30 Comments - 47th Ward - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 2:47 pm: Did Radogno ever put Rauner’s budget in bill form and sponsor it as she promised Jak Tichenor she would do back in February? Will Radogno be voting for Rauner’s budget? Hint: it’s the green button. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 2:50 pm: The Rauner Cuts… The Rauner Cuts. - Tournaround Agenda - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 2:51 pm: I’m going to need more popcorn. - East Central Illinois - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 2:53 pm: It’s kinda like watching sausage being made . . . but it sure doesn’t taste as good. - Wordslinger - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 2:54 pm: I’m thinking that accusing the senate of being MJM stooges wasn’t a good idea. - Juice - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 2:54 pm: Well, why should Madigan have all the fun? - VanillaMan - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 2:59 pm: I thought I smelled popcorn! Tonight’s Feature: How To Train Your Governor Synopsis - Bored multi-millionaire, obsessed by hatred over labor unions tries to buy enough votes to bury them and lower the standard of living of all citizens in order to impress his rich friends and buy the love of the electorate. COMEDY - Paddyrollingstone - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 3:10 pm: Well played, VM. I’m trying to think who would be cast as the governor, Snidely V. Carhartt III. Maybe a younger Fred Thompson? - William - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 3:13 pm: Thank you Illinois Senate Democrats for proving along with the House that your party is devoid of ideas and solutions when it comes to fixing the state’s finances. Bravo!! - Bill White - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 3:13 pm: https://twitter.com/DHStatehouse/status/603654522469253120 Apparently, 50 percent cut to Local Government Distributive Fund didn’t get a single vote. - me too - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 3:19 pm: This reminds me of blago’s GRT. He said he wanted everyone to vote against his idea. Lol - Enviro - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 3:21 pm: Thank you Illinois Senate Democrats and House Democrats for proving that you won’t be pushed around by this governor. - The Dude Abides - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 3:27 pm: @William, did you get a check from Governor Carhartt too, or was it only the GOP members of the legislature? Speaking of ideas, going around the state arguing that middle class workers like those who build and repair our roads are being paid too much sounds like a bad idea. - 47th Ward - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 3:29 pm: Toi Hutchinson is knocking it out of the park on the Senate floor right now. - walker - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 3:41 pm: HB200 is not a “budget cut” It is the taking of tax revenues formerly distributed locally. At the state budget level it is a tax revenue increase. - downstate commissioner - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 3:50 pm: Walker-good point! And a LOT of those voting started their political careers at the local level, and still have friends there… A lot more friends than Rauner does… - Precinct Captain - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 3:51 pm: ==- William - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 3:13 pm:== What’s the solution to the governor’s fantasy budget with a $3 billion hole in phony savings? - Distant Viewer - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 3:51 pm: Taking money from municipalities to fix a hole in the state budget is going to be even worse than if we just cut the state budget. I think it would be against almost every member’s interest to do this. Each one that votes to take the money away will be the scapegoat for why their community has to cut services. - East Central Illinois - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 3:54 pm: Is there any adult in the room? . . . Bueller? . . . Bueller? - Juvenal - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 4:07 pm: Miracle Max: There’s a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive. With all dead, well, with all dead there’s usually only one thing you can do. Inigo Montoya: What’s that? Miracle Max: Go through his clothes and look for loose change. - Precinct Captain - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 4:11 pm: Once again, not a single Republican had the courage to stand up for their governor. That’s some crew Sonny’s got going for him. - zonz - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 4:28 pm: nice “Democrats are going it alone on the budget and the bills are flying. How can you keep track of all the budget legislation out there? By using this handy list.” http://wuis.org/post/past-due-whats-budget-bills - Arizona Bob - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 4:32 pm: Great. Now we can see the “Madigan cuts” and “Hutchinson cuts” and the “Cullerton cuts” needed to balance revenues and spending. I can expect that, right? I mean it just makes sense that it’s irresponsible to spend more than you have when there’s $32 billion in revenues and you need to prioritize where you can get to $32 billion from $36 billion, huh? Mike Madigan, Cullerton and Hutchinson, you’re gonna tell us what spending we can do without or defer right? RIGHT? - sideline watcher - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 4:38 pm: @Arizona Bob Nope. That’s for the Governor to do. He doesn’t think we need the money so he’ll have to decide what to cut. Budget isn’t done till the Government signs it. So if he won’t sign it, he should cut what he deems is inessential. It’s really very simple. - Norseman - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 4:50 pm: I laugh at the way legislators who didn’t give a hoot about the constitutionality of SB 1 are now hyper concerned about the constitutionality of the Dem budget plan. - 47th Ward - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 4:51 pm: What Matt Murphy and Jason Barickman know but pretend to misunderstand is that appropriations bills, like today’s, give the Governor the authority to spend money on various, specified programs. I figure AB simply doesn’t understand any of this, but I hold Murphy and Barickman to a somewhat higher standard. Well, Murphy at least. Revenue bills are needed to collect more revenue or new revenue. They aren’t the same as appropriations bills. Then there are budget implementation bills… Try to keep up Bob. - Bill White - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 4:55 pm: Matt Murphy is asking if the budget passes the IL Senate, and there is no revenue enhancement, is the budget unconstitutional? The question is premature unless or until the Governor signs the budget, given the line item veto powers found in the IL Constitution. If the Governor uses his AV powers, then why is there any problem? - anon - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 5:00 pm: Thank you dems for accelerating the speed of the train headed for the brick wall. - Juice - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 5:02 pm: Bill White, the constitution requires the GA to pass a budget where appropriations are not greater than anticipated revenue. However, there are approximately $4.5 billion in transfers to other funds (including debt service), so I do think this is in compliance. The constitution does not require the GA to pass a “balanced” budget. - RNUG - Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 10:38 pm: == I’m trying to think who would be cast as the governor, Snidely V. Carhartt III. == It may be typecasting, but I’m thinking Rodney Dangerfield. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.