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* Former Gov. Jim Edgar is back in the news with an interview on Public Radio’s “The 21st”…
Illinois’ economy will suffer for years because of the ongoing budget stalemate.
That’s according to a man who was once responsible for leading Illinois — former Governor Jim Edgar.
“The damage is … the worst damage I’ve seen. I mean even the bad years of Blagojevich and the image he gave of Illinois, I don’t think has done anything as much damage as we’ve seen.” […]
He says there are huge, long-term consequences of students choosing to attend out-of-state universities. And Illinois businesses are threatened by the government instability.
Maybe that’s what JB Pritzker shoulda said yesterday about the state GOP’s attacks. But, hey, it’s just getting started. More on that in a bit.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 9:59 am
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Maybe we wouldn’t be in this position if Edgar funded the pensions instead of playing kick the can
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:01 am
Edgar indeed played kick the can, but that was then and this is now. Rauner and Madigan need to quit dancing.
Comment by illinoised Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:02 am
That’s a pretty sad headline maybe the dems could even use; “This Governor has caused more damage than the guy sitting in Federal prison”
Comment by MAD MAX Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:03 am
Good for Jim Edgar. If he has real guts he’ll endorse a Democrat for Governor in 2018.
Comment by Handle Bar Mustache Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:04 am
I’m with Edgar. All Day. Every Day.
McKinney didn’t let Edgar off the hook, and neither do I, but I know a Republican and I know a Raunerite.
Edgar is a Republican, a Republican that sees the damage and the blantent and purposeful damage Rauner wants, and continues to allow.
I’m a Republican, and I’m thankful for Edgar’s insight and truth… about a Raunerite.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:05 am
===Edgar says damage is worse than under Blagojevich===
Pretty much what every state worker that I know tells me. Just with a ton of profanity.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:09 am
==Good for Jim Edgar. If he has real guts he’ll endorse a Democrat for Governor in 2018.==
Illinois Democrats will be tainted with madigan still in the picture. Only going to get worse when Trump comes in, nominates his 9th Supreme Court judge and we get a national right to work.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:12 am
Dear Governor Edgar,
Explain to us why you didn’t run for governor in 2014. Bonus points for explaining why you won’t run in 2018.
Concerned citizen of IL
Comment by Angry Republican Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:12 am
2018 primary, Edgar vs Rauner??
Comment by Da Bears Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:13 am
Gee whiz how come he didn’t blame Madigan? He must be a Rino.
Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:18 am
He states the obvious. The numbers don’t lie.
On a related subject, the collectivists at the Wall Street Journal did a deep-dive the other day on how critical state-supported higher education institutions are for economic growth and manufacturing outside of urban areas.
The article is crazy-full of data, logic and actual real-world experience (unlike another economic growth “plan” the cultists have been chanting about here for the last couple of years).
How are we doing on state higher ed support these days?
http://www.wsj.com/articles/theres-an-antidote-to-americas-long-economic-malaise-college-towns-1481558522
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:25 am
To everyone wishing for an Edgar candidacy, he stated in 2006 that he was never running for office again. I doubt being 12 years older and on the outs with his own party since they are now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Failure INC will do much to change his mind.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:29 am
=and we get a national right to work.=
Unless I am mistaken, our brave governor and his puppets have not proposed a RTW bill in Illinois.
And you are waiting with baited breath for national right to work?
Take your meds. They don’t have the minerals to do it.
Me? I’m management so go head with RTW. Your only hurting your own pocket book.
Edgar has proven over the long haul to be a pretty honest guy, particularly as politicians go.
People continue to hammer him for the pension ramp and he certainly bares some responsibility.
But he has also expressed regret, very unusual for a man that was governor.
Our current governor rauner aka “Brave Sir Robin” can’t accept responsibility for anything. And he was the one that said he would take the “arrows” instead he is more like a Monthy Python character and screams “run away!” He Oooda Loops his way to dodging questions from what has to be one of the weakest press corps in the world these days.
Kudos to governor Edgar, he knows he will get jumped by the Rauner Bro Down corps but has the integrity to say it anyway.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:30 am
OW, you say you know a Republican and Edgar is a Republican and not around her right and I agree. So what happened to the Republicans? Where are the Mike Connolly’s in the state senate what happened to Jim Durkin what happened to those Common Sense Republicans?
Comment by ILGOV2018 Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:34 am
—Failure INC—
Failure incorporated just won the Presidency, the US house, the US Senate, won the Governor’s office in 2014, and picked up 4 state house seats and 2 state senate seats. They did lose the comptrollers office tho..
keep leaving in your state house bubble ducky
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:35 am
It’s worth noting that Edgar makes money off the budget impasse — he is an investor in the programs that acquire vendors prompt payment interest (at 12% annually, natch) in exchange for fronting cash. McKinney and the SJ-R have pointed this out.
Comment by Pawn Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:42 am
Edgar totally caved to Madigan with budgets and pension reform which effectively taxed future generations for current spending.
All of this is somehow admirable to the people who benefited including himself.
His taxpayer funded income is over $300,000
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:43 am
I’m sorry. I guess I should have spelled it out. The present governor is Failure INC and he has been a complete failure (as governor). Just ask his allies in the business community….
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:46 am
=== It’s worth noting that Edgar makes money off the budget impasse ===
Since you don’t like hearing Edgar speak what nonpartisan observers of Illinois government will say, then put him out of business by having Rauner pay the bills.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:47 am
@Lucky Pierre
You are so unbelievably wrong about that. Madigan caved to Edgar, which led to the explosion in spending from an all-too-willing to spend governor in Ryan. They didn’t call him “Governor No” for nothing.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:48 am
- ILGOV2018 -
Like all good corporate takeovers…
They were absorbed in the new regime, and now aren’t seen or relevant.
Sorry.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:48 am
==Unless I am mistaken, our brave governor and his puppets have not proposed a RTW bill in Illinois.
And you are waiting with baited breath for national right to work?==
Only a matter of time before the 9th supreme court justice comes in and overturns abood vs Detroit.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:49 am
–Edgar totally caved to Madigan with budgets and pension reform which effectively taxed future generations for current spending.–
LOL, is that how it went down? Pate, he caved to the Mighty Madigan, too?
How did the people who were actually there at the time get it so wrong as to who caved to whom?
Memo to The Boss: Put Edgar on the Enemies List.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:50 am
At least retired gov. Edgar has a state to critique. What will be left after ranuners retirement.
Comment by Magic carpet ride Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 10:56 am
Next up…Former Gov. Jim Edgar added to “Boss Madigan” list.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 11:26 am
He’s irrelevant now. It just doesn’t matter what he says. He’s also the guy who occupies ground zero for the financial problems we have today. I’m not sure why he comments on anything.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 11:50 am
===He’s irrelevant now.===
… but Rauner wanted that late fly-around with Edgar.
It’s comical how Raunerites embrace Republicans when they need credibility, but “dismiss” the truths that hurt the Raunerite message.
Comical even. lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 11:53 am
That’s quite a dramatic comparison, and I’d like to hear more before buying it.
Did he mean damaging to our reputation for corruption? Then Blago wins hands down. Did he mean damage to our investments like higher education for future economic success? Then Rauner is digging quite a hole, which he claims his TA will somehow eventually help fill in. Did he mean short-term damage to prospects for companies moving jobs here? Well companies themselves say their biggest concern is unpredictability caused by no budget at all. Sorry, that’s Rauner pulling into the lead.
It is tragic we’re even having this discussion. Who’d of thought we’d ever be comparing Rauner to Blago in terms of damage to Illinois’ future?
Comment by walker Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 11:53 am
“He’s irrelevant now. It just doesn’t matter what he says. He’s also the guy who occupies ground zero for the financial problems we have today. I’m not sure why he comments on anything.”
I’d be willing to bet money if Edgar got in the primary against your guy, he would clean Mr. Turn Around Agenda’s clock. And he would go to win the general. And I’m a Dem. saying that.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 12:06 pm
Sorry, Anon at 12:06 was me.
Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 12:07 pm
===I’d be willing to bet money if Edgar got in the primary against your guy, he would clean Mr. Turn Around Agenda’s clock.===
Rauner would probably win. Sadly, Rauner would rip Edgar up and down, and spend $50 million in the primary alone to make sure Edgar’s legacy would be destroyed as well.
I’ve seen this movie before. It pains me.
Raunerites have co-opted the ILGOP
There is no ILGOP anymore.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 12:12 pm
===There is no ILGOP anymore.===
Won’t be a democratic party after Trump’s inaugurated either.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 12:20 pm
Edgar has shied away from far lesser challenges than Rauner. He wouldn’t win. He wouldn’t run.
Argue all you want about fly arounds and anything else. He endorses candidates all over the state who have regularly lost. There’s just no weight to it.
He is the guy who started the financial morass here.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 12:41 pm
===Argue all you want about fly arounds and anything else. He endorses candidates all over the state who have regularly lost. There’s just no weight to it.===
… and yet Rauner requested the fly-around and wanted the endorsement.
You make zero sense.
Rauner wanted it, yet it meant/means nothing? LOL
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 12:43 pm
=He is the guy who started the financial morass here.=
Fire Edgar?!
Wait a second….I thought madigan had cornered the market for responsibility for all that ills Illinois.
=Only a matter of time before the 9th supreme court justice comes in and overturns abood vs Detroit.=
That does not translate into NRTW. You are just being goofy.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 12:55 pm
-He’s the guy that started the financial morass here.–
Dont sell your guy short — pushing and signing that FY17 budget with the $13 billion deficit is serious work in such a short time.
Annual deficit, backlog of bills, unfunded liability — Rauner already has all the gubernatorial records, not two years in.
And by his actions, he clearly intends to build on them.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 1:00 pm
Sling and Willy. I don’t think you see me defending the current situation. There’s enough of grist for everyone here. I just see the irony of the guy at the cause of the financial death spiral chirping and it’s befuddling. It’s fuddy duddy talk.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 1:09 pm
Edgar may in fact be a Republican,but he is no conservative. I am not sure what that makes him.
Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 1:17 pm
Hope Edgar is donating some of the proceeds he gets from Illinois Financing Partners to the state universities.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 1:18 pm
Too bad the bar is so low for IL governors. Edgar looks good by comparison, but he wasn’t a good governor. Just fiscally-conservative and stayed out of jail (although he was pretty close to the MSI scandal).
Comment by justacitizen Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 1:19 pm
Conservative doesn’t necessarily have to equate with Republican.
Are there conservative Republicans? Yes.
Can you NOT be a conservative and still be a Republican?
Yes.
Do conservatives not like non conservatives in the GOP?
Arguably? Yes. (R _ _ O)
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 1:21 pm
Edgar just handed Pritzker and other dems an opening when Rauner/GOP attack on the Blagojevich connection … “Former Governor Jim Edgar - Republican - just that Illinois under Rauner is worse than Illinois under Blagojevich.”
Comment by Quad City Dem Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 1:30 pm
I was embarrassed when the state of Iowa offered my son a quality collegiate within a fair price and Illinois couldn’t.
So now we drive hours to see him. Illinois losses this round.
Comment by Citizen A Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 1:32 pm
Just plain common sense from a common sense Governor. Please, people, Edgar didn’t create the pension ramp by himself. It was a bipartisan solution to the actual problem! And, what was the actual problem? An unwillingness by both parties to split the credit/blame for raising enough new revenue to properly fund the state’s pension systems. And remember, the ramp did not cut pension funding. Under the ramp funding was to be increased each and every year. Sure, it was destined to fail, but again, the problem was lack of adequate revenue. Still the problem. How many Ralph Martire columns to we have to read? This is not rocket science, it is arithmetic.
Comment by formerpro Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 1:38 pm
Here is some arithmetic….$4500.
Comment by blue dog dem Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 1:50 pm
JimEdgars 3% pension increase this year.
Comment by blue dog dem Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 1:51 pm
== He is the guy who started the financial morass here. ==
If you define that as the first Gov to short the pension systems after the 1970 Constitution because there wasn’t enough money to pay all the bills, the name you want is Dan Walker.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 2:21 pm
Listening to national Repub, sounds like they are being trumped like Ill Repubs were Raunerized, only w/ at a much lower selling price.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 2:23 pm
RNUG, don’t forget Thompson and Mandeville, they cut pension funding dramatically in response to the state’s dramatic revenue decline in 1981 (the Reagan recession). And they kept underfunding state pensions throughout the rest of Thompson’s time as Governor!
Comment by formerpro Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 2:43 pm
Jim Edgar is a straight arrow, Republican moderate. His opinion on the damage Rauner has done is honest, unbiased and accurate.
Comment by DuPage Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 2:48 pm
Guy, if you had any rational counters to Edgar’s points, I guess you’d make them, rather than just calling him “not relevant” or “fuddy-duddy.”
The state’s fiscal position and fulfillment of core responsibilities are obviously worse off now than when Blago was gov.
That’s by design. That’s the governor’s “leverage.” He’s been upfront about that.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 3:50 pm
Oswego – while the IL GOP may have been captured by Governor Rauner’s money. Trump has captured effectively most of the RNC without spending much money at all, the Republican resistance is down to a few very senior Senators who will call a few hearings. So much for all the convention boycotters. All resistance is futile, obey your master.
Comment by Rod Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 4:16 pm
Sling, I’d sooner listen to your opinion on this subject than his. At least I don’t think you were there for the eve of pension ramps and holidays.
Some people like Edgar. I get it. To suggest he has the proportionate weight of Wm. Buckley on any topic is just incorrect. His relevance is of no consequence. He’s not the only former Governor not incarcerated or drawing breath. He’s just the only one pining to be heard.
He earns money off of state debt. Nothing wrong or illegal about it, but a bit odd to do that and chirp at will about the same debt. Maybe it doesn’t hit other people that way. Whatever.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 4:16 pm
- Rod -
All I can do is what little I can do.
Trump is President-Elect.
If Trump does what Rauner is doing nationally, I’ll beef.
The fact that Trump has a GOP Congress, we’ll see how that works out too.
We have no choice.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 4:24 pm
Is there anyone the govenor elect hasn’t disparaged?
Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 5:21 pm
You bashers of the Edgar-Netsch ramp (yes, our beloved DCN had a major role in the creation of the ramp concept) always forget the Blago/Madigan $2 billion pension cut and rewrite of the ramp so that instead of leveling in FY 10, it leveled in FY 17, adding billions to the overall liability.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 6:08 pm
Define a moderate Republican.
Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 6:17 pm
===Define a moderate Republican.===
Any Republican not a Slytherin, or a person who “questions” what the definition of a moderate Republican is…
Ugh.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 6:20 pm
Still waiting….
Ugh.
Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 6:23 pm
- Blue dog dem -
The fact that you don’t know and are “asking” pretty much is your answer.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 6:24 pm
Never say never terry branstad made a come back
Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Dec 14, 16 @ 6:51 pm