* The Democratic leader reviews are in, and they’re brutal…
“Last week, the governor criticized the General Assembly for not spending enough money,” said Rikeesha Phelon, spokeswoman for Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago. “This week, he is criticizing us for spending too much money.”
Phelon said the spending in the bill Quinn vetoed was what the governor wanted when he laid out his proposed budget in March.
“He was for it before he was against it,” Phelon said in a statement.
You can almost taste the hostility.
Speaker Madigan’s spokesman Steve Brown also had a stock response for reporters, calling the governor’s veto “his biggest flip-flop yet”…
“Whatever happened to the tax increase? That appears to be gone,” Brown said of Quinn’s failure to continue his push for a tax hike Tuesday. “This (budget bill) is based on his numbers. It can’t possibly be out of balance.”
More whacking…
Cullerton spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon said the governor’s veto came as a surprise and was not mentioned during a meeting between Quinn and the Senate president earlier in the day. Phelon questioned why Quinn didn’t instead use his amendatory veto powers to alter the budget bill instead of rejecting it outright, and said the decision will add further tension to negotiations.
“If we just had to deal with the budget gap in these meetings, that would be one thing.Now we have to maneuver around his credibility gap,” Phelon said.
Oof.
Back to Brown…
“It appears that he’s bent on causing some chaos, when this legislation was designed to avoid even the threat of any kind of a government service disruption.”
Chaos. That sounds familiar.
* The press reviews aren’t much better…
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is now laying out his proposed billion dollars in cuts to state government, but isn’t actually cutting anything.
The Governor has instead vetoed another piece of the state budget, and is telling lawmakers they have to chose what will get cut… his veto simply sends the budget proposal back to Springfield for what’s expected to be a quick override vote in the Illinois House.
Today’s Sun-Times editorial, entitled “Quinn fails to deliver leadership for state,” was the harshest I’ve seen since Blagojevich’s days…
At moments of crisis, we look to our leaders for clarity and direction. Gov. Quinn provided neither Tuesday.
Instead, he hosted a confusing and bewildering news conference at the Thompson Center
It’s almost starting to feel like old times, isn’t it?
* AFSCME ain’t happy, of course…
“The governor entirely avoided discussing the human costs of the proposed cuts,” said AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall. “I heard no acknowledgment from Pat Quinn that 1,000 layoffs in the Department of Corrections will make prisons less safe.”
The union, human services workers and others affected by the proposed budget cuts have been among Quinn’s top allies in his quest for a state income tax hike to address a projected $9 billion deficit.
Yep. Zap an ally. Always worked for Rod.
* The Daily Herald points out the political and societal risks of releasing prisoners early…
As Gov. Pat Quinn ponders releasing prison inmates as a budget-cutting move, he’s taking a huge political gamble that has the potential to sink any chance of him being elected back to the governor’s office. […]
Suburban lawmakers expressed concern with the idea saying it could exacerbate crime and overburden already overwhelmed parole agents.
“It’s a huge mistake,” said state Rep. Dennis Reboletti, an Elmhurst Republican and former prosecutor in Will County.
* And some senior citizens might not be happy, as well…
One of the programs targeted for budget cuts is Illinois Cares Rx, which serves low-income senior citizens and people with disabilities. Gov. Pat Quinn has proposed cutting the program by $40 million, or 25 percent.
* Next year isn’t looking so hot, either, by the way…
…Rep. Franco Coladipietro, a Blooomingdale Republican, said the governor and the General Assembly need to address initiatives that affect not just this year’s budget, but budgets several years down the road. He cited job growth, as well as more significant ethics and public employee pension reforms. “Passing a tax increase right now with making no changes to the structural budget process in Illinois only puts us in a position where we’ll be in the same exact position three years from now,” he said. “And it doesn’t change anything.”
* But…
Pat Quinn isn’t concerned in the least.
Wait a minute. Wrong Pat Quinn. That’s a quote from the Edmonton Oilers‘ coach. He seems to be having a much easier go of it than our PQ.
Nevermind.
- Bill Lee - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 4:48 am:
The 2 year budget cycle of olden times is starting to look real good right now.
- pc dem - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 5:44 am:
He is playing the game. Put ball back in senate
pres and Madigan’s court and repubs, so all can have name on tax increase at election time
- Quinn T, Sential - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 5:51 am:
Another pre-dawn cluster bomb from CF. Rich, have you tried Melatonin? I am afraid if your sleep equilibrium falls too far out of balance you will not be able to stay awake for the 10:00 evening news. Either way, you probably slept better than Blago, since he learned over his morning coffee that John Harris is on the lunch time special in federal court.
- Quinn T, Sential - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 6:03 am:
{“It appears that he’s bent on causing some chaos, when this legislation was designed to avoid even the threat of any kind of a government service disruption.”}
This seems a little disingenuous. It probably would have had more legitimacy to it if it read more like this:
“It appears that he’s bent on causing some chaos, when this legislation was designed to avoid even the threat of any kind of a government service disruption; AT LEAST UNTIL THE STATE HAD EXHAUSTED THE AVAILABLE SUPPLY OF MONEY, WHICH WAS EXPECTED TO LAST PAST THE FILING DEADLINE FOR RE-ELECTION.
- Das Man - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 6:09 am:
Is it Napalm, or is it Marijuana? Some in California have an interesting toke on the budget crisis.. http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2009/07/marijuana_commercials_tv.php
- hmmm - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 6:55 am:
As seems the norm these days, when all those folks are railing against you, you must have done something right.
Quinn did exactly what he said he was going to do two weeks ago, and vetoed the budget.
It would have been disastrously irresponsible for him to sign any of the make-believe budget bills.
There was nothing acceptable about anything the GA passed. They can’t continue to avoid hard choices by hiding behind obfuscation and distraction.
- Princess - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 7:23 am:
Wash, rinse, repeat. The cycle is getting old. 2,600 laid off and if you don’t open that contract and give ‘me’ what I want, I’ll toss out another 2.500.
Hearing Ryan ringing in my ears this morning. Almost had to admire Quinn’s spin yesterday that ‘he’ did not negotiate the contract and now we have a new governor. And? Point? Are ‘we’ going to open up all state contracts of all kinds cause ‘he’ was not governor when they were signed?
If ‘that’ does not work? What? Threaten to toss out yet even another few thousand more? Will
‘they’ blink yet?
Amazing to me that this whole budget mess and ’saving’ the state from ruin ‘now’ seems to be hinged on what, $108 million strangled out of the workers? Not likely.
- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 7:34 am:
Though I may be wrong, it appears to me what he vetoed was the spending side of his proposed budget, which was a meaningless document without the tax increase he also asked for.
- state employee - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 7:38 am:
Does anyone know what will happen with state employee paychecks next week if we don’t have a budget? Will we get paid for the work we have done…
- Quinn The Eskimo - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 7:41 am:
Rich–do you know the number of the bill that Quinn said he would sign toward the end of his presser yesterday?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 7:50 am:
While he is whipping up another batch of shared sacrifice, he needs to put that corporate tax hike back up a piece and lower the personal income tax proposal while raising the personal exemption bac to his original proposal, at least. The employee unions can take care of themselves. It’s the average middle and lower middle class taxpayer whose needs in a major recession should be paramount. And so far Quinn has be relentlessin his pursuit of big time cash from that group.Permanent billions over time…let’s not even pretend the tax would be temporary, whatever he’s calling it to get it passed.
- He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 7:53 am:
Can someone please tell me why the Legislature is not in Springfield this week? The Perception is that they don’t care if the state shuts down.
- Leatherneck - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 7:57 am:
I posted a similar last night, but regarding asking the constitutionals to cut 10% out of their budgets–unless I’m not understanding everything clearly, wouldn’t the constitutional officers fall under the $25 million in cuts for offices, departments, and agencies not under Quinn’s control?
Here are the constitutionals’ proposed total FY2010 budgets per the Governor’s recommended appropriations in the Budget Book (outside of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor’s office):
AG: 75,792,000 (10%=$7,579,200)
SOS: 390,239,000 (10%=$39,023,900)
Comptroller: $106,548,000 (10%=$10,654,800)
Treasurer: $1,792,347,000 (10%=$179,234,700)
Total amount of 10% cuts from these four constitutionals alone: $236,492,600–less than 10 times MORE than the $25 million in non-Governor’s office/CMS agency cuts Quinn is wanting. Or did yesterday’s cut figures not even count the constitutional officers’ budgets, but does the Governor still want the 10% cuts from their offices anyway (which if it’s only 10%, wouldn’t that actually be less than how much Blago slashed from their FY09 budgets last summer–some of which was later returned by Quinn earlier this year).
- soccermom - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 7:58 am:
It is disingenuous for the General Assembly to say they gave the Governor everything he wanted in that bill when
a) they didn’t provide enough revenues to pay for the appropriations and
b) they shoved in the”no contracts for professional services” provision that violated the state Constitution and made it impossible for the state to hire professionals to do background checks for prospective foster parents or monitor offenders wearing home monitoring devices.
It’s not a flip-flop for the Governor to say he wants a fair, responsible, balanced budget. It’s exactly what he’s been saying since March 18. Sheesh.
- Double - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 8:00 am:
Glad to see that although the names change…the name calling and blaming game remains the same. In some ways I am glad the governor is keeping the heat on the GA…they deserve it. Last time I checked Governor Quinn is the only one who has been in Springfield the past two weeks.
PS…How about since there is no budget and these jokesters who pretend to be government dont get the message I propose we all just hold our state income tax payments until they get a budget…they cant put us all in jail…or better yet they are bankrupt so they would just let us out.
- Cassandra - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 8:01 am:
I notice that Daley is thinking of using collection agencies to go after city debt.
Except from one Republican on Chicago Tonight last month, I haven’t heard of any plans to go after debt owed to the state, which must be considerable.
Too much work for our Pat and his Blago crew, I imagine. It’s so much easier to just increase the tax rate some more while leaving the debt out there uncollected.
- Quinn T, Sential - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 8:11 am:
Eskimo; If I remember correctly I believe the bill he indicated he would sign is HB2194.
- lifer - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 8:22 am:
Rich when are the temporary help people that have populated the state going to leave. They should have been eliminated at 6/30/09. They are still here and as an employee I find it offensive to have to take one furlough day as long as there is 1 temporary anything including contract employees and former employees hired for 75 days. Enough is Enough
- springpatch - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 8:23 am:
I am confused did layoff notices go out or what????????
- Captain Flume - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 8:24 am:
It would seem from reading the Governor’s veto message on HB2145, that the bill, in many of its parts, violated the Constitution. Surely, astute legal minds who inhabit both sides of the aisles in the House and the Senate knew that when they passed the bill. The senior legislative staff members who are responsible for bill review also must have known of the violations in this bill. I just wonder what the motivation was for writing, and passing, the bill in such a manner. (That is not say that lots of other legislation actually signed by Governors past and present is not also very poorly written, but my point is with the critical responses from the President’s and the Speaker’s offices concerning HB2145.)
- Nick Danger at IDOT - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 8:26 am:
Layoffs, cancelling raises, furloughs, increased health insurance premiums, cutting services, hurting local economies and at the end of the day, a massive budget hole remains. Just the raise cancellations and furloughs, if they happen, represent at least two paychecks for state workers. The tax increase would be the least costly for everyone in IL and actually spread the pain, yet knuckleheads like some of my co-workers still say they don’t want it. To top it off, IL voters will put 90% of the GA idiots back in office for not raising the tax. Incredibly disingenuous of GA members, who couldn’t get the tax increase passed, to criticize Quinn at this point.
- Quinn T, Sential - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 8:27 am:
At what point are early released prisoners considered eligible for inclusion in the unemployment data? How about eligibility for unemployment benefits based on the early termination of their prison jobs? Does the DOC pay into the UI Trust only for its traditional “employees” or has a distinction ever been made for those imprisoned, but working for the system to provide some level of service in exchange for some limited compensation?
- Ted Kord - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 8:31 am:
I have a new solution: let’s just pack it in. It’s been fun Illinois, but it’s clear we’re not going to make it. So let’s just subdivide, selling off huge chunks of the state to Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, maybe send a couple counties to Kentucky. Wisconsin can have the rest. Let’s just all agree to disagree, call it a day, and go our separate ways. Seriously. This proposal is at least as plausible as most of the solutions I’m hearing these days.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 8:35 am:
I’ve known Quinn for a long time, and he’s never struck me as a CEO. A little too, erudite, shall we say. Would make a good Senator.
I think, like many, he follows the advice the of the last person he talks to right before taking action. Has a very hard time establishing a position and sticking with it.
- fed up - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 8:44 am:
You know what would be a good idea is if Quinn showed some fiscally savy leadership and gave Seniors free lic plate renewals and driver lic renewals. That would help his numbers a bit and thats whats important not the budget.
- Louis Howe - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 8:46 am:
State agencies filled layoff plans with CMS last Sunday by position, not by individual names. Then layoff notices are sent to the impacted unions. Individuals won’t start to receive notification until mid-August.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 8:47 am:
It is unfair to criticize the Governor for being unable in six months to undo what Cullerton and Madigan have been doing for the past six years.
Yes, Quinn is the governor. On the other hand, we would have cut a newly elected guy some slack when dealing with the devils living under the Dome. Quinn is facing a situation most of us couldn’t handle well either. His Blagojevichian staff isn’t a plus, and seem to be giving the Governor more bad advice than he is capable of wallowing through.
Quinn needs to clean house and set an example. For some reason he avoided doing this, probably believing that the boat that is Illinois, has been rocked too much recently. Quinn should have sacked the whole lot of them. Cut his own budget to the bone, then mandated the agencies under the governor’s control to do something similar.
He should have then taken the GA to task to find a similar solution. His Collins Commission only made enemies when he didn’t need more. It focused on the legislative branch, when it was empowered by the executive branch - natural enemies. Bad move. Quinn should have taken the Collins Commission and used it to further clean his house.
Quinn has not set an example of leadership during Illinois’ “Perfect Storm”. As the Captain of this sinking ship of state, Quinn could have demonstrated the seriousness of the situation, instead of conducting business as usual while sending out warnings. His actions didn’t give credibility to his words. As a result, he came off as the “Boy Who Cried Wolf”, at a time when the GA is looking for a sucker to fasten this entire fiasco upon. With no Blagojevich, Quinn allowed himself to be set up to carry this burden.
Had Quinn acted with the seriousness demanded, the GA would look as foolish as it should. Had Quinn taken action, and reminded Illinoisans of the six years of inaction, paralysis and stupidity we witnessed coming from the GA, the pressure would be where it needs to be.
But Quinn didn’t.
His veto is another rock to throw back at him at a time when all Illinois’ leaders ever do is throw stones. Quinn failed in his first six months. But we have to remember that the General Assembly, Cullerton and Madigan, have been failing us for six years.
The Illinois Democratic Party is Illinois’ nightmare.
- springpatch - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 8:51 am:
Louis Howe-
Good to know that we have to wait on the edge of our seats until mid-august….. why dont they just cut the most recent hired by 1600 instead of all these bumping rights, etc… I am so confused and the union hasn’t said anything to us!!!!!!
- Quinn The Eskimo - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 8:52 am:
Sential; muchas gracias
- Can't Say My Nickname - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 9:03 am:
What I find most disturbing is that the lay off lists were probably done by political hack supervisors who don’t have a clue about state operations and who fall under the fumigation bill.
- state employee - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 9:07 am:
Scary. I’m planning for a layoff and feel sorry for the workers w/ more seniority who will be left doing maybe upwards of 2,000 cases each. Caseworkers who are in their 60s and 70s.
The dysfunctional state of IL is causing me and hundreds of thousands of others physical and emotional harm and distress. I blame now also Gov Quinn, Speaker Madigan, Lisa Madigan, Tom Cross, Rodogno, all House GOPs and sell-out House Democrats like Fritchey. Proud of your NO vote on 5/31/09 now Fritchey? You are harming millions of people now with that vote.
- Lisle Mike - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 9:12 am:
What a shame..Quinn should have foreseen this. He had ample opportunity to vet out waste, late payments owed to the state, and other sources of revenue PRIOR to scaring the public with doomsday scenarios. He would have had credibilty with the public of at least attempting to show an effort to deal with shortfall, instead of trying to ram a tax increase down our collective throats. As for lay offs? Why are state workers exempt? All of the bloggers herein know someone who is out of work or at partial salary. Sorry, if the wealth is to be spread, so is the discomfort.
- Princess - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 9:14 am:
I would hope, Louis, that serious thought and consideration to impact on indivisual sites went into the positions selected. I have little faith in number crunchers.
Outdated titles, too many ‘chiefs’ compared to ‘indians’, and least necessary site remaining personel, I would hope is not too much to ask for.
–”why dont they just cut the most recent hired by 1600 instead of all these bumping rights”–
Layoffs affecting union workers must follow the layoff procedcures in the contracts.
- the Patriot - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 9:19 am:
I sort of jokingly inferred last week that Quinn should bring in the AG to declare whether the budget complies with our Constitution to put a trap on the Madigans. Joking aside, we have a balanced budget provision in the IL constitution. If the Legislature over rides Quinn’s veto and passes a non balanced budget, can he, or a taxpayer group, sue to invalidate the budget and require compliance with the Constitution?
- dupage dan - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 9:20 am:
Looks like a good ole fashioned game of “Hot Potato”. If it weren’t so damaging to so many people it would be fun to watch.
- Martyr - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 9:24 am:
I wonder if a constitutional convention could have helped this situation. I think the problem is we have elected politicians trying to manage the largest organization in the state. Just because you have money to run a campaign and get elected doesn’t mean you can manage. Even if you hire an great manager, politics will always trump good management.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 9:37 am:
As Paul Green always told his classes, politics is about “who pays”. This is a political question that should be handled by politicians.
It is a mistake to suggest that politicians shouldn’t be our decision makers. Yes, they fail, but so do decent sincere managers. To believe that we can create a government where non-elected bureaucrats do the decision making, is not democratic, nor is it smart.
We even heard for a while a wish that politicians wouldn’t care about polls or politics, and simply do what they feel or believe is right. Well, the closest we got to that was Dick Cheney, and he is no longer on top of most voter’s wish list. VP Cheney was heralded when he was selected as VP due to his incredible resume and experiences in previous presidential administrations. He was considered the right man for the right job by the majority of pundits in 2000. What Cheney did during the past eight years is what he believed was the right thing to do, regardless of the political costs. While some still admire him, I believe that those who wish that politicians wouldn’t care for politics to run government - well, remember the excellent example of Mr. Cheney.
It is right and proper for our politicians to reflect the will of the popular vote. It is also their job to inform, educate and lead their supporters toward what they believe to be the right choices. If anything is lacking in today’s politicial world, it is the willingness to take a political stand and defend it when it is not supported by a vast majority of voters. Our GA residents are political cowards, afraid of the realities they inflict with their selfish political game of hand-outs and supposed freebies. Anyone can buy an election and then pay off the majority each Election Day with the money taken from citizens in the form of taxes, and it is another job to get elected, take a stand and clearly justify those stands every other year on Election Day.
- Legaleagle - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 9:42 am:
The Legislators certainly don’t need to be in Springfield to work on the budget; they are all doing that now. Unless there is an agreement by three-fifths of them, a Springfield session is just a further waste of taxpayer money! I can understand why state employees and contractors want a tax increase - they would get the money, after all. But in my private sector people are being laid off, pay is being cut, and important contracts are being cancelled too. People are being hurt. That’s what happens in a recession.
- Downstater - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 9:42 am:
Quinn-Blagojevich-Madigan-Cullerton-Jones
Same old same old.
- Anonymous Coward - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 9:45 am:
Slightly off topic..
“Madigan Declines Senate, Gov Bids”
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/senate/madigan-declines-senate-gov-bi.html?wprss=thefix
- HMMM....... - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 9:47 am:
Quinn may be part of the problem - but he just got there, when does the Democratically controlled House and Senate as well as Madigan and Cullerton and Emil Jones start to take responsibility for their failures and failure to cut spending, pension reforms, budgetary reforms,ethics reform etc….silly me never…..
- State Worker - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 9:54 am:
Governor Quinn has made mistakes and flip-flops, but this mess is overwhelmingly Speaker Madigan’s doing, and most of the public (at least in Springfield) recognizes this. Unfortunately, it appears that President Cullerton has decided to ally himself with the Speaker.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 9:55 am:
Why should someone as powerful as Madigan, who controls our elected representatives, be allowed to blame an indirectly elected governor for budget problems that he helped directly create?
- dupage dan - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 9:57 am:
=Our GA residents are political cowards, afraid of the realities they inflict with their selfish political game of hand-outs and supposed freebies=
It’s fun when it’s easy. When the s#!t hits the fan - that’s when you earn your paycheck. It is sad to see such ilk represent us at a time when young men and women stand up and risk everything for us. The contrast is dumbfounding.
- CircularFiringSquad - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:01 am:
“…they didn’t provide enough revenues to pay for the appropriations and
b) they shoved in the”no contracts for professional services” provision that violated the state Constitution and made it impossible for the state to hire professionals to do background checks for prospective foster parents or monitor offenders wearing home monitoring devices….”
SoccerMom you are wrong on both counts. The GA appropriated every $ avail and no more
The “no contracts” ban was already rescinded in SB1221. Quinn knows that so his statement was more nonsense.
Try to get your facts straight
- HMMM....... - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:06 am:
It been apparent for years, but far more readily apparent this year than ever. The elected officials in charge are only out to protect their own powerful positions and their own a****, they could care less about the people of Illinois. It’s all about them and protecting their part - time jobs and their Taj Mahal pensions.
Illinois isn’t alone, just look at what is happening on the National Level.
Take for instance the ethics reform, let’s give Quinn some credit for the commission, then Madigan and Cullerton gutted the whole thing and made it even harder to unseat incumbents…
- Quinn T, Sential - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:11 am:
Anonymous Coward,
{Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan (D) will run for re-election to her current post in 2010, according to a Democratic source aware of the decision,}
Are you the source for the Washington Post article also, or just the AC linking it here?
- Princess - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:12 am:
–”“Madigan Declines Senate, Gov Bids”–
So why am I reading this in the Washington Post and not in IL headlines? Maybe someday I’ll save up enough money to subscribe to Capitol Fax doubt scents of this if true didn’t escape from there.
- BigDog - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:14 am:
Quick - someone name an elected official in Illinois that can claim to have earned their paychecks this year. Anyone?
- Quinn T, Sential - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:15 am:
From NBC’s Mark Murray
{Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan — who was mulling a possible Senate or gubernatorial bid in 2010 (and had been speaking with the Obama White House about these races) — has instead decided to run for re-election, according to a Democratic official.}
His attribution seems to suggest the source as possibly an elected official.
- Anonymous Coward - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:16 am:
Just saw it on Twitter and linking it here…
I’m not a source of anything. (except CO2 and empty beer cans)
- Shore - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:17 am:
has to be a huge embarrassment for what’s left of the chicago media to get scooped on this story by the washington post. lynn sweet was on chicago tonight last night and basically said nothing about it.
Senator mark steven kirk sounds GRRRREEEAAT!
- state employee - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:20 am:
@Legaleagle,
Wrong. In a recession and/or depression when STATE SERVICES AND SOCIAL SAFETY DEMAND increases dramatically, states are SUPPOSED to raise taxes to answer that need. NOT LAYOFF ITS VITAL SERVICES WORKERS. Do some research next time. Google Ralph Martire.
- Vote Quimby! - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:21 am:
Big Dog–Jesse White. I still got my tag renewal in the mail
- HMMM....... - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:22 am:
Mark Kirk - are you kidding me after his vote on that Crap and Trade…sorry cap and trade bill that does very little to help the environment, but gives corporate welfare to many companies…what would he run as a Republican or a Dem???
- silly, silly, just silly - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:22 am:
Time for a new thread Rich. Ok, who is running for what now?
- Quinn T, Sential - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:25 am:
I am afraid that Rich might be counting sheep while catching 40 winks after this mornings early CF and post.
- Tio - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:28 am:
“states are SUPPOSED to raise taxes”
Apparently, there is a handbook - probably written by some state employee.
- Quinn T, Sential - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:28 am:
AP SAYS:
“Political director Mary Morrissey says the Chicago Democrat will seek another term as attorney general instead”
- Princess - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:28 am:
state employee, don’t let him rattle you. See 800 steelworker called back in SW IL. There is some decent news in the private sector here and there the last few days.
We’re stateworkers. Easy to toss stones at.
- Quinn T, Sential - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:30 am:
Lynn Sweet says:
“Mary Morrissey, Madigan’s political director, told Sweet, “She loves her job as attorney general, that’s the first reason. Every day she can make a difference.”
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:31 am:
Googled Ralph Martire: “Ralph served on the budget advisory board to Governor Rod Blagojevich’s transition team, where he acted as chairperson of the state revenue subcommittee. Ralph was the principal author of a study CTBA produced that identified revenue enhancement proposals to address the 2002 fiscal crises in the state of Illinois. Five of the
proposals identified in that study ultimately became law.”
- Hon. Cranial Lamb - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:37 am:
fed up - LOL
Maybe throw in a “drunken sailors” for good measure PQ!
What’s next, Kevin Joyce tries to throw Jerry Stermer off of a hotel room balcony?
- Macbeth - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:39 am:
We know taxes will be raised. They can’t not be raised. So all this ultimately is about how that process will happen.
It’s unfortunate that folks have to lose their jobs in the jobs. And, yes, I make no distinction between the public and private sector jobs. Both “sides” are the same. A job loss is a job loss.
- Quinn T, Sential - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:40 am:
Politico on the other hand had this to say:
“On the gubernatorial front, Gov. Pat Quinn (D-Ill.) now looks in better shape to win a full term, without serious Democratic primary competition.”
I am not at all convinced that this is true at this point in time, and may well definitely be false.
- 32nd Ward Roscoe Village - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:41 am:
=“Mary Morrissey, Madigan’s political director, told Sweet, “She loves her job as attorney general, that’s the first reason. Every day she can make a difference.”=
Let the domino falling begin!
- Plutocrat03 - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:42 am:
Soooooooo …
when the economy is bad, we raise taxes….
when the economy is booming we have to share the prosperity and raise taxes…
When exactly is it that we can hold the line or lower taxes?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:44 am:
SJ-R is reporting that “Lisa Madigan will run for re-election instead of seeking to be either governor or a member of the U.S. Senate”
- Quinn T, Sential - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:47 am:
Place your order for T-Shirts now commemorating the Edwin Eisendrath-”I told You So” Tour, with dates yet to be announced in:
Springfield
Peoria
Rockford
Aurora
Danville
Carbondale
Collinsville
and a village or town near you.
- Captain Flume - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:48 am:
Chicago Business has the AG Madigan story at 10:16 a.m. I have posted here and long thought that she would continue to run for AG, at least in this election cycle. But it does make those who were supposedly waiting for her decision seem less than bold, and less than genuinely dedicated, in their desires to run for either Gov or US Senate. The upcoming races will be interesting and today’s announcement will be a small distraction from the budget “negotiations.”
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:51 am:
Plutocrat, one could pose the same question in reverse … when the economy is bad, we can’t raise taxes lest we make it worse; when the economy is booming, we can’t raise taxes lest we slow down or halt the boom. So, when exactly is a “good time” to raise taxes?
- Irish - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 10:53 am:
This is the part of this fiasco that irritates me the most. The “responses by critics” Yes the Gov did ask for more spending than he is now, yes he did ask for a tax increase. Ergo the tax increase would have provided more money to cover those added costs. Yet you GA idiots didn’t give it to him You all spouted off that there needed to be more cuts before you would consider it. Did you give him a list of the cuts that your astute minds developed? NO! Since you didn’t give him the added money did you cut accordingly? NO! So he gives you what you wanted. He is supplying the cuts. And now YOU are saying he is flip flopping. It doesn’t look that way to me. It looks like you got caught in your own trap and now you are whining again. Please, Please, Illinois voters remember this next election. Let’s wipe the slate clean and start over. If this is what experience gets you then I am all for a complete rookie GA.
Big Dog - Yes, Gary Dahl probably the best legislator in the GA. The only one I would vote for at this point in time.
Tio - I would answer you with Rich’s famous line but I don’t want my post to be deleted.
- state employee - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 11:03 am:
@Anonymous
And? What’s your point?? It would have been I think A LOT WORSE without Mr. Martire.
But thanks for that background.
I agree with all of his fiscal policies and ideas which I am aware of.
- Laid Off - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 11:07 am:
I love reading these but this is but this is what is what is most important now… http://progressillinois.com/2009/7/5/features/tracking-state-budget-fallout
- Capitol View - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 11:09 am:
I agree with Wordslinger that Quinn has more of a legislative personality than an executive branch one - but he’s the only guv that we have at the moment, so let’s work within that reality.
What Quinn has just done is created a “do over”. Back to square one, where to avoid layoffs and prison closings and inmates getting out early, we have no functional option but a tax increase. Legislators will start saying this soon, and by next Tuesday it will be the Springpatch mantra. Even the Trib may finally come to its senses and editorialize what its stories are featuring — the collapse of state funded services and the community consequences of state government imploding due to insufficient revenues.
What we need: a 5% tax for two or three years, reduced to 4% thereafter, and expansion of the sales tax to many services. Voters only pay the sales tax expansion if they use the particular service, like a user fee. The extra money at the beginning pays the old bills and shores up the pension funds.
Can all this get done next Tuesday and Wednesday? Of course it can, but we need Mike Madigan to lower himself to the level of the other legislative leaders, and Tom Cross to release his caucus to vote for taxes and increased spending as a matter of individual conscience. A caucus position by Senate and House Republicans to let state government fall is a failure of leadership — politics about state government responsibility.
In other words, there is enough blame here to spread around to almost everybody. But it will take statesmanship and responsible state leadership to get us back on track. It is do-able,even if not politically expedient. The public does not want these latest proposed cuts. They will live with the alternative. Get ‘er done!
If we try and wait until the election filing is over, all the state officials look like they care more about politics than governing. This self-serving gesture would be more damaging to incumbents than the tax increases.
- Bill - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 11:13 am:
Now what, Julie? Gear up for the primary?
- fed up - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 11:26 am:
@Legaleagle,
Wrong. In a recession and/or depression when STATE SERVICES AND SOCIAL SAFETY DEMAND increases dramatically, states are SUPPOSED to raise taxes to answer that need. NOT LAYOFF ITS VITAL SERVICES WORKERS. Do some research next time. Google Ralph Martire.
No state employee states are supposed to follow the will of the people and the will is not there to raise taxes. Maybe our elected leaders have done a poor job selling the need maybe taxpayers are tired of being gouged for poor services and scandal after scandal. Take your pick but the will of the voters in ILL is no tax increase at the moment. Cutting is the only way Quinn and others are going to be able to show the taxpayer that we will not just be throwing good money after bad. Pension reform is needed and the tax hike if there is one should be temporary.
- Princess - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 11:32 am:
I don’t believe I’ve read anywhere that the ‘will of the people’ is stopping pension reform, or for that matter, the ‘will of stateworkers’ or stopping it either. Hangup must be somewhere else.
- Will County Woman - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:13 pm:
WIth Lisa’s announcement, and the bad press that, er trouncing that Quinn is getting, look for Quinn to probably start to work more to compromise with the GA in an effort to make it look like he is righting the ship. political expidiency to protect the perceived incumbents advantage? no. of course not.
If Dan Hynes comes out against Quinn, then he should be careful not to alienate quinn supporters. Praise Quinn on his generally good ideas prior to becoming governor and his nice personality and corruption-free political career.
But explain in CLEAR and CONCISE terms about how he has handled the budget matter wrong, and that it has nothing to do with the size of the budget (e.g., blago leaving a mess), but everything to do with Quinn’s failure to grasp the fundamentals of state budegting and lack of leadership (experience) in a time of crisis.
There are several campaign slogans for Hynes to consider, first among them is “no more drama” show quinn and his social service provider protestors. show blago. show quinn and blago together.
Quinn is beatable by a democrat in a primary, but probably less likely by a republican in a general race.
Mike madigan if you really don’t think you want to be bothered with Quinn, you better do everything in your power to get him knocked out by Dan Hynes in a primary.
- Macbeth - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:23 pm:
Does Lisa’s news mean MJM will stay put for at least four more years?
- doc - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:24 pm:
Our problem - for a very long time now - has been a ‘bread and circuses’ electorate who won’t tolerate any ‘grown up’ politician who says “no, we can’t afford that” on occasion and would insist on a viable long term prudent fiscal policy.
- state employee - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:34 pm:
@fed up
I didn’t read your message to me b/c of my poor impressions and opinion of you from your past postings, so I’m unable to respond to its content.
good luck not gettin banned again.
- Legaleagle - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:44 pm:
What a great 2010 ticket: Burris and Quinn! Actually Quinn lost me when first cut social services, and then worked to kill in the Senate the 5-year bond bill that would have freed up $2 billion for social services. The providers should be angry at Quinn, not at Legislators who are voting their Districts.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 1:13 pm:
@state employee
Its good to see the taxpayers of illinois are getting their money’s worth with you. Maybe you should work as often as you post to this site!
- Macbeth - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 1:39 pm:
===
Its good to see the taxpayers of illinois are getting their money’s worth with you. Maybe you should work as often as you post to this site!
===
This is such a lame — truly lame — retort to those state employees who post here.
Enough. I’m guessing
You know nothing of the poster’s immediate conetext when posting. If a state employee wants to post, post away.
Posting here is no different than gabbing at so-called “water cooler” at *any* job.
Why such bizarre distinctions these days between public and private jobs? What about all the other people posting. Are we assuming they’re posting from their private sector jobs and wasting as much money?
Enough.
- Ghost - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 1:54 pm:
I just don’t know where to begin… I think will fall back on TII.
- Fixit - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 1:56 pm:
There are large number of good causes that would be nice if they were funded by the state. They are not currently funded and people have to make due.
Many of the current programs did not exist 10 or 20 years ago and people made due. If we able to live without these programs them, then we can live without them now. As to the questions when is a good time to raise taxes. The answer is NEVER!!!!
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:52 pm:
Granted, there probably is never a “good” time to raise taxes, just as there is never a “good” time to go to war, have major surgery, etc. But, does that necessarily mean it should never be done under ANY circumstances?
- Unhappy tax payer in Mattoon - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:55 pm:
Two things: Ralph Martire and Dan Hynes. Mr Matire has never met a state tax he has not wanted to increase. He refuses to accept the fact that the residents of Illinois would rather have fewer state services, a somewhat weaker public education for those living in low income areas, and a more limited social safety net than have higher taxes. The GA is currently reflecting the opinion of the public as did our last Governor.
If you want all of these services please move to Vermont. Vermont’s income tax currently makes 1 percent of the residents provide 30 percent of the income tax revenue. Only 2,000 people have income at a level to be taxed at the highest marginal rate of 9.5 percent.
By 2003, the Vermont’s personal income tax had the highest thresholds in the country: the five-bracket schedule ranged from 2.3% (on taxable income up to $27,950) to 9.5% (on taxable income above $307,050). Corporate income is taxed according to a four-bracket schedule ranging from 7% (on net income up to $10,000) to 9% (above $250,000), with a minimum corporate tax of $250. The state sales and use tax rate is 5%, with basics, including food and medicines, exempted, and local sales taxes limited to 1%. The state also imposes a full array of excise taxes covering motor fuels, tobacco products, insurance premiums, public utilities, alcoholic beverages, pari-mutuels, and other selected items. State property taxes are means-tested, and there is a broad property tax rebate program. VT is Martire’s dream, my dream is leave me alone down in Mattoon.
We here in Illinois have a flat tax and we like it that way because it forces income taxes to be low. Ralph Martire, Governor Quinn, and the public sector unions want Illinois to look like VT, we do not want it at all. Martire has tried to backdoor tax brackets by writing in lower income tax give backs in bills he has supported, we the tax payers say NO. Keep it the way it is.
Dan Hynes has correctly challenged the Governor’s deficit figures, arguing it is $7 billion. What is most interesting is that Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias has kept his mouth shut about this issue. Clearly he has not supported Quinn’s deficit figures as of today.
Do I think our seniors, disabled, or poor urban residents have it good here in Illinois. No they do not, but I am not willing to pay up to make their lives better, period.
- Bubs - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 3:06 pm:
Well, I for one am certainly glad to see that the problem causing deadlock, sniping and ridiculous budget moves in the last few years was all Rod Blagojevich, and not other Democratic leaders.
- Stoned Prophet - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 4:08 pm:
Shame on the Senate for not cutting us state workers in on the video poker revenue pie. Who would get the revenue? Road/school construction companies. There are no economic down times for the politically-connected.
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 4:09 pm:
So, anyone know how the economy in Vermont is doing these days? Are businesses fleeing in droves or refusing to locate there? Are people moving out because they can’t take the tax burden? Vermont doesn’t sound like such an awful place to live, although I suppose maple syrup, fall colors, and ski slopes only go so far.
Could “Unhappy Tax Payer” find a better example of a state (other than Illinois) whose economy has been ruined primarily by high taxes?
- Stoned Prophet - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 4:33 pm:
What happened to my entry about Vermont? Did it get deleted because I used a somewhat-graphic analogy between Vermont and the Sudan? I’ll state it again, but with different languge:
Have the progressive taxes in Vermont caused third-world-like poverty in that state? Are barely-clad people walking around on the streets and expelling their bodily wastes in running-water sewers along the streets? Are flies buzzing around the distended bellies and hollow eyes of the starving middle class?
- Bookworm - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 6:42 pm:
Well, Stoned Prophet, no need to go overboard with the opposite analogy. Low taxes do not necessarily equal poverty and neglected infrastructure, any more than they necessarily equal boundless prosperity and jobs for everyone. It depends on a lot of other factors.
- state employee - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 8:03 pm:
@…Matoon,
I hope you never get old or sick in our morally bankrupt state. You will finally reap what you have sown when you are turned away and left in the street. How can you sleep at night.
- state employee - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 8:08 pm:
By the way, thanks for all the great info on Vermont! Maybe I’ll take my talents, intelligence, work ethic, youth, and enthusiasm to work for the good people of that state government when I soon am laid off here in Illinois!! Yay, open to those type of good tips!
- state employee - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 8:11 pm:
@Anonymous
Your words mean nothing to me.
- state employee - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 8:12 pm:
by the way, there’s a 2nd “state employee” who is not me. That’s the end of my posts on this topic. Thanks for reading.
- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 11:01 pm:
Mattoon, back when I lived in Charleston, on Friday nights we were for Charleston and for whoever was playing Mattoon. You helped me remember, and added another reason why.
- Fixit - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 9:51 am:
What I like to understand from all of you people crying for tax increases is why, since taxes are linked as a percentage of earnings there should be a need now to increase them? If my earnings go down, or don’t keep up with inflation, is it my fault?? Should I be forced to pay higher taxes because of it?? Or should the state, which is always ready to spend more, learn to spend less??