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Question of the day

Posted in:

* This is hardly a novel idea and we’ve discussed it before

It may take a crisis of epic proportions to resolve the state’s budget impasse, members of a panel discussing the effects of the year-long stalemate said Monday. […]

The situation led Richard Winkel, director of the Office of Public Leadership at the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois, to say it may take a high-profile emergency to finally bring attention to the damage being done by the state not having a permanent spending plan in place. That sort of emergency could occur if a budget for K-12 education isn’t approved and schools can’t open this fall, he said. It could be the closure of Chicago State University, or Western Illinois University or Eastern Illinois University announcing they can’t continue operating for another semester.

Or it could be a court ruling that state workers can’t be paid without a budget.

“When that happens, collapse,” Winkel said. “I think people will notice that. It’s going to have to take, unfortunately, a crisis to get us out of this situation.”

* The Question: What specific crisis or crises do you think will have to happen to finally force an end to the impasse? As always, explain your answer.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:06 pm

Comments

  1. K - 12 not opening. Workers not paid.

    Comment by Saluki Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:12 pm

  2. One of the ones mentioned on the article or a serious violent crime perpetrated by someone formerly being helped by a social service agency, I pray it doesn’t happen

    Comment by Thoughts Matter Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:12 pm

  3. I would change the question to,”How many more crisis or crises do you think will have to happen to finally force an end to the impasse?”. And the answer??? I don’t have one. Rauner seems to be satisfied with moving the goal posts not just down the field, but all over the field. He will never be satisfied. The GA is going to have to take control of the situation. Forget about their own personal goals in life, and focus on the welfare of the People and State of Illinois. If Rauner vetoes HB2038, well, there is the place to start. Voting Accordingly is going to have to take on a new meaning between now and the General.

    Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:12 pm

  4. I know one crisis which won’t have an effect. That is if the state withholds money to higher ed that funds the Office of Public Leadership and Public Affairs. Same with the Paul Simon Institute.

    Comment by blue dog dem Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:15 pm

  5. A K-12 crisis would affect both workers and employers, creating the perfect storm. There’s a reason Rauner only signed one approp bill last year. He tipped his hand. Madigan took note.

    Comment by Dome Gnome Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:17 pm

  6. IDOT shutting down construction projects on July 1.

    Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:19 pm

  7. Saluki X2.

    Schools and State workers are statewide. The effects would be experienced everywhere.

    Comment by Sir Reel Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:19 pm

  8. To build off of Thoughts Matter, it’s going to have to involve preventable deaths.

    Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:20 pm

  9. Agree with Saluki, despite what we have, and continue to see in terms of human service providers cutting services and jobs, and higher education cuts, it appears to me the general public has not felt the budget impasse at a level it creates alarm.

    Unless you work for or rely on human service providers for care, or a college for your education or job, you may have not felt the impact. But if K-12 kids can’t start school it will have an impact on far more people than are currently impacted.

    As for state workers not being paid, it would hit the Springfield area hardest. But I’m not even sure state workers not getting paid would cause outrage across Illinois, it might even be cheered by some voters.

    Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:20 pm

  10. I hate to say it, but I think on July 1, the Attorney General should go to court to lift the order allowing state employees to be paid. That crisis might be enough to get real action on a plan to fund K-12 and a budget for the new fiscal year, and have it completed in time for schools to open. There might not be enough time for a larger bargain with new taxes to be completed but this kind of crisis should be enough to get something more comprehensive than Rauner’s proposed passed, even if it’s only a 6 month budget.

    It isn’t right, but I can see state workers being tossed under the bus before the dimwits in charge will allow K-12 schools to shut down in the fall. Stateworkers will be the canary in the coal mine. How long can they go without a paycheck?

    Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:21 pm

  11. K-12 is indeed an issue, but Pre-K is also a huge issue. Most Pre-K programs are funded by the Early Childhood Block Grant. I can see a scenario where schools open because they have a fund balance from which to draw, but Pre-K kids and families are left in the cold. This will have a huge impact on working families.

    Comment by Old Shepherd Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:22 pm

  12. K-12 not opening will finally do it.

    Honestly, I think there are people who would gladly watch State offices close up shop and consider that “okay.”

    Comment by illini97 Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:23 pm

  13. K-12 would be bad news but it doesn’t become a crisis until it drags on for a while. Massive headache, inconvenience, shame but not a crisis. Teacher strikes have happened and it gets picked up and worked out.

    Hate to say it but something bad has to happen. Bridge collapse? Something at a state building related to deferred maintenance? Something where someone is hurt or killed and the connection and visual is direct.

    Not rooting for it.

    Comment by LizPhairTax Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:24 pm

  14. No crisis will end the impasse. Both sides are locked into a battle to the death. All the chips are on the table. The battle will only end when the DEMS get a true super majority and can govern around Rauner. Thus the ball game is to pin blame on the other side for what happens. I expect the worst. Every crisis that could happen will happen. It will be just this side of actual civil war. It may even erupt into violence. Again, I see only one way out, the DEMS gaining a true supermajority. If they fail it will mean unending crisis until Rauner is out or until the Republicans gain a super majority. Now the only thing to decide is which side are you on?

    Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:25 pm

  15. It’s already happened: EIU. They’re done. Unfortunately, there’s no coming back from where they are. They’re ‘hoping’ for 700 new freshmen this fall. 700!! They’re total enrollment will be about 6,000. They’re done, it’s over for EIU and Charleston.

    Comment by Ryan Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:26 pm

  16. Agree with Illini97 100%. Or, have high schools cancel football due to lack of funding. That will make people take notice as well.

    Comment by Downstater Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:27 pm

  17. Madigan will win a firm supermajorty in Nov. Dems will be swept into comptroller and senate and pick up federal house seats. With the new power and mandate pressure will shift to madigan to pass a veto proof budget. Rauner will be irrelevant until 2018.

    Comment by atsuishin Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:27 pm

  18. I pray it doesn’t happen, but some tragedy committed by someone that was being helped by one of the social service providers that is not being funded by the state any more. It is a sad fact that not enough people pay attention to things that don’t directly affect them or their family. Rauner is in this category. He and his family are isolated from this possibility, by security and all the money that they have. No harm can ever touch them, so he doesn’t care about these poor people that are affected by his stubborness and lack of ability to get along with people. He just doesn’t get it.

    Comment by Big Joe Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:27 pm

  19. It’s gotta be K-12. That would impact every single community in Illinois.

    The GA and Rauner have not been bothered in the slightest by CSU declaring exigency. Or EIU’s president stating in a private letter that they can’t meet payroll for August. That’s only localized damage.

    Maybe AG Madigan’s lawsuit creates the crisis.

    Comment by CrossTabs Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:28 pm

  20. Close down state government. Period. No limping through on court ordered constitutionally suspect spending. End it.

    Comment by Downstate Illinois Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:28 pm

  21. What crisis could compel our brave hero to abandon his war with the union dictatorship and collectivist economy?

    Considering the suffering (of others) that he’s already willingly paid for his agenda, what crisis would be sufficiently catastrophic? What crisis could be?

    Maybe if the board of directors finally removed Dianna Rauner as president of the Ounce of Prevention Fund.

    – MrJM

    Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:28 pm

  22. === - Honeybear - Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:25 pm:

    It will be just this side of actual civil war. It may even erupt into violence. ===

    Do you always drink your lunch?

    Comment by Birdseed Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:29 pm

  23. I’d normally say K-12 or Higher Ed. However, the GA & Governor have shown that they can put a stopgap together in the past and I think it’s too politically toxic not to do so in the future. Therefore I think the crisis is going to have to come from something they’ve shown they aren’t willing to/can’t stopgap.

    That leaves an un-ignorable Human Services emergency or the Court ruling that State Workers can’t be paid.

    Not sure if Lisa Madigan will pursue the court option as Rauner’s PR team has made it tantamount to political suicide.

    Sadly that leaves me in agreement @Thoughts Matter: “a serious violent crime perpetrated by someone formerly being helped by a social service agency.” I also pray this isn’t so though. It would have to be a very high profile violent act.

    I don’t mean to be an alarmist or anything, but that’s the only thing I can think of given the political constraints I see. Hopefully something shifts soon.

    Comment by Chicago_Downstater Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:29 pm

  24. Whatever it is, you can bet it won’t be until after it is too late.

    @atsuishin:

    Democrats might pass a budget on their own, but they will not pass revenue on their own.

    Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:33 pm

  25. I think K-12 might be the dealbreaker. If not, seniors dying from heat or starvation due to closed social services…while the bill sits on Bruce’s desk.

    Comment by Jocko Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:34 pm

  26. Transportation construction will be halted after the 4th. If that doesn’t do it, not opening K-12 will be the eye-opener.

    Comment by Bogey Golfer Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:35 pm

  27. IDOT shutting down and mothballing construction projects on July 1 due to the lack of a capital budget.

    Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:37 pm

  28. Side issue, but I agree with -Ryan-. It’s heartbreaking, but I think EIU is circling the drain. Alma Mater to two immediate family members, but may not exist much longer.

    Comment by illini97 Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:38 pm

  29. I’ve been thinking K-12 is the only thing that would generate enough pressure, but I find the comments above make a strong argument that it wouldn’t be enough. Our leaders would simply buckle immediately to the pressure and pass a stopgap, rather than insist on a full agreement.

    Unless the Legislative Branch can, collectively, get the Executive Branch to be open to it, I see no resolution other than small stopgap measures for those with the strongest political voices. I think Rauner is playing to win the 2018 elections and would like to campaign against Madigan and not on accomplishments.

    Comment by Earnest Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:38 pm

  30. Can an interested taxpayer not wanting his taxes wasted on those undeserving state employees file suit to demand they stop getting paid without an appropriation, or does it only fall to the attorney general as having standing?

    Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:40 pm

  31. I believe it was Wordslinger a year ago who said if the state doesn’t have the authority to spend, it shouldn’t have the authority to collect. Win that argument in court and everything stops.

    Comment by Casual observer Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:43 pm

  32. a complete state shutdown… which should have already happened July 1 2015…. but that is beside the point…

    Comment by Allen D Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:45 pm

  33. But do the Dems want to “govern around Rauner.”
    With power comes responsibility and so on. And blame. Blame for the big tax increase on the economically wobbly middle class.

    I think an increase in the number of social agencies calling a halt at the end of the fiscal might have an effect. It’s reasonable to say, look, we held on for a year, now it’s time for you to deal, we can’t do two. And these agencies control quite a few jobs, affecting the state’s troubling unemployment rate.

    Both sides, not being crazy, and I really don’t think Rauner is, would probably rather not go into year 2 of the impasse, so July 1 or thereabouts may be a pressure point.

    I agree with those who say the schools will open regardless. Neither party will take the risk of being held accountable by hundreds of thousands of enraged parents.

    Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:46 pm

  34. Rauner may think he’s playing for 2018 but he will never get any of his “turnaround agenda” and will lose in a landslide. It’s embarrassing that not even the local pols including Roscoe P. Coltrane, er, Reggie Phillips, can’t see that and help us out here.

    Comment by Chucktownian Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:47 pm

  35. K-12 possibly. Elderly dying won’t stop Rauner; just view his history of nursing home ownership to see that. I’m not even sure K-12 shutdown would phase him that much; that might affect Madigan though.

    Comment by The_Equalizer Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:48 pm

  36. The stalemate will end when Com ed sends out the shutoff notices

    Comment by Foster brooks Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:49 pm

  37. I think K-12 not opening is the only thing that moves the needle. Statewide not enough people care about WIU, EIU or Chicago State or state workers, plus Republicans demagogue against college professors and students just like they do against state workers. With a statewide K-12 crisis the Republicans are stuck because they’ve only poisoned their base against CPS and not public education statewide.

    Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:51 pm

  38. Public Schools not opening, it will take that kind of public pressure to force legislators to put enough pressure on Madigan to cut a deal. Rauner has to have something for this taking so long, Maidgan is going to have to give on something and quite frankly he needs to, we need some of the reforms along with a better financial outlook for our State.

    Comment by Ahoy! Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:53 pm

  39. shut down DHS and no benefits are allowed….

    Comment by Just Because Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:55 pm

  40. All of the communities providing utilities disconnecting the state until accounts are brought up to date and a 6 month security deposit is received.

    Comment by Turn Them Off Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:00 pm

  41. @Birdseed - give me a break! You obviously have not been following this site that closely.

    Uncalled for - at 8 pm, maybe an appropriate comment.

    Comment by illini Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:02 pm

  42. Could be 4 things.
    State Employees not getting paid and they stop working.
    Towns shutoff electricity and water to state facilities.
    Minnesota annexes Illinois
    Illinois elects adult leadership in November.

    Comment by Baruch Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:10 pm

  43. Birdseed,
    If Honeybear wants an adult beverage for lunch, I’ll buy.

    Comment by Casual observer Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:10 pm

  44. Nothing.

    It’s Easter Island, Rauner will continue chopping down trees to build machinery to erect his giant head statues; organizations will continue to succumb at an increasing rate, but “too big to fail” institutions like the U of I or CPS will continue to be kept afloat at the expense of others: one day Rauner will chop down the last tree and proudly proclaim that thanks to his forestry the Illinois business community finally has the grand vista it deserves; by then most of the vendors that rely on state services will be belly-up, there will be no urgency to pay them for what they are owed nor ability to contract with them to provide care for our families, ameliorating the need for revenue.

    Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:11 pm

  45. State employees not getting paid. Too much fear of electorate will prevent them from allowing K-12 shut-down.

    Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:12 pm

  46. A liquidity crisis. Why? Because cash is the oxygen of transactions. No cash, no payments, no payroll, no services.
    What could trigger this? Perhaps a withdrawal of services provided by vendors growing nervous that their state payables will not be honored because the appropriation was not authorized. Or, perhaps the bond market freezing up, maybe because of defaults in Puerto Rico or Brazil.

    Comment by Lurkin' MBA Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:17 pm

  47. As a state worker, I do not think us not getting paid will do anything but annoy the staff. There are certain areas that are required to show for work, with or without guaranteed on time pay checks.

    I think it will be K-12 funding. Specifically I think it will be downstate K-12 funding. I have read a lot here about CPS funding crisis, but you do not hear about the small downstate schools that could not assign homework because they could not afford the paper to make copies. Or their over crowded schools, or lack of diverse programs. When ever I see someone talk about the schools its always about CPS. I think it will take more schools not opening than CPS. Plus, I may be mistaken, but down state schools start earlier than CPS don’t they?

    Comment by LibrarianRyan Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:18 pm

  48. There isn’t a single crisis that will move Rauner. Even the multiple crises we’re on the brink of don’t seem to bother him.

    It’s what will move the ILGOP to stand against him. I think the threat of closing down K-12 and higher ed will move some, but the cutting off of thousands of state workers’ pay would force them to act outside of Rauner’s influence. He thinks his money holds them back, but sooner or later they’ll have to decide who’s more important: Rauner and his agenda, or their constituents.

    Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:21 pm

  49. @Huh
    =IDOT shutting down construction projects on July 1.=

    How would you notice?LOL Their typical MO is to take about 15 miles of highway out of service, tear it up, then disappear and make little or no progress for a few months!

    That might just have the opposite effect. Instead of causing bottlenecks in two or three adjacent main thoroughfares and make commuting a nightmare to do work that is very deferrable, people may be able to get to work on time and not get road rage from poor coordination and planning.

    Comment by Illinois Bob Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:31 pm

  50. I do not see a crisis that will break the impasse. K-12 will be ducked.

    Cullerton stopping all Senate approvals can add pain. Not sure if he can cause enough to matter .

    Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:35 pm

  51. I thought it would be state worker pay stoppage, but after reading these comments I think it’ll take something like a highway overpass collapse. Sadly.

    Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:40 pm

  52. –shut down DHS and no benefits are allowed….–

    I used to think that this would happen but the installation of IES Phase 2 on July 25th will allow DHS to go on autopilot. Brilliant move Secretary Dimas, brilliant move. There will be no riots in East St. Louis, Decatur or South Chicago over food stamps not going out.

    Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:41 pm

  53. K-12 not opening would affect the most amount of people and would bring about the most discomfort and anger.

    Comment by forwhatitsworth Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:42 pm

  54. You mean we’re not there yet?

    Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:43 pm

  55. Honeybear@ 2:41 pm: 2 problems, 1 IES has been postponed until August and 2 it don’t work.
    People visit the DHS office for several reasons. eligibility being only one of them.

    Comment by Just Because Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:57 pm

  56. Honeybear, Do you really think that IES Phase 2 is ready to go? Everyone I talk to thinks that it will be a major disaster.

    Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:59 pm

  57. Saluki X whatever

    Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:00 pm

  58. (1) I think K-12 schools not opening in the fall is the biggie. When parents have to start shuffling their work schedules because there is no place to put their kids, let alone the fact that their kids are not getting educated, will anger voters in every district. (2) I think a state shutdown would grind all sorts of things to a halt pretty quickly. (3) There is plenty of damage happening already, but many times it is difficult to draw a straight line from a service that has cut or closed and a person who was injured as a result of that cut. Sometimes the hurt may be progressing gradually and we can’t detect it. The guy who can’t get help with his mental health problem might be 16% percent closer to a breakdown, but the breakdown hasn’t happened yet and none of the rest of us know any different.

    Comment by SAP Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:02 pm

  59. it will require major economic harm in multiple dist w/ gop reps. when the economies crash duento unemployed workers, universities being shut down etc, the Rauneritte GOP folks will be in trouble with voters

    Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:09 pm

  60. PublicServant - Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:40 pm, I believe the anser is yes, any IL resident has taxpayer standing to sue to prevent unconstitutional expenditure of state funds.

    Comment by TaxGirl Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:16 pm

  61. Even Madigan gaining a supermajority won’t solve things. Just because the GA passes a budget, likely without sufficient revenue, and overrides Rauner’s veto, doesn’t mean Rauner will spend to that budget. Rauner can place any amount he wants in reserve and not spend it. Plus I think he can move either 3% or 5% between line items without GA approval.

    - Wensicia - @ 2:21 pm: I think has come closest. It will take a preventable disaster that can be laid the the Governor’s doorstep. But even that won’t be enough, because I don’t see this Governor giving in. It will have to be a big and bad enough disaster that the GOP members will sign on to either recall or impeach proceedings. That’s the only way I see this ending before 2019.

    Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:20 pm

  62. Can we instead hope for a miracle vs a crisis? The miracle being that both sides realize they could overplay their hands and suffer the consequences. The Dems should do very well in a presidential year, except voters are not in the mood for brinkmanship. Solve a couple of problems and call it a day. Let Rauner be stuck with the unpopular policies he didn’t run on. Get out of the way and don’t be the bigger problem.

    Comment by Sense of a Goose Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:22 pm

  63. - Honeybear @ 1:25 pm -

    Honeybear, I agree with you 100%.

    Comment by Mama Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:28 pm

  64. Give it a shot TaxGirl!

    PublicServant, you know better.

    Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:29 pm

  65. My apologies TaxGirl, I was reacting to the practical not technical aspects of your answer. Costs would eat up the ordinary person.

    Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:32 pm

  66. If the voters would suddenly become educated enough to understand their taxes have to be raised in order to receive the type of government services they need and want, the impasse would end in a heartbeat.

    Comment by Mama Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:45 pm

  67. In a word: schools. In hindsight its was a mistake to give Gov. Rauner a full year K-12 spending plan for FY 16. Ds have learned from that mistake for FY 17 and thus have much more leverage this summer. If some districts open and some don’t (read: poor districts), and/or a piece of the higher Ed system is forced to close (WIU,EIU), I think that turns the tide. However, there will be no winners. Everyone will be muddy and therefore vulnerable in November.

    Comment by Dozer Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:50 pm

  68. honeybear@ 2:41 pm: 2 problems, 1 IES has been postponed until August and 2 it don’t work.

    Nope, IES is going on hell or high water on July 25. Phase 2 does work it’s just going to have more bugs than an dumpster. But more worrying is the centralization of FCRC functions to Springfield and Chicago. Don’t even think that we can’t be replaced by a call center or banks of HSC scabs recalled to Springfield or Chicago. Remember scabs have to go where they are told. But the biggest clue is this. Policy is built into IES. Anyone can do the functions if they don’t have to know policy. Just follow the questions. Let’s be honest with ourselves folks. IES is the caseworkers replacement. We’ll be lucky to have jobs not to long from now.

    Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:51 pm

  69. What would get the budget passed?

    A total internet crash that closes the financial districts and is somehow caused by something somewhere under the state’s control not being fixed or maintained because of Rauner’s inability to work with legislators.

    Comment by Kasich Walker, Jr. Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:54 pm

  70. Vendors stop supplying prisons and they run out of food and supplies like toilet paper.

    Comment by Way South of I-80 Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:01 pm

  71. Schools not opening would be catastrophic. I’d genuinely fear violence if that were to occur.

    Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:06 pm

  72. What ever happens, it will be in the next 2 to 3 weeks. July 1 is the crux of the matter. No budget = no money to pay vendors for anything not covered by consent decree.

    Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:07 pm

  73. When his disapproval numbers hit 90%, he decides to resign in disgrace, saying,”If only we could have passed a balanced budget alongside meaningful reforms… Madigan stood in the way. He’s just too powerful. I was a lowly governor and had no power to do anything. That is why today, I resign the office of Governor of the formerly Great State of Illinois.” Sue immediately signs a budget and tax increase and we pretend Bruce never happened.

    Comment by Me too Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:15 pm

  74. Blue Dog, you write, “I know one crisis which won’t have an effect. That is if the state withholds money to higher ed that funds the Office of Public Leadership and Public Affairs. Same with the Paul Simon Institute.”

    That must have been cathartic for you.

    Can we assume you looked up the financing of those two to make sure they are state funded and to what amount? The burden of proof is on you, but I would venture to guess that if they receive state funding at all, it doesn’t amount to much over %15 of their minuscule budgets.

    Why the grievance mentality man? Higher ed is not hurting you and in fact helps you if far more ways than you seem to want to admit.

    The real thugs are the corporate overlords and this generation of vulture capitalist corporate leadership. In case you missed it, they’re the ones who caused the economic crisis we face. If you want to grip, gripe about the dollars and not about the pennies.

    Comment by HistoryProf Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:27 pm

  75. Something is brewing that I know. Hushed whispers abound around the Capitol. Why did we just sell bonds if we can’t spend the money? Something is in the works.

    Comment by Me too Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:54 pm

  76. Either the preventable death scenario or a high-visibility State facility losing power/water would be my SWAGs here. Even in my wildest nightmares, I can’t believe these people would let K-12 starve.

    Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:12 pm

  77. “not with a bang…)

    Comment by steve schnorf Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:48 pm

  78. The impasse itself is so morally repugnant and irredeemably cruel that the theory is incorrect. Nothing with force a resolution.

    Comment by Will Caskey Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 6:09 pm

  79. Reality takes over when K-12 funding does not appear, CSU, EIU, or WIU lose accreditation, or Catholic Charities or a major vendor go under.

    Comment by peon Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 6:40 pm

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