33 Comments - Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 5:24 am: You want angst? Try “Three More Days” by The Guess Who from their “Share The Land” album four days from now! - Wensicia - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 7:08 am: We probably don’t say this often enough, thanks for all the updates, Rich. - Tommy Ryan - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 7:41 am: There is a reason Jagger and Richards don’t let him sing. Although I must admit, it woke me up. - Pat Robertson - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 8:16 am: Wait until they start singing “Tomorrow, tomorrow, it’s only a day away”! Or worse, singing “Yesterday” on June 1. While we’re wishing for the impossible this week, I would like to see a resolution for a constitutional amendment allowing a graduated income tax. - Cassiopeia - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 8:42 am: Sorry Rich but its very hard to have hope given the general suspension of reality by most of the political leaders. The unrealistic budget plans that address only the short term are depressing. - reformer - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 8:49 am: I’d like to see some House Republicans voting for the budget for a change. Then there’s the state Dream Act, which 11 Republican senators voted for, while all House Repubs in committee voted No. Let’s skip the demagoguery on immigration. - downstate hack - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 8:55 am: I would love to see short term borrowing to pay the bills, and slots at race tracks to save the Illinois horse racing industry and associated jobs. - I don't want to know, I already gave up - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 9:13 am: what would I like to see accomplished before tuesday? Hummm, how about a federal criminal conviction against another former governor of the great state of Illinois. - John Bambenek - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 9:15 am: I think a movie clip from the movie “Seven” might have been more entertaining this morning… - Republican hippie - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 9:16 am: I dont know why Ronnie is getting his vocals ripped — very reminiscient of Dylan… I personally think this is the only good thing on the Blog today. - wordslinger - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 9:30 am: I’d like to see a short-term borrowing package to pay the overdue bills. Borrowing at lower market rates than what we’re paying in late fees by borrowing from vendors is a no-brainer; it will also be a great shot in the arm to those cash-strapped vendors. - Angry Chicagoan - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 9:45 am: A borrowing bill to deal with the cash flow more efficiently than we’re dealing with it now, a rollback of state spending including (I’m sorry to have to say) Medicaid, and bipartisan approval of the state budget. I’ll wait on the constitutional amendments. - Colossus - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 9:50 am: Nice to see some love for the borrowing plan. I’ve been telling everyone for months this is what has to happen. When all you ahve are bad options, you don’t throw up your hands and say everything sucks (~cough~SGOPs~cough~), you pick the best of the bad options and try to make it right. This will save the state on interest and flood money back into our communities by paying back the vendors. Other than a principled stand against the very concept of borrowing, how is this a bad deal? - Cincinnatus - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 10:00 am: I would like to see a balanced budget amendment in the State Constitution…. … adhered to. - Riverside - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 10:07 am: I would like to see the GA somehow force Hamos into bringing Health Alliance back…… - Realist - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 10:36 am: Reformer, haven’t you been paying attention? The House GOP did vote for the budget because they were included in the process. The Senate GOP voted against the Senate budget, because they were not included in the process…and the Senate Dem’s plan was rushed and incomplete. - dupage dan - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 10:50 am: Regardless of the outcome of any borrowing plan, a health business climate in this state is essential to increase economic output which would result in more jobs created and maintained in Illinois. Kudos to those who would blow up WC and/or reform it to the point where we are more in line with more reasonable programs. We gotta know that people thinking of starting businesses or hiring more folk watch that sort of thing. Borrowing to pay already incurred expenses to vendors may be inevitable but I worry that PQ etal don’t get how serious the situation is - just note his desire to add more spending to the new budget than the GA believes there is projected revenues to cover. Which would just add more debt that would require more borrowing in the future. I would like to see PQ with a mindset that spending ABSOUTELY be in line with revenue before any agreement on borrowing to pay past due bills. - formerpolitico - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 10:58 am: The resignation of Michael Madigan! - Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 11:04 am: Realist, First the SGOPs said in committee it was happening too fast, so the votes got delayed until the next day, then they said it was still too fast so not all of them were considered. A week later they were still claiming they hadn’t seen anything. C’mon, at some point the SGOPs actually have to make an effort to do something other than have news conferences about budget-cutting plans that don’t officially exist. - Both Sides Now - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 11:13 am: Since Rich didn’t give us any limits, I have a (dream) list (in no particular order): 1. Borrow the money and pay the overdue bills. 2. Significantly reform Worker’s Comp or abolish it all together but don’t just leave it the way it is and walk away. 3. Although Lang’s bill seems extensive in reach, does it really matter if we expand gambling? The real choice about gambling was made long ago when we decided to have casinos and off-track betting. If it keeps people from crossing the state borders for their gambling/entertainment, keeps jobs and brings money into the GRF - pass it! 4. Keep Health Alliance. State employee morale is already in the toilet. Adding “you must make a change in your health insurance and it will cost you more $” to 100,000 workers will flush the remaining morale to the sewer. It will also mean a huge workload increase in every Agency HR/payroll department and CMS. Does that really translate to a cost savings? 5. If the GA must increase employee pension payments to balance the budget, keep it to a 3% or less increase, and mandate that the State make its’ pension payments and find a way to start paying back what they borrowed from the fund to begin with. The State should not “get off the hook” for not making their payments. And a 3% increase would basically be a wash for the Union workers who are getting a raise in June anyway. Of course, those of us who aren’t in the Union, won’t have that benefit, as we won’t get a raise. 6. Make sure the budget is crafted in such a way that non-union state employees (who took 24 furlough days last year) don’t have to take any. Our annual income is less today than it was 2 years ago due to no raises and furlough days. With added pension payments and insurance fees it will decrease again. See points 4 & 5 and give us a break! 7. All the members of the General Assembly along with the Constitutional Officers put aside their political party and pettiness and gather at the Capitol rail to sing “Kum-by-yah”. I’m not sure but given that we are in the state of Illinois, #7 may have the best chance of happening! - Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 11:16 am: Since the guidelines were — other than the obvious biggies — what would we like to see happen in the next week … It’s time to repeal one of the worst laws in recent history: HB 4801. The Monkey Ban. Oh, and lift the Happy Hour prohibition. - Springfield Watcher - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 11:46 am: How about a total recall of all elected officals. - Realist - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 12:19 pm: Flaherty- The SGOP’s were not allowed to participate in the budget process. Over in the House, the Dems realized that doing the budget by themselves has not worked out and they were suffering politically because of it. The House Dems and Repubs worked very well together this year, that is obvious from how well the budget votes went and how quickly the budget bills came to a vote. In the Senate, the Dems refused to do anything in a bipartisan matter, and the fault isn’t entirely on the dems. The Republicans have been playing up the party rhetoric all year too, but the dems are in power and are responsible for bringing the rhetoric down and including all Senators in the process. - wordslinger - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 12:24 pm: –The SGOP’s were not allowed to participate in the budget process.– They could introduce bills, offer amendments, rally supporters, appeal to constituents, interested groups, editorial boards, etc. That IS the process. - AC - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 12:26 pm: I’d like to see a borrowing bill, along with every reasonable and even some less reasonable methods of raising revenue approved. Combined with budget cuts that don’t waste money in needless legal battles by breaking existing contracts with employees or vendors and that don’t violate the constitution would be a step in the right direction. If I were dreaming, I’d like to see every unfunded program initiated under the Blagojevich administration eliminated, and a fumigation bill resurrected. - Cincinnatus - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 12:35 pm: I believe the SGOP chose “etc” Word… - Realist - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 12:39 pm: That may be the process in the Senate, which is the problem. In the House they told the appropriation committees that they have X amount to spend and they have to get their budget proposals to that number. The Republicans and Democrats worked together to find areas to cut and get to X. As a result of this the House had a very well put together budget that passed the House with virtually no opposition, and the potential for a $1 Billion surplus that could be put towards bills. My cynical side tells me that last part won’t happen, but it’s a nice thought. I’m not railing against either party really, just the Senate’s poor performance this year, especially on the budget. - Cincinnatus - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 12:45 pm: Realist, What you don’t realize it is the Republican’s fault that the Democrat controlled Senate and the Democrat Governor cannot produce a balanced budget. I am beginning to believe everyone on CapFax who says Madigan is the smartest guy in the room. Failing to have Dillard as Governor, I wish it were Madigan. - Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 1:01 pm: Realist, The Senate Republicans won’t agree on a number. The Senate passed a resolution using the revenue number provided by the General Assembly’s economic agency, the one that is overseen by Republicans and Democrats alike. But Republicans didn’t support it. They haven’t participated since day 1. - Realist - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 1:04 pm: So if Republicans disagree with the revenue estimate, and vote against it, then they are not participating? It is important to note that the estimate the Senate Republicans endorsed, was the same one used by the House. The whole idea behind the smaller estimate is that revenues may indeed fall short this year, and if they don’t then they have some spare cash to pay off the bills. The Senate just wants to take all the money and spend it, with little going towards the backlog. - Cincinnatus - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 1:37 pm: Michelle, The GA’s economic agency assumes a 3% growth in GDP next year, using that as the benchmark for its projections. Analysts have lowered estimates to 2.7%. The House budget assumes a lower revenue number than either the Senate Dems or the Governor, and is more in line with these revised estimates. Schnorf, care to weigh in? - Fan of Cap Fax - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 2:02 pm: Keep Health Alliance. State employee morale is already in the toilet. Adding “you must make a change in your health insurance and it will cost you more $” to 100,000 workers will flush the remaining morale to the sewer. It will also mean a huge workload increase in every Agency HR/payroll department and CMS. Does that really translate to a cost savings? I just want to thank Both Sides Now for putting it so nicely. Because I’ve heard from many state employees who are LIVID about this. Totally wrong decision and makes me sick. But I better go to my Health Alliance doctor now, because I won’t be able to afford the deductable after July 1. Unbelievably bad leadership in this area. What have the state employees done to you? - wordslinger - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 9:12 pm: I think Radogno has the toughest job in Springfield. I greatly admired it when she pushed her caucus to roll out the dog-and-pony show and put some alternative thoughts on paper regarding the budget and the state’s fiscal situation. But then it fizzled, and regressed into the same-old “we’re not being included in the process” nonsense. I suspect there’s more to it than that. You don’t hold a press conference, put out briefing books,establish a website, etc., then all of a sudden discover you’re in the minority and walk away without even tossing bills in the hopper. The tough part for her, I suspect, in running that caucus is that you have one senator from central Illinois who got 1.7 million votes and came within a whisker of being elected governor; and you have another senator from DuPage, the ultimate insider since Thompson, who almost beat the other guy in the primary. Both of them have regional influence within the caucus. Both of them, you can bet, see themselves in the Big Chair in four years. Both of them, you can bet, are constantly, warily, eyeballing each other looking for an advantage. Are either of these guys, with their future ambitions, looking to step up and take a tough vote on anything? Certainly not if the other guy won’t. And if these competing, titular party leaders won’t do it, don’t be surprised that the others in the caucus just and cash their checks, too. Very tough job for Radogno. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.