dunkin’s own senator, Mattie Hunter.
Comment by out of touch Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 8:35 am
What? Dunkin didn’t consult with his own caucus before presenting a proposed bill with the Republicans? /s
Good for the Black Caucus, Dunkin’s bill is a farce.
Comment by burbanite Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 8:36 am
I thought Rauner was dead set against budgeting gimmicks like this. Perhaps I was mistaken.
Comment by Michael Westen Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 8:37 am
The Raunerite Ken Dunkin, the notoriously absent legislator that misses votes at the alleged behest of the Raunerites, now thinks his Bill, aimed at saving the Raunerite “stranger” in the HDems’ Caucus… is the answer to questions no one wants Ken Dunkin to answer.
Raunerite Dunkin isn’t about saving students, but is about ensuring Rauner has his Democratic Raunerite as a wedge.
If Dunkin cared, Dunkin would’ve…. well, the list is so long, it’s pathetic that Dunkin thinks he serves the people while having actions that serm to only serve “Ken Dunkin”.
The stand alone comedy is that the thrice crowned Century Club Predident is the vessel Rauner has as his Democratic Raunerite… and Ken Dunkin is the person “skilled” enough to get more than the 47 Raunerite votes that exist in the House to get anything passed.
I mean, that’s surreal.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 8:37 am
===“I’m open to whatever works, but we’ve got to spend money that we have,” Rauner said Wednesday.===
Why does this principle not apply to services for homeless youth? The dedicated funds for those services are sitting in the treasury.
Comment by out of touch Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 8:38 am
The Jones bill only saves CSU?
Comment by ash Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 8:39 am
===Why does this principle not apply to services for homeless youth? The dedicated funds for those services are sitting in the treasury.===
“Bruce Rauner” has spent millions helping the homeless. “Gov. Rauner” sees the homeless as unworthy of his time and the releasing of monies already allocated(?)
Gov. Rauner has little time for heart strings, Bruce Rauner’s spending as a private cutizen is suppose to rebuff Gov. Rauner’s… “shortcomings”.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 8:42 am
“I will gladly pay you next Tuesday for a hamburger today.”
Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 8:46 am
Expect this kind of “saving” from Rauner. He believes that if he can starve a hostage enough, they will be so gracious to his demands that they will swallow any kind of rescue he allows.
Dunkin’s bill is nothing more than an attempt to spring a hostage for political benefit, while not springing them at all.
Rauner thinks we are that stupid. Dunkin is a Quisling.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 8:46 am
Rauner- “We have the money,” he said. “We collect $33 billion dollars every year and only a fraction of that goes to schools.”
Read and listen to the entire post. The last sentence in the written section is what the media needs to continue to focus on. Rauner want his “supreme power” to make cuts and move funds any way he wants- with no consequences to funds that he wants to raid. To him, these are just like the 6000 levels of government in Illinois that need to be consolidated. And, he’s also frustrated that some of these funds are structured so they CANNOT be raided, and he wants that power to just go away, too. Poison pills and the Unbalanced Budget Response Act need to be counteracted at the voting booth, with legislation such as Jones’s, and with little buttons in the ILGA.
http://wuis.org/post/rauner-stumps-more-educational-spending-illinois
Notice- Rauner never mentions the other “overages” being charged to the State every day that will exceed $33B, not to mention his two years of out-of-balance budget proposals.
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 8:47 am
“I’m open to whatever works, but we’ve got to spend money that we have,” Rauner said Wednesday. “We’ve got to stop trying to spend money that we don’t have.”
Such as money for K-12?
Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 8:51 am
=== Gov. Rauner’s proposed budget would “forgive” that debt, but not until next fiscal year (17). ===
What a hoot! Rauner supports an FY 16 approp because it has a funding solution that doesn’t even take effect until FY 17.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 8:53 am
–“I’m open to whatever works, but we’ve got to spend money that we have,” Rauner said Wednesday. “We’ve got to stop trying to spend money that we don’t have.”–
What a strange statement.
According to the comptroller, by June 30, the state’s backlog of unpaid bills will have increased since Rauner took office from $4.3 billion to as much as $12 billion.
It appears arithmetic, gubernatorial responsibility and reality have all been suspended in some circles.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 8:56 am
Rauner is trying the same tricks he derided while running for office. This fact needs to be loudly publicized.
Comment by illinoised Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 8:57 am
I was about to ask if Dunkin has a primary opponent
Comment by Levois Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 9:01 am
Funding last year’s budget with next year’s revenue…Where have I heard that one before?
Comment by SAP Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 9:01 am
=The money was borrowed just before the end of last fiscal year (15) and was intended to be used this fiscal year (16) to get through tight times, but isn’t scheduled to be paid back until next fiscal year (17), when more money comes in. Gov. Rauner’s proposed budget would “forgive” that debt, but not until next fiscal year (17).=
I actually mentioned this in the comments Tuesday afternoon, but it bears repeating. Not only is it true what you said above, but it’s important to note that the Governor is actually counting on the borrowing forgiveness in his FY17 budget proposal to close the $6.6B FY17 hole. If that borrowing forgiveness is exercised now to fund Dunkin’s higher-ed bill then that actually increases that hole that needs to be filled with “Working Together or Executive Management” activities that was presented just last week by the Gov.
Comment by Get a Job!! Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 9:03 am
Just borrowin’, and sweepin’ and movin’ that money around. That’s how I’m shakin’ up Springfield, see?
//
//
(In Jeb Bush voice)…please clap.
Comment by illini97 Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 9:07 am
Didn’t you know, Rauner is a biker not a poindexter!
Comment by burbanite Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 9:07 am
Sounds like:
Dunkin’s proposal is to assist CSU & other unspecified state universities at the expense of Illinoisans trying to meet their health & survival needs.
Jones’ proposal is CSU-centric, which could be fine, but will there be any funds left to help when EIU & WIU start their spiral?
Comment by Stumpy's bunker Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 9:08 am
Dunkin’s bill relies on Voodoo Accounting.
Jones’ bill only focuses on CSU.
Expand Jones’ bill to include ALL public universities and you will get some republicans to jump on board………..after March 15.
Comment by Dee Lay Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 9:13 am
Hmm…
===“I’m open to whatever works,…===
Hostages don’t work in governing. This is blatently dishonest to “Crisis Creates Opportunity”. Believing just this, you’d need to ignore everything Gov. Rauner has shown as the Executive of Illinois.
===…but we’ve got to spend money that we have,” Rauner said Wednesday.===
According to Court Orders, Illinois is doing just that. Lacking a budget means we all know very little as to what money we do have, up to and including monies allocated abd yet to be released in the “hostage” strategy.
===”We’ve got to stop trying to spend money that we don’t have.” (Rauner)===
Without a budget, any and all knoes spent could, allegedly, fall into this category.
It’s very apparent Gov. Rauner has yet to learn what his job entails, and failures are compounded upon wants and desires failing too.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 9:23 am
Rauner sounded a little like Ralph Kramden…
“Homina, homina, homina…
Comment by Austin Blvd Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 9:29 am
Ken Dunkin is a great argument for one of Rauner’s agenda items…term limits.
Comment by Independent retired lawyer, journalist Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 9:33 am
=== believes it would not result in any service or program disruptions or reductions ===
And I believe in Santa Claus.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 9:36 am
Isn’t GOMB supposed to be nonpartisan…?
Comment by Independent retired lawyer, journalist Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 9:37 am
With rauner, its always sound bites that might sound good to low information voters. No one wants to spend money we dont have. Everyone wants to reduce the bill backlog. Thats why you pass a budget, €^= d£€>>}!
Rauner has engineered the current situation so he can just keep saying we dont have the money, to exacerbate the harm being done, then blame the democrats.
The MAP grant embarrassment was covered on NBC nightly news last week. Just wait til universities close.
Comment by Langhorne Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 9:39 am
No, GOMB is not supposed to be nonpartisan or independent. It is the GOVERNOR’s office of management and budget.
Their director and employees are at-will workers who are equally bound to represent the Governor’s positions as anyone else in the office of the Governor.
The idea that they offer “objective third-party” analysis is and always has been an absurdity.
Comment by Handle Bar Mustache Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 9:41 am
The Emil Jones CSU Bailout Bill.
Always good to see Emil’s priorities are still in place.
Comment by Chicagonk Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 9:41 am
The scramble is on to save the first state university system hostage from drowning, but I’m getting the vibe that there won’t be enough lifeboats to go around.
Comment by Stumpy's bunker Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 9:43 am
=== Isn’t GOMB supposed to be nonpartisan…? ===
It’s the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget. Definitely partisan.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 9:43 am
–The legislation that my colleague and good friend Ken Dunkin is proposing comes with a few strings attached–
OW and gurus of the Blog. Why are they playing nice to Dunkin? Are they just classy that way? I’m starting to feel like a lesser person because I would just want to see Dunkin driven before me and hear the lamentations of his side chicks ( to modify my favorite Conan quote)
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 9:44 am
You know this is also going to lead to a devaluation of home values in Illinois. Seriously, who would want to move here?
Comment by burbanite Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 9:44 am
Illinois common core budgeting = refuse to pass a budget with a $4 billion deficit in order to go $7 billion deeper in debt.
Comment by Menard guy Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 9:48 am
—No, GOMB is not supposed to be nonpartisan or independent. It is the GOVERNOR’s office of management and budget.—
Thanks, Handle Bar Mustache and Norseman. Guess I was confusin’ it with Government OMB. Now I feel better knowing that what they say is political…but transparently so, at least!
Comment by Independent retired lawyer, journalist Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 9:50 am
Yes, GOMB is political. But I can’t recall statements that aggressively partisan out of them before. That’s not to say they weren’t partisan - Abdon used to fight very aggressively to defend their numbers - but the tone seems very different and much more Goldbergian.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:00 am
GOMB is partisan in its staffing, but Rauner was smart to bring Tim Nuding on as director instead of some “hack”. I do feel bad for Tim, though, as his role and authority has often been usurped.
Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:11 am
==Isn’t GOMB supposed to be nonpartisan…?==
GOMB works for the Governor.
==GOMB is partisan in its staffing==
Perhaps in senior staff, but the analysts are not partisan.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:13 am
===Why are they playing nice to Dunkin? Are they just classy that way? I’m starting to feel like a lesser person…===
1) If Dunkin loses, then there’s no blowback that members turned on their own. The voters turned on Dunkin
2) Isolation is far more hurtful that any words or actions. Being cordial doesn’t mean Dunkin isn’t getting “frozen out”
3) Publicly sparring with Dunkin gives Dunkin credibility. Seeming collegial just makes Dunkin one of many, nothing more.
If Dunkin wins, the Caucues, both of them, will have “decisions” to make but the HDems will follow the Black Caucus’ lead to a tea.
We’ll know more March 16th
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:20 am
==but the analysts are not partisan.==
Sure they are. Again, any suggestion to the contrary is fantasy. They are hired, fired and promoted by the political operators in the Governor’s office.
Comment by Handle Bar Mustache Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:20 am
Rauner’s “borrowin’ money” via sweeps, without intendin’ to pay it back. Shows that Rauner can not be trusted and the GA should not give Rauner any more authority to sweep or “borrow” from funds.
Comment by DuPage Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:36 am
Totally explains it. Thanks OW.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 10:45 am
- Honeybear -,
You’re welcome, keep plugging.
March 15th is coming really fast…
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:01 am
Who came up with this beauty of a funding mechanism?
We know Dunkin isn’t that financially astute.
It appears Rauner, with his “whatever,” doesn’t even want to take the time to understand it.
Who actually created this bill? Is it really just campaign literature?
Comment by walker Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:08 am
What is the death penalty abolition fund for? Wasn’t it already abolished here? Maybe the fund can be abolished and the money go to help the homeless kids?
Comment by burbanite Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:18 am
Keep your friends close and your “colleagues and good friends” closer.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:21 am
“former Senate President (Emil Jones) was one of the biggest and most consistent champions of CSU.”
And the stewardship of Jones’ cronies and allies brought CSU to its present crisis. The controversial former CSU president was Jones’ man.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:22 am
==Sure they are. Again, any suggestion to the contrary is fantasy.==
Dude, I worked there back in the day. I can tell you without hesitation that they are not partisan. Some of the folks there have worked there for 20 years or more and I worked under multiple administrations.
Ask Mr. Schnorf if they are partisan and he’ll tell you the same thing. They are a professional staff. As I said, the bosses are partisan. The staff ain’t.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:29 am
Unfortunaty. AFSCME, SEIU, Chi Tchrs Union all gave a combined $46,988.05 to Friends of Ken Dunkin during the 12 months before his SB 1229 betrayal. (IL Sunshine)
Comment by Union Man Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 11:44 am
Maybe someone can explain….. Forgiving money that was borrowed, then using the forgiven money that was borrowed to spend on other things leaves a hole right?
100 years of borrow, spend and not pay back, this is why we are where we are today. It has to stop.
Comment by DuPage Bard Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 12:26 pm
Dupage Bard- Rauner doesn’t consider it a “hole”, he considers it “consolidation”.
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 12:38 pm
If all the money being poured into the election were being poured into the state coffers, we would make a pretty big dent in the hole.
Comment by burbanite Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 12:44 pm
Not paying back $179M from the School Infrastructure Fund isn’t exactly K-12 friendly.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 1:01 pm
@Honeybear “OW and gurus of the Blog. Why are they playing nice to Dunkin? ”
It’s political gamesmanship. We should be polite. In the US Congress you always hear “…My good friend from Texas, the great Senator Cruz …” and then they tear the sheds out of his proposal.
It’s just in Illinois, nobody is polite.
Comment by Rufus Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 1:46 pm
@Demoralized- my thoughts exactly. That was a big bite from education and now he and Ken Dunkin don’t want to pay it back? And my local reps and Senator will be green lights for it? Not happy.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 2:20 pm
For what it’s worth, many of the GOMB staff have been there for many administrations. The more senior you go, those are the folks that tend to get replaced by each admin.
The actual analysts and senior analysts are professional folks with a very strong grasp of each agency they oversee.
There is A LOT of institutional knowledge in that group.
Comment by How Ironic Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 3:55 pm
@HandleBar
=Sure they are. Again, any suggestion to the contrary is fantasy=
I’ll second Demoralized. The GOMB analysts are overwhelmingly not partisan. I personally know several republicans who worked @ GOMB under both Blago and/or Quinn. I also know several Dems who currently work at GOMB under Rauner. Sure, some happen to be of the same party as the Governor, but that’s often a coincidence. GOMB analysts are numbers people, not policy people. A dollar is a dollar is a dollar.
Comment by Get a Job!! Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 4:27 pm
@Demoralized
=Not paying back $179M from the School Infrastructure Fund isn’t exactly K-12 friendly. =
Exactly. I’ll also add that it actually doesn’t help GRF to “forgive” this loan. The School Infrastructure is mostly used to repay debt services for older school construction bonds. If the balance isn’t sufficient for debt service, GRF pays. So borrowing the funds shifted the debt burden to GRF……Forgiving the borrowing does nothing because GRF will have to pick up the slack.
Also notice the Fund for Advancement of Education on the list. This approp specifically pay for GSA. Every dollar swept from that fund increases the General funds needed for GSA……..So “forgiveness” of that $17M borrowing does not help the General Funds whatsoever.
Comment by Get a Job!! Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 4:36 pm