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* SJ-R…
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan said Sunday he will begin polling his members to determine their support for parts of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s “turnaround agenda.” However, the Chicago Democrat made it clear he will not support measures he feels will hurt the middle class. […]
Still, Madigan said he will hold a caucus “to survey our members” about what the working groups on Rauner’s agenda have accomplished.
“Here again, I would say my designees to the working groups are very desirous of a compromise, but they are not going to sacrifice the interests of the middle class,” he said.
* Well, he isn’t holding a caucus, where members might actually press him about his furtive march toward all-out war. But he is offering them some “informational meetings”…
To: House Democratic Caucus Members
From: Michael J. Madigan
Date: May 29, 2016
Re: Working GroupsIn the last few days, a great deal of misinformation has circulated about the status of the working groups proposed by Governor Rauner, particularly the involvement of House Democrats. Members of the House Democratic caucus, and House Democratic staff, have attended each of the working groups and have been working in good faith to find compromise, and will continue to do so.
Democratic members of these working groups have consistently sought areas of compromise with legislative Republicans and the governor’s office on the working group topics whenever possible, without sacrificing the security of middle-class families and the vulnerable.
To give you the latest information and status of the working groups, I invite you attend any of or all the following meetings. These informational meetings will be held in the Conference Room of the Speaker’s 300 Suite.
Meeting topics and times are:
Budget: Monday, May 30, 2 p.m.
Collective Bargaining & School Mandates: Monday, May 30, 3 p.m.
Workers’ Compensation: Monday, May 30, 4 p.m.Please RSVP your attendance to [redacted] at [redacted] to ensure adequate space.
*** UPDATE *** Some Republicans attempted to tell HDems their own version about what’s going on, but they couldn’t get in, of course…
House meeting to discuss budget working groups. GOP waiting outside, say they want to make sure info is accurate pic.twitter.com/7riKJuw01q
— Celeste Bott (@celestebott) May 30, 2016
posted by Rich Miller
Sunday, May 29, 16 @ 9:45 pm
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It’s a sign of discussion. Discussion within the Caucus can’t all be bad, nor can it be the beginning of any end.
Saying all that, I’m warmed at the idea of discussion moving beyond the groups is a logical step hopeful long stepping forward.
Comment by Oswego Willy Sunday, May 29, 16 @ 9:56 pm
Talking is better than not talking. But honestly, does anyone think that there’s room for compromise on Rauner’s anti-union positions? I mean, no bargaining on wages, no bargaining on benefits, no bargaining on anything that employees care about?
I’m no Madigan fan, but he’s correct that those positions are designed to tear apart the middle class.
Comment by DuPage Dave Sunday, May 29, 16 @ 10:03 pm
The only solution to end this and come to a budget agreement is if all partiews agree that they can not get everything they want. Otherwise this will never be solved.
Comment by Dandy Edward Sunday, May 29, 16 @ 10:21 pm
Let’s see all those republican votes for reducing injured worker benefits!
Comment by Anonymous Sunday, May 29, 16 @ 10:48 pm
” press him about his furtive march toward all-out war.”
March *toward* all-out war? What, then, do you call the last 330+ days?
Comment by Bryan Sunday, May 29, 16 @ 10:58 pm
Rauner’s rhetoric, though, is still more about capitulation than compromise…
http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0YK0V3
Comment by Anon221 Sunday, May 29, 16 @ 11:10 pm
Madigan can’t let Rauner win.
This sounds like Rauner is actually persuading folks.
Comment by Macbeth Sunday, May 29, 16 @ 11:17 pm
Good news!
He still has a strong majority to pass all the =moderate= reforms he likes. Since the moderate, compromise proposals of the working groups are so unpalatable to the Speaker, he is free to pass his vision for reforming Illinois any time he likes.
He does have something to offer other than =NO=… doesn’t he? This is his time to shine! Let’s see what his vision of reform and progress is for Illinois!
Comment by Formerly Known As... Sunday, May 29, 16 @ 11:21 pm
Illinois is lucky to have a political leader like Madigan who protects the middle class. I sincerely mean that.
I just hope his middle class demographic includes those of us that are not government employees.
There are needed adjustments to workers comp.
There are no good reasons to add too much to the lucrative salary and benefit packages of state employees.
Stand down on some of this easy stuff and let the state of Illinois move on beyond it. Let Rauner have his Rauner Tax too.
Btw, I hope there is a prop tax committee too.
Comment by cdog Monday, May 30, 16 @ 12:24 am
Let’s hope they need more room.
Comment by Norseman Monday, May 30, 16 @ 1:09 am
Sounds like a great way to learn what mike might be thinking. I will be there. Every concerned citizen of Illinois should join me
Comment by hot chocolate Monday, May 30, 16 @ 6:27 am
Madigan did not walk out of yesterday’s leadership meeting in 20 minutes due to the Governor having an epiphany. This is pass out the war paint time. For those who think we have already have had 11 months of war, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
Comment by an independent Monday, May 30, 16 @ 7:23 am
Smart move to bring consensus for the epic struggle,let everyone have a voice and get on the same page together
Comment by Rabid Monday, May 30, 16 @ 7:27 am
Madigan has some mushrooms that want to do what they feel is right and he just can’t have that. Heaven forbid they do what they feel best moves Illinois forward!
Madigan’s solution is to just say NO. Or is it NYET?
Comment by Big Muddy Monday, May 30, 16 @ 7:37 am
Without Madigan, Rauner would have run all over the unions - and Illinois would be another Wisconsin, with no collective bargaining on wages, benefits and working conditions for teachers and other public employees. Granted, Madigan pushed through the bad pension bill a few years ago. But that was then and this is now. And now he is the best hope the unions have.
Comment by Joe M Monday, May 30, 16 @ 7:58 am
Yeah, Big Muddy, you nailed it. Madigan is Stalin, or Lenin, or whatever dictator you were going for there.
Where oh where are those Democratic members dying to cave on unions, wc, and raise taxes?
Rich has commented numerous times that the Dem, and Repub votes simply aren’t there for Rauner’s agenda.
But that Madigan, and the Politburo he controls, is keeping it from happening.
Always some “historian” with the facism/communism connection. Congratulations, Big Muddy, today you are that historian.
Comment by Flyin' Elvises-Utah Chapter Monday, May 30, 16 @ 8:09 am
All the Speaker is doing is playing down his 24,second clock and then on June 1 he can say he really really tried
Comment by Sue Monday, May 30, 16 @ 8:12 am
More cover for AFSME in the guise of protecting the middle class - what a joke.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 30, 16 @ 8:22 am
==will be held in the Conference Room of the Speaker’s 300 Suite==
AKA - Madigan’s Situation Room
Comment by Wensicia Monday, May 30, 16 @ 8:30 am
You can’t fit the whole caucus in that conference room. Not even half. So are they assuming there is no interest from the whole caucus to hear?
Comment by Hoping for Rational Thought Monday, May 30, 16 @ 8:31 am
–Madigan has some mushrooms that want to do what they feel is right and he just can’t have that.–
What are those “right” things? Can someone reveal them to the public?
What are the governor’s “right” pre-conditions for a budget that are so dreamy that they legitimize running a $6.2 billion deficit, tuning up higher ed, wrecking social services, stiffing Illinois vendors and tossing thousands out of work?
Given the damage that has been done in their name, the benefits of these mystery pre-conditions must be obvious and enormous?
Can anyone fill us in on what they are? Or is it a faith-based exercise, like a cult, immune to fact and reason?
Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 30, 16 @ 8:42 am
Matt, you can share the information with us! We can then judge whether it’s the GOP or the Dems are being unreasonable.
Comment by Norseman Monday, May 30, 16 @ 2:22 pm
@DanBrady- why on God’s green earth did you try that silly stunt? Does your overlord allow IDP members in to his meetings to straighten out his information?
You just look so silly and I know you are decent guy, but seriously.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, May 30, 16 @ 2:35 pm
Will the Democrats be allowed to come to republicans caucus when the governor comes to speak to them next time to be fair??
Comment by rj Monday, May 30, 16 @ 3:12 pm
It’s interesting that Illinois Republicans are outraged that they aren’t allowed into a meeting of the Democratic caucus, but are unwilling to attend their own party’s national convention.
Comment by General Sternwood Monday, May 30, 16 @ 3:38 pm