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“Buddy the Budget” to protest Rauner event

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Illinois

* From the twitters…

.@GovRauner's BBQ is 2nite: While he feeds fat cats, we've been raked over the coals. #FreeBuddy #ilbudgetnow #twill pic.twitter.com/NnuseJygbg

— Buddy the Budget (@BuddytheBudget) August 16, 2016

* Press release…

Buddy the Budget is the fully funded budget Illinois needs, but who Governor Rauner has held hostage to his extreme agenda for more than year.

Buddy the Budget and social service, faith, and labor leaders will gather outside a $150 a plate BBQ fundraiser in Springfield this evening to free Buddy. Families across Illinois are hoping Governor Rauner will set the state budget free so children, students, seniors, people with disabilities, and working families get the services they need to get ahead.

What: Buddy the Budget and social services allies will ask Governor to sign a fully funded budget

Where: Outside Governor Rauner’s BBQ fundraiser at the Illinois Association of Realtors
522 S. 5th Street, Springfield

When: Tuesday, Aug. 16th 5:00 p.m.

Visuals: Buddy the Budget, signs

Buddy the Budget will be accompanied by her spokesperson Megen Rose and is available for media interviews.

Buddy the Budget is supported by a grassroots coalition of social service, and community, and worker’s organizations fed up with Governor’s failure to secure a budget for the State of Illinois.

I asked which groups are in the coalition and was told that the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network “and all its members” are part of it as well as the Faith Coalition for the Common Good. “We’re just getting off the ground.”

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:04 pm

Comments

While it might ultimately qualify as a parody, Buddy the Budget might just get a visit from Schoolhouse Rock’s “I’m Just a Lawyer.”

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:06 pm
Good for these groups.

Remember, Quinnochio was a great idea, but it was voting accordingly that defeated Quinn in the end.

I hope these groups remember that come November…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:06 pm
===“We’re just getting off the ground.”===

That might be the overstatement of the day.

Billy Budget is catchier, but nothing comes close to Scabby the Rat.

Best. Political Prop. Ever.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:08 pm
Can the characters and bring real people who are suffering from Rauner’s hostage taking.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:08 pm
Could there be a Squeezy vs. Buddy death match in our future?

Comment by Cubs in '16 Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:09 pm
What is extreme is our State’s debt. Contact the Speaker!

Comment by Hickory Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:12 pm
===What is extreme is our State’s debt===

Because of people like you Hickory, who refuse to pay your bills. Quit being a freeloader, and tell your legislators that you support adaquete revenues to pay for the state’s much needed programs.

Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:17 pm
Glad to see Oswego Willy finally found work on a campaign. Nice of him mom to drive him to the events. Way to go little guy!

Comment by Thunder Fred Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:19 pm
-Hickory-

Lol all those Republican Governors for 26 of the past 38 years that signed those budgets.

Comment by Stark Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:22 pm
Not a fan. Not at all.

Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:24 pm
You can tell Buddy is at least a little out of balance. He’s smiling.

Comment by Fred Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:32 pm
Oh - Thunder Fred -,

No one is on your lawn. You’ll be fine, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:33 pm
Is Buddy a ghost? He has arms but no legs.

Comment by That Guy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:33 pm
Who is Megen and where has she worked?

Comment by Tom Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:35 pm
“Lol all those Republican Governors for 26 of the past 38 years that signed those budgets. ”

And all the legislatures that sent up phony budgets are just as culpable. The one guy who finally says “enough,” regardless of tactics, is the one that gets crucified.

Comment by Shemp Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:37 pm
Won’t Donny Deficit beat the crap out of Buddy?

Comment by D.P. Gumby Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:40 pm
OW-
That’s me in a chipper mood. I welcome the GOM stage of life.

Comment by Fred Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:40 pm
@Tom Megan Rose is the Director of Public Policy and Strategic Initiatives for the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network.

Comment by Flaming Liberal Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:43 pm
@Shemp - ” The one guy who finally says “enough,” regardless of tactics, is the one that gets crucified.”

Sorry Shemp, but Rauner is the guy who cut the water off for the firefighters as they were trying to put the fire out at the battered woman’s shelter. He said that in order for the water to be returned the firefighters would have to accept the turnaround agenda.

Comment by How Ironic Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:44 pm
Public Servant: We have a flat tax in Illinois, so “people like you” means a median household of $57K a year. Quinn’s seemingly lighthearted flipness about raising taxes on such people (and yes, extending a tax you promised would expire is raising taxes) in that radio interview arguably cost him the election.

I’d suggest a cartoon image of business executives eying other states while Illinois crumbles.

Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:45 pm
(I meant that newspaper interview Rauner played on his radio ads - I think the Daily Herald was the source)

Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:46 pm
This is just dumb.
People in the state are aware that the Democrats passed a $40B budget with $32B in revenue. I wouldn’t believe it myself if I didn’t hear it. At the very least they know they approved a budget billions out of whack.

This tries to convince them otherwise. That makes them look even more dishonest. This doesn’t just flop, it backfires.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:53 pm
Only problem is since Buddy the Budget has no sense of balance he can’t walk straight…

Thank you, don’t forget to tip your servers. Try the veal.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:54 pm
- A Guy -

Rauner’s Stopgap has cost the state $8 billion.

Like Quinnochio, Governors own.

Rauner owns the destroying of social services and not having a balanced budget.

If you want to say Raunef is completely inept at crafting a balanced budget, then we can agree.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:57 pm
Buddy the Budget looks bloated. Needs to be cut!

Comment by BIG R. Ph. Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:58 pm
Buddy is unbalanced and imbalanced. Why is this a thing? I guess if Sausage Party can rake in the dough, why not a creepy talking budget? Right? Right? Oy….

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 3:58 pm
Well they would take Buddy to protest Speaker Madigan too, but his death stare would set Buddy ablaze, so…

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 4:01 pm
Willy,

Get yourself out into precincts and listen to what people in the state think. This is a huge issue that has come up at doors. Taking a vote on the $40B budget was a huge mistake. Not everything resonates, but this does.

The owner is who the voters say it is.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 4:02 pm
Oswego Willy, when you finish your shift in the costume you and mommy should do some sight seeing. Go see the Capitol for the first time ever. Your hero is not in town but they might let you sit at his regular table at Saputos. A boy can dream.

Comment by Thunder Fred Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 4:03 pm
===At the very least they know they approved a budget billions out of whack.===

And what did Governor Rauner do about it? Oh right, he’s powerless to respond. I forgot (and you better hope the voters do too).

How many billions out of whack is the budget that Governor Rauner eventually signed, the one that still doesn’t fund human services or higher education but is still unbalanced?

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 4:03 pm
They ought to have Buddy Budget in handcuffs, since it is being held hostage.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 4:05 pm
- A Guy -

Governors own.

“Pat Quinn failed”

No amount of money allows a governor to get off the hook. Ever.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 4:05 pm
Most of you know Buddy and Becky Budget’s child…little Sammy Stopgap.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 4:07 pm
I’m excited that social services realize Bruce Rauner isn’t an ally, wants them to fold, and if having no budget, purposely, then signing an out of whack budget, that a governor owns, I’m thrilled that come November, “voting accordingly” will be the norm.

Good on the coalition. Remind your constituents.

Raunerites are not their friends, do the right thing come November.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 4:08 pm
How about Billy Ballot follow him around for vetoing AVR?

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 4:08 pm
How about “Vinny Veto”? He can have a mafia sounding voice. He can slash seniors and rape crisis centers. “Hey, it’s just bidness”.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 4:12 pm
Buddy, watch out for Squeezy!

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 4:13 pm
I’m trying to be PC here, but just have to say that, well, Buddy doesn’t look like a “she” at all. I apologize to anyone who may be offended.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 4:18 pm
So, maybe Buddy could tell us what a fully-funded budget number would be and what kind of a tax increase would be needed to achieve that number.
And who will pay, of course. We pretty much know who, but still, like to hear from Buddy.

Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 4:19 pm
- Cassandra -

The Rauner Tax will have lots of Raunerites “Green” because the vote totals need to go up after #TaxHikeMike.

I’m excited that the Rauner Tax will be seen come 2018 too.

Thrilled.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 4:21 pm
Nice catch AA. Might Buddy be Illinois’ first transgender mascot?

Comment by Cubs in '16 Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 4:27 pm
–People in the state are aware that the Democrats passed a $40B budget with $32B in revenue. I wouldn’t believe it myself if I didn’t hear it. At the very least they know they approved a budget billions out of whack. –

Per agreement among bipartisan legislative leadership and the governor, Democrats and Republicans in the General Assembly passed an FY16 stopgap budget with an $8 billion deficit. Gov. Rauner signed it immediately.

https://capitolfax.com/2016/07/18/fighting-over-fair-tales/

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 4:34 pm
“regardless of tactics” Yup, you hit the problem on the head. It’s the tactics. It’s the attitude that the ends justify the means. THAT’S why Rauner is so heavily criticized.

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 4:34 pm
A fully funded budget is going to take 71 votes in the House or the Governors signature. This and other coalitions can get neither. If you don’t have the 71 votes after November then the negotiating better begin.
I’m with Cassandra on this one, how much revenue do we need for a fully funded budget? Either tell us or your Buddy the Budget is just as disingenuous as Rauner’s stop gap.

Comment by LTSW Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 4:50 pm
No governor can deny their signature on bills or budgets.

Passed both chambers. Rauner couldn’t sign it fast enough.

Rauner owns this mess. “Pat Quinn failed”

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 4:51 pm
==Democrats and Republicans in the General Assembly passed an FY16 stopgap budget with an $8 billion deficit. ===

The budget passed by the Democrats in the House prior to the stopgap. You might have missed it. The Senate did not pass it.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 5:03 pm
I believe the meet-up is at Conjunction Junction where Buddy will be slapped with an injunction.

Comment by City Zen Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 5:05 pm
A guy,

If your theory is that voters will remember a budget vote that Democrats took but not remember the stop-gap budget that Rauner signed into law, well, good luck with that.

In defense of the Democrats’ wildly unbalanced budget, it at least demonstrated that higher education and human services are priorities for one party, and “waste” to the Governor.

Like I said, good luck selling that on the door steps my friend. Ask the families with kids in college which they’d prefer.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 5:09 pm
- A Guy -

This is about the Rauner Stopgap, signed by Bruce Rauner and Rauner’s refusal to fund social services by having a submitted budget.

Do keep up.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 5:09 pm
LTSW - all you need to do is look at the balanced budget the Guv submitted.

Comment by Henry Francis Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 5:12 pm
That picture of Rauner is…*excellent*.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 5:31 pm
Third highest state nd local tax burden in the nation. Second worst rate in the nation for population loss . Terrible unemployment and one of the few states that has not recovered the jobs lost in the great recession.

Illinois

Comment by Ron Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 6:39 pm
- Ron -

… and Rauner has yet to pass a budget.

You’re welcome.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 6:43 pm
Buddy, Squeezy… finally found something i really can say I hate — politik of the moment mascots.

Comment by Touré's Latte Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 6:45 pm
We haven’t had a budget in decades Willy. Get over it.

Comment by Ron Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 6:52 pm
Willy, thank the pos known as Edgar.

Comment by Ron Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 6:53 pm
- Ron -

I thought Rauner was… different… LOL!

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 6:54 pm
Someone finally standing up to the unionized pigs.

Comment by Ron Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 7:03 pm
- Ron -

Tell us how you really feel.

Thank goodness for that pesky constitution, otherwise who knows what makes you’d call the taxpayers, um, I mean union Workers…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 7:06 pm
How many unions state leaches are there vs non union taxpayers? Willy?

Comment by Ron Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 7:09 pm
The only lucky ones are the coddled few unionized workers. The rest of us are serfs.

Comment by Ron Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 7:10 pm
- Ron -

Union workers are taxpayers. Please keep up. Please.

You could work for the state, join one of the Unions. Free country and all…

I know you’re bitter…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 7:14 pm
I fed ya - Ron -, go for a walk, paint, sculpt, sing…

It will help. Honest.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 7:22 pm
Lol Willy. How many coddled public workers are there vs us serfs?

Comment by Ron Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 7:26 pm
Ron the serf, don’t sweat it. Your brother union hater ‘Joe the Plumber’ found a union job.

Comment by tired of politics Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 7:28 pm
No thanks. I like to make an honest living. Without taxpayer guaranteed investment returns.

Comment by Ron Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 7:28 pm
How high should our tax burden be? Highest in the nation? What amount of population loss will it take? What amount economic growth stifling public sector does Illinois require?

Comment by Ron Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 7:31 pm
===I like to make an honest living.===

You’re a troll, bud.

Good luck.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 7:33 pm
The echo chamber is being disrupted. Sorry about that.

Comment by Ron Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 7:42 pm
Looks like I am going to have another friend on the island of misfit mascots… #SouthPark

Comment by squeezy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 7:42 pm
How much did social security recipients checks increase in 2016? How about Illinois public pensioners?

Comment by Ron Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 7:43 pm
@LakeCountyDemocrat: Just saw your post. “People like you”, contrary to your attempt at defining it, means those who ignore the bills that the state has run up, both parties, who are attempting to blame one guy, Madigan, for all the state’s problems. Look, the state has problems. Statesmen work to fix them going forward. Ideologues point fingers as to who’s to blame. Illinois debt must be paid along with properly funding needed state programs. Once you get that through your head, then we can talk about fixing who pays what. We’re all in this together, pal. If you live in Illinois, you’ll need to pay up to make up for the artificially low tax rates you’ve enjoyed these last 40 years while state pensions were raped. I’ve paid my bills my entire life. Anyone advocating bankruptcy ought to try, instead, actually biting the bullet and paying the bills as true statesmen would, instead of trying to duck out on them like a common thief would.

Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 7:45 pm
Willy, please don’t feed the troll. I know it’s fun watch these creatures dance around in their beastly ways. But it makes it harder for his keepers to handle him.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 7:57 pm
- Norseman -

Yep. After the “honest living” but I felt sorry for him/her and moved on.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 7:59 pm
Illinois has the fewest state employees per capita in the nation, it is a fact.

The state’s pension problems aren’t the fault of union employees.

Just ask the Illinois Policy Institute, governor Rauner and former state rep Ron Sandack, if you can find him.

All three agree that Gov. Edgar’s pension ramp is to blame.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Aug 16, 16 @ 9:25 pm
–Illinois has the fewest state employees per capita in the nation, it is a fact. –

This is, but just because we have a low number of state employees doesn’t mean government doesn’t fund or have employment through other means. Our State has the most local government units, unfunded mandates, and tons of contracts with for and non-profit entities.

I’m not an expert on these statistics by any means, but does anyone have numbers on the amount/value of contracts Illinois has vs other states and the services the contractors supply?

This is a statistic that has been thrown out there by numerous groups on both sides of the isle, and I just don’t know what all the contributing factors are.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 12:18 am
Last comment was me again. Darn it. I really need to wake up on that.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 8:55 am

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