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Downstate non-pandering leadership tour continues

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* Vienna, by the way, has a population of just 1,434 people

“The Senate and the House were competing with each other over who can spend more to bail out Chicago with your taxes,” Rauner said during an appearance in Vienna. “The money shouldn’t go there, it should go here.”

The two chambers were, indeed, competing with each other the other night. No argument there. But Chicagoans, unlike the residents of Vienna and everywhere else in this state, directly make the vast majority of their own school pension payments.

* A Senate leadership stipend was an award from Madigan? Way to stretch it, dude

In a campaign-style speech, Rauner took aim at House Speaker Michael Madigan; Senate President John Cullerton; and state Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, who is assistant majority leader of the Senate. […]

A handout sheet passed along by Rauner’s office said Sullivan has gotten $1.75 million during his political career from Madigan, Cullerton and the “Chicago machine,” but it failed to specify whether they were campaign funds. The handout also was written in a way that made a leadership stipend — which Sullivan and all leaders in both parties receive — look like it came from Madigan and Cullerton.

“We need you to call Sen. Sullivan and have him stand up” to the Chicago political machine, Rauner said.

When reminded that Sullivan did not vote for a Senate education bill that would have boosted funding for Chicago Public Schools by nearly $1 billion, Rauner said that more was needed. He suggested that Sullivan demand a vote on an education bill and a social services stopgap bill crafted by the governor’s office.

I asked the reporter about his “Rauner said that more was needed” line because I didn’t quite get it. “Rauner wanted more from Sullivan, as in his support for the governor’s two budget plans,” was his explanation.

* So, are they really saying that the Chicago schools will receive no more money? Because, frankly, I don’t see how the heck they intend to get anything at all done if that is the case

Republican Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington is on the tour with Rauner. He says House Speaker Michael Madigan’s budget plan would “bail out” the city of Chicago and its school district.

“Us downstaters need to stick together… so that we don’t enable Mike Madigan to bail out Chicago.”

The post-May 31 magic numbers are now 71 and 36. Those can’t be reached if CPS isn’t part of the mix. Period.

* And yet as far as I know he did zippo during the session to pass a bill…


Gov. Rauner calls upcoming closing of @ExelonNuclear plants in Cordova and Clinton a "travesty." Hear more from @GovRauner on @wqad at 11

— Jared Ransom WQAD (@WQAD_Ransom) June 2, 2016

…Adding… Related…

* CEO: Chicago schools won’t open without education budget

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:00 am

Comments

  1. Meanwhile, a fully funded human services stop gap for FY 16 sits collecting dust in the governor’s office.

    SB2038 passed with 111 votes in the House and 56 votes in the Senate.

    But I’m sure the “machine” wrote it.

    Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:05 am

  2. easy fix. we will let vienna keep all the miney it brings in from inc tax and sales tax. and we will let chicago keep all the tax money it generates to spend in itself.

    the huge myth here is that downstate money is going north, acrually money from chicago builds roads and pays expenses downstate, not vice versa.

    Comment by Ghost Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:08 am

  3. I remember when he would sprinkle in lies with the truth. Then I remember when he would sprinkle in truth with lies. Now all I can see is lies. Lies, lies, and more lies.

    Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:09 am

  4. How is he going to go back downstate and look these people in the eye after he bails out Chicago?

    Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:11 am

  5. Politicians are good at drumming up and playing to prejudices (hate). Rauner is especially adept at this practice. They can be so successful it makes governing difficult. Then again, when has Rauner exhibited a desire to govern.

    Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:11 am

  6. Madeupville has just over 900…

    To the Post,

    No way… 71 and 36… no way you get 71 and 36 this way.

    Doesn’t work that way…

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:15 am

  7. “* And yet as far as I know he did zippo during the session to pass a bill…”

    worse, he repeatedly refused to take a position and told everyone to wait until the budget stuff was done before energy issues would be discussed…

    Comment by Ok Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:16 am

  8. “Governor” is a stretch.

    Comment by Sangamo Sam Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:16 am

  9. So, are they really saying that the Chicago schools will receive no more money? Because, frankly, I don’t see how the heck they intend to get anything at all done if that is the case

    What do they mean? What do they intend?

    But if we were able to answer these fundamental questions, they wouldn’t be OODA Looping.

    “The key is to obscure your intentions and make them unpredictable.”

    Mission Accomplished.

    – MrJM

    Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:16 am

  10. Guessin’ the Durkie ad buy ((financed with BgDaddyBruce’s campaign allowance) against Bradley & Phelps will not help to build that Grand Bargain.
    It is curious he hid a closed venues for the tax payer campaign swing.
    In the government office in Pekin he blurted out the need 30 or 40 Ds for his scheme — suggested all the Durkie and SqueezeTheBeast members won’t buy his idea either. Hmmm.

    Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:17 am

  11. How much has the taxpayers paid for Rauner’s campaign speeches around the state for the past 18 months?

    Comment by Mama Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:21 am

  12. I want a Governor who advocates for the entire state, from the Magnificent Mile to Garden of the Gods. Even better would be one that understood the tax structure across the state, and specifically which schools pay their pension costs.

    Comment by AC Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:21 am

  13. Yet another of my comments is not showing.

    What is the deal?

    Comment by crazybleedingheart Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:23 am

  14. Please. Stop campaignin’. Start Governin’.

    You know what? they tax payers want you to be the Governor. Do that.

    Comment by illini97 Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:23 am

  15. He’s the Governor of the entire state, of everyone of all political parties, including those who don’t vote. I think the ethics police need to look into this campaigning on state time, using state resources, at state buildings, we should look into Trovers and Goldbergs tweets too. This rhetoric is not helping.

    Comment by Thoughts Matter Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:23 am

  16. Lookin’ for a motive. When I do the figurin’ I figure some Pubs are squeakin’ bout Rauner’s pollin’ numbers Guessin’ they told him no good numbers, no good support from us. I think this all bout Rauner reversin’ them numbers.

    Comment by an independent Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:24 am

  17. Isn’t Vienna Trover’s hometown? That may explain the visit.

    Comment by John Gregory (ex-IRN) Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:25 am

  18. Whether it was Blago’s (fill in the blank) or Quinn’s bumbling absent-minded approach or Rauner’s malicious divide and conquer strategy, I’m tired of being embarrassed by Illinois governors.

    Rauner was and is part of the empire building corportocracy that makes the rich richer and the poor poorer. Far more dangerous than even the worst imagined political machine.

    As a Cook County resident, I’m happy to give tax revenue to our sister counties across this great state. I’d never want to see our borders torn asunder. But I feel offended a bit more each time these type of nonsensical attacks and misinformation about Chicago and downstate are pushed by politicians and reinforced by others.

    Comment by TD Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:27 am

  19. For Rauner, everything is “unacceptable” “a tragedy” “terrible”…

    Just an innocent bystander who happens to control 1/3 of state government. Instead of governing and ensuring that state government operates he’s acting like he’s a pedestrian who happens to witness the slowest moving car pile up on the highway.

    It would be comical if it wasn’t so sad.

    Comment by Abe the Babe Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:29 am

  20. Sometimes the writers of “Dad’s Home State” can’t believe the twists the story takes.

    Some of these ironic twists, we throw out as unbelievable, then we read it as actually happening, whoa, then production just stops…

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:32 am

  21. – But Chicagoans, unlike the residents of Vienna and everywhere else in this state, directly make the vast majority of their own school pension payments.–

    Correct me if I’m wrong but this is because Chicago asked for this in exchange for more funding. Correct?

    Comment by Ahoy! Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:34 am

  22. I just realized that some (new/less obsessive) CapFax readers may not know why an understanding of OODA Loops is key to understanding the Bruce Rauner’s administration: https://capitolfax.com/2015/12/14/these-loops-aint-fruity/

    – MrJM

    Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:37 am

  23. Gotta love Ol’ Bruce. I miss the part of the speech where he shares his “Sodbuster” roots…railing against the CPS, insider deals, and money managers not paying their fair share.

    Comment by Jocko Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:37 am

  24. “Some of these ironic twists, we throw out as unbelievable, then we read it as actually happening”

    “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.” — Mark Twain

    Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:42 am

  25. Rainer as Fiddler on the Move…..singing ‘If I Were A Rich Man’
    To his lapdogs at his feet in the Brucemobile

    Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:43 am

  26. As the reporters are following Mr. Ooda-Loop around the state, check for toilet paper, sewer smells, over-flowing dumpsters.

    Call the county health department if Rauner’s not managing his agencies safely.

    Sniff around….. I think the Rauner turkey just may be about cooked after reading what Nuding wanted in that “bridge budget.”

    Comment by cdog Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:44 am

  27. But he added, “I’m concerned when a big company says in order to stay in Illinois, they need a big taxpayer subsidy.”

    http://m.saukvalley.com/2016/05/09/standoff-could-be-coming-over-illinois-nuke-plants-tax-demands/a7fxkez/

    Presser in East Moline will be interesting…

    Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:45 am

  28. @ MrJM - great reminder, even for those of us who have been here for quite a while. Thanks

    Comment by illini Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:46 am

  29. Downstate subsidizing Chicago… That’s funny. You crack me up Gover… Wait! You mean he was serious?

    Comment by Triple fat Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:47 am

  30. Disappointing to see Jason Barickman out on this tour. I thought he had more sense than to throw his political future in with Rauner. Reminds me of a certain Metro East member of the GA who buddied up with Blago . . . we all know how that worked out.

    Comment by The Velour Nail Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:48 am

  31. Well played - skeptic -

    HBO is trying to get a spinoff from “DHS” but trying to pitch it runs into that Twain quote and they hedge…

    To the Post,

    I actually thought Rauner would have hoped Cullerton passed the House “budget” and made this the tour I’ve seen comin’ down the pike since last year. The twist is that by nothin’ happenin’, now Bruce can’t play victim to… nothin’… but he’s tryin’ real hard to be that victim.

    Two things, baseball and politics. Despise watching them played poorly.

    An Illinois governor, pandering, as a victim no less, while needin’ the bare minimum of 40, that’s 4-0 Democrats (24 House, 16 Senate) to get any deal that governor will have to sign… and… that’s every Raunerite “green”

    No way that’s the politics of wanting compromise.

    His can that be?

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:53 am

  32. === Disappointing to see Jason Barickman out on this tour. I thought he had more sense than to throw his political future in with Rauner. ===

    C’mon Man! Barickman has been purchased. Just like the Sen. GOP caucus (excepting Sam) and the House GOP caucus. They are a wholly owned subsidiary of Raunercorp.

    Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:55 am

  33. ==How is he going to go back downstate and look these people in the eye after he bails out Chicago?==

    By Harley. In Carhartt.

    Comment by LizPhairTax Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:56 am

  34. Barickman sees Rauner as a vehicle(?)

    Remember the NRI hearing. If Sandack wasn’t such the “Owl”, Barickman’s ridiculous steering of useless and empty avenues would’ve been more in the spotlight.

    However… I know I haven’t forgotten.

    Good times.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:56 am

  35. Oswego - You have faithfully kept reality and math in the conversation. However, that assumes it is the Governor’s intention to govern in good faith. You and others have noted “feature” rather than “bug” of the chaos, but no one seems to focus on “why?” - why does he seek chaos?

    It is clear to me that the Governor wants to create an argument before the Supreme Court that “police powers” are appropriate regarding the budget, thereby negatively impacting employee pensions. Destroying organized labor is icing on the cake.

    Comment by Gandalfx Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:00 am

  36. @Ahoy!

    The current practice of Chicago paying for it’s own teachers pensions and the state paying for every other school district just kinda evolved over the years. More than a century ago, the Chicago Board of Ed set up it’s own, self-financed pension system. Several other districts around the state tried the same, but they were too small to work so the General Assembly consolidated them into a statewide system. It is believe that the state picked up the employer costs because the mostly rural downstate districts were too poor to assume the costs themselves.

    Despite not receiving a state subsidy, Chicago’s fund remained solvent for most of it’s history thanks to a special property tax levy Chicagoans paid that went directly into the pension fund. However, that levy was eliminated by Springfield in the 1995 Chicago school reform act - a big mistake that is one of the main factors behind CPS’s current financial crisis.

    Comment by Two Two Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:05 am

  37. ===It is clear to me that the Governor wants to create an argument before the Supreme Court that “police powers” are appropriate regarding the budget, thereby negatively impacting employee pensions. Destroying organized labor is icing on the cake.===

    What do you base that on?

    Rauner wants to shut down the state, crippling the unions and forcing Denocrats to choose between social services dying or unions existing.

    I base that on Rauner’s own words.

    ‘Tween us…

    Many times, my comments, exactly like the one above, aren’t about the actual feelings that I have about Rauner and what his intebtions towards the job, but actually highlight what should be going on, and it’s not, and then we are all reminded why.

    But that’s ‘tween us…

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:06 am

  38. Monmouth schools said they probably won’t open either. Only enough money till Thankgiving.

    Comment by illinois manufacturer Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:08 am

  39. Barcikman’s lack of judgment is “stunning”…or “stunnin’”. He is once again being exposed for what he is. When you stand for noting, you fall for anything.

    Comment by Clear as mud Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:12 am

  40. =Whether it was Blago’s (fill in the blank) or Quinn’s bumbling absent-minded approach or Rauner’s malicious divide and conquer strategy, I’m tired of being embarrassed by Illinois governors.=

    While I agree with your sentiment, it’s irrelevant. The majority 2-party system of this state has rejected Vallas for Blago, Hynes for Quinn, and Dillard for Rauner. Historically, Illinois voters and their 2 parties have rejected also taken a pass on the likes of Netsch, Whitney, and other more competent and honest individuals.

    Comment by Qui Tam Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:18 am

  41. Johnson County, County Seat Vienna
    State taxes paid: $9.1 million
    State expenditures: Education $9.4 million, Medicaid $33.3 million (with union county), State payroll $30.4 million, # of state employees 512. Largest employer is Government.
    the County Date Book is a wonderful thing.

    Comment by 100 miles west Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:23 am

  42. Holy Moose Crap 100 miles west IS A MONSTER!!!!
    BOOOOOOM ROASTED!!!!!! ( as my teen girls say)

    Well that said a lot. They know it’s gonna get ugly with the Great Labor War and Rauner is shoring up as much as he can. Of course it won’t help. That’s a lot of VERY motivated state workers very very agitated going door to door to unveil the perfidy. HOOOOOWEEEEEE! We just might flip some seats yet.

    Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:28 am

  43. If Rauner put a tenth of the thought and effort (okay, maybe it’s no thought, just effort) into trying to get a compromise budget that he puts into campaigning, we would have had a deal before now.

    Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:32 am

  44. ‘100′ you and I were thinking along similar lines. I went to IDOR’s website and looked at income tax receipts by county for tax year 2014. The five counties that the Gov visited account for a total of about $6.76 million in income tax receipts or about 9% of the $7.3 billion that came from Cook County.
    (http://www.revenue.state.il.us/AboutIdor/TaxStats/2014/2014-IIT-by-County-Prelim.xlsx)

    Comment by OutHereInTheMiddle Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:32 am

  45. I am in danger of abandoning my independence. I have fallen in love….with Honeybear….Hoooweee

    Comment by an independent Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:38 am

  46. For heaven’s sake, why go after John Sullivan!? He’s not running for re-election. He’s a well-respected, middle-of-the-road legislator that Rauner is going to need for a “grand bargain.”

    C’mon, Raunerites. This is why you are dismissed as a bunch of frat boys. You can’t tweet your way through this. At some point, you have to align your political rhetoric with an actual governing strategy.

    Comment by Boss T. Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:40 am

  47. =We just might flip some seats yet.=
    Don’t count on it. From Sangamon County south there are a majority anti-government government workers and tea-partiers on government assistance. 100 mw’s facts may not be acknowledged by voters. Especially when you have a corrupt,inept, and untrustworthy counter-party called the Democratic Party. See Blago, Quinn, Nekritz, Mautino, etc.

    Comment by Qui Tam Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:43 am

  48. Great headline.

    Comment by walker Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 12:00 pm

  49. The Governor has accumulated a lot of frequent crier miles since he got elected.

    Comment by jls Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 12:07 pm

  50. Here is a scary thought. If you follow BigBrain itenary for Wednesday, troopers were forced to drive at speeds of over 120 miles per hour for this tax payor funded campaign swing. It really like a dangerous risk of life.
    BTW they traveled about 780 miles on this junket.
    We used their timetable, time of arrival according to media accounts and mileage from the google maps and a MPH calculator

    Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 12:44 pm

  51. @Two Two- Very good background on the pensions.

    =directly make the vast majority of their own school pension payments.=

    Rich, this is also true. However, unlike Emmanuel and Claypool’s contention, CPS is not getting cheated or shorted on funding. If you look at the totality of what CPS receives from the state CPS is getting it’s share of the funding.

    That is not an argument against CPS getting more funding, or really any other district short of the Flat Grant schools. I think they are two separate issues. The state needs to do a far better job of funding schools.

    What I find really interesting in all of this is Jason Barickman.

    I say that because legislation ha supports would give CPS a big financial boost and then some. It incorporates Manar’s SB 231 and uses that plan to set a minimum founding level for schools in year one and then implements the Evidence Based Model for subsequent years. The EBM would provide a big boost to CPS finances above Manar’s proposal.

    =Barickman sees Rauner as a vehicle(?)+

    OW- I am not sure if this is what you were implying but I believe Barickman wishes to run for AG or Governor in the future. I have thought that for some time now.

    Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 1:42 pm

  52. Oswego - I have considered your 11:06 response to my post at 11:00, and have to question what you base your conclusion that the Governor wants to shut down the State, crippling the unions or social services. You say you base that on his own words, but surely you recognize this Governor can be neither trusted nor believed.

    Neither of us can “know” what the Governor wants, but his creation of a Hobson’s Choice for the democrats suggests to me that he has a far more sinister objective. He and his supporters see the pensions as the big prize, and if police powers is the only way to get there, I believe that is what he will pursue.

    Comment by Gandalfx Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 4:07 pm

  53. - Gandalfx -

    ===…have to question what you base your conclusion that the Governor wants to shut down the State, crippling the unions or social services.===

    Is this your last and final answer? You want to use the search key first..,

    Think before you respond… fair warning… I check first…

    ===You say you base that on his own words, but surely you recognize this Governor can be neither trusted nor believed.===

    I’d re-think this line of questioning if I were you…

    Give it a think, come back, Google Key it…

    I’m helping you. Honest.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 4:31 pm

  54. Oswego - I understand. Please delete my 11:00
    and 4:07 posts if you can.

    Comment by Gandalfx Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 5:39 pm

  55. Didn’t the police powers gambit get shot down the last time pensions went the the ILSC?

    Comment by Huh? Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 8:26 pm

  56. Time for work and a time for play.

    Wrap this road show up and get back to work.

    Otherwise you could miss the window of opportunity.

    Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 3:01 am

  57. ===easy fix. we will let vienna keep all the miney it brings in from inc tax and sales tax. and we will let chicago keep all the tax money it generates to spend in itself.===

    I appreciate the snark, but you’d be surprised how many people in southern Illinois actually think that would work out for them.

    Comment by Way Way Down Here Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 6:02 am

  58. == Didn’t the police powers gambit get shot down the last time pensions went the the ILSC? ==

    Yes it did.

    But you have to remember Rauner is used to just going around obstacles by using bankruptcy laws. I think he believes if you make things bad enough, the courts will cave in and allow the use of “police powers”.

    Not likely to happen based on precedent and the IL SC’s comments in the SB-1 ruling.

    Comment by RNUG Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 6:46 am

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