* From a press release…
Madigan: House to Vote on Reforms to Assistance for Injured Workers
CHICAGO – House Speaker Michael J. Madigan announced the House will take up legislation Thursday to reform the system of assistance received by workers injured while on the job.
“As we have said previously, we’re willing to work with and compromise with Governor Rauner on any number of issues, and this proposal to reform the system of assistance for workers injured on the job will show that,” Madigan said. “The governor stated he believes this is one of the top issues, so we want to help him address it. We believe workers assistance can be reformed without hurting middle-class families. Our reform legislation will ensure savings for employers while protecting the livelihoods of injured workers.”
The House will convene at 1 p.m. Thursday.
*** UPDATE *** Lance Trover…
“Unsurprisingly, Speaker Madigan has proposed phony reforms in any effort to protect his special interest allies. His proposal ignores the most important reforms we need for our worker’s compensation system, and in another instance, could actually undermine previous reform efforts. Sadly, this is exactly the type of unserious, political posturing Illinoisans have now come to expect from the Speaker and the politicians he controls. Illinois needs real reform.”
- Anon - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:04 am:
Unless it is an agreed bill with the governor and the republican leadership whats the point?
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:09 am:
What are the terms? As I’ve said before, I’m cautiously interested in WC reform, but I’m honestly not sure what the Governor even wants (a “causation standard”, sure, but that can mean a lot of things), what he’s willing to give in return, or what the GA wants. But that might be my own ignorance. Anyone got any idea?
- old-pol - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:11 am:
The point is: The battle for the title of “Most Reasonable” (appearing)
- Rufus - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:16 am:
Workmans Comp. and Tort reform will be the two Rauner agenda items the the G.A. will compromise on. That’s my prediction. 2 out of 10 isn’t bad and Rauner will claim victory.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:17 am:
Is the governor around to negotiate on this legislation, or is he still in the Blago Bunker, waiting for his TV show to start?
Where’s that guy who during the campaign was going to be “on the floors, in the committee hearings?”
- Georg Sande - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:19 am:
Sure he is. He’s been super cooperative thus far.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:25 am:
This is worth watching. If it’s a continuation of the dog and pony show the Speaker has been running so far; it’s a shame. If it’s something else; it’s a breakthrough. Hmmmm.
- walker - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:34 am:
==Sure he has. He’s been super cooperative so far.==
Please remember to label your snark.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:34 am:
Wordslinger your posts typically are quite thoughtful, but I find the comparison of Blagojevich and Rauner to border on foolish. This governor is not Blagojevich. He may not be playing the game by the rules you are used to or comfortable with, but I don’t see him being another Rod by any stretch of the imagination.
- out of touch - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:37 am:
to Anon 10:34:
I believe Wordslinger was referring to a particular penchant that is common between Rauner and Blago: Fear and intimidation tactics and my way/highway negotiation versus seeking common ground on issues.
- phocion - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:40 am:
I want in on a drinking game involving how many times Madigan and Rauner say “middle class” to advocate for their respective positions on the same issue.
- walker - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:41 am:
If there are any changes to worker’s comp in this bill, then this is Madigan laying down a branch of peace to the Governor. This has always been one of a couple of areas where a deal could be made.
We’ll see whether Rauner will take it up, or negotiate further, or cry foul.
This should have been done by Madigan the first time this topic was on the floor three weeks ago. That was a harmful move by MJM. This might not be.
It shouldn’t be shunned by Rauner now, or it’s on him.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:42 am:
Every Governor talks tough with the Legislature at one time or another. In that manner, every single one of them are alike. This one has “particular skill sets” and resources to back it up like no other before him.
The Blago comparisons are just silly. Always have been. The comparison I accept is that it’s been harder on state workers (for different reasons) during the terms of each. Otherwise, the comparison is just hooey.
- allknowingmasterofracoondom - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:44 am:
out of touch:
I believe Wordslinger was referring to a particular penchant that is common between Rauner and Blago: Fear and intimidation tactics and my way/highway negotiation versus seeking common ground on issues.
Yea, except Rauner has the chops to back it up, he ain’t looking to the next election.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:47 am:
(Sigh)
- A Guy -,
The $20 million being used to own the GOP GA, and the two PACs designed to elect Raunerite Dems and the other to push Raunerite Agendas … IS Blago’s Plan be implimented.
Period.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:56 am:
OW, Respectfully disagree. A lot.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:59 am:
The Blago comparison I made was that, like Blago, the governor was largely absent during the legislative session.
No meetings the last two months with the Democratic leadership, no press the last two weeks until last Friday, according to published reports.
The TV show I referenced was his upcoming ad campaign.
That’s in contrast to the hands-on, “on the floors, in the committee hearings,” governor that Rauner said he was going to be during the campaign.
Others comparisons of Rauner to Blago are their own.
- old-pol - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:02 am:
This is a continuation of the Blago Madigan showdown that was interupted by his arrest and conviction. Blago would not go along with an income increase. When Quinn was put in, his puppet masters raised income taxes. Madigan and Cullerton did not count on Quinn losing when they put in the sunset. The structural cuts and reforms needed in 2008 and 2009 never came and now in 2016 we pick up where we left off in 2008.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:03 am:
The devil will be in the details of the bill. Calling it a Work Comp reform bill and saying it shows you’re comproming doesn’t tell me either is true. Madigans word is only worth what’s actually in the bill.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:07 am:
- Wordslinger -, I was only answering for my thoughts on Rauner/Blago, and my response was not to reflect anything you commented.
- A Guy -, the Blago/Rauner comparisons are there. You’re in denial. If you honestly can’t see the political apparatus Rauner is trying to cobble IS the Blago blueprint Rod couldn’t implement due to many reasons including NOT having $60 million pledged, $34 million actual on hand, the only person you’re not be honest with is yourself.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:07 am:
==The Blago comparisons are just silly.==
I disagree. The Governor’s approach to government has been similar to Blago’s because he and his people came in with little care for how the process works. They, like Blago, were gung ho for “change” but don’t realize that you still must work within the system to get that change.
So, the comparisons to Blago operationally are spot on.
- out of touch - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:09 am:
Just read Sandack’s tweet from 10:21 am, which criticizes the Speaker and HDems for “suddenly” wanting to talk about work comp. Aside from him tweeting his every conscience thought, is he going to now criticize the dems for talking about workers comp after he and his party have held the budget hostage until the dems talk about workers comp? Dude, you can’t have it both ways. And tweet it both ways.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:10 am:
Two things to keep an eye on that is not currently at the “surface level”:
1. I have a feeling that the tort reform groups that pushed for med mal reform in 2004 and 2005 will soon start making big pushes that we have not seen in a decade.
2. There are two 5th District Appellate Court options next year. Judge Stewart is running for retention, and the opening caused by Judge Wexstten’s retirement will be up for an actual election. I would bet that Governor Rauner throws some serious money at both of those efforts. Justice Kilbride was a target in 2010, and imagine what could/would have happened if a Bruce Rauner or Ken Griffin had thrown $1 or $2 million behind those efforts. The IL Supreme Court might look a bit different.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:12 am:
The Owl Sandack needs to Hoot. Actually, his “Hoots” on The Twitter give the best insight to Rauner. Owls know where the money held over their head comes from.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:26 am:
If it rants like a Blago, threatens like a Blago, and throws around campaign money like a Blago; it’s a Blago!
- The Way I See It - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:32 am:
Once the unions are all busted, WC rates will surely go down. Or maybe they won’t insurers will pocket the money, as they always do.
- DuPage - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:39 am:
Change the law to FORCE insurers to open their books. They already did one round of “reform” and the w/c rates did not go down. Other states make the companies open the books and rates are regulated by their states departments of insurance. Rates tend to be lower in states with regulated rates.
- Peoria Guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:49 am:
I have zero confidence that Madigan will propose anything substantive. Just a PR move.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:17 pm:
Does Sandack have an amendment he’d like to file? Is there any language he might propose for discussion purposes? Anything? An idea, or concept? Something we could read and react to, maybe share with stakeholders, or possibly analyze to see whether and how it’ll lower WC costs.
Put up or shut time was last month.
- Juice - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:24 pm:
Old-pol, what are these structural reforms that you speak of? The Governor’s education reform package basically includes a meaningless lifting of the cap on charter schools (since we’re not even at the cap today), and that’s it. Why? Because most of the rest of the wish list has already been done.
Medicaid liability, taking out the ACA population, has basically been pretty flat the last three years because of structural reforms.
The last administration closed two SODCs and two mental health hospitals. Two prisons and two youth centers, reducing those budget pressures by over $100 million.
Pension costs would be significantly higher than they are today if it weren’t for the tier 2 reforms passed in 2010, and we just saw that changes for current employees was a no-go, but like it or not, was attempted. So again, what structural reforms is the Governor actually proposing? I see a bunch of stuff that doesn’t impact the budget, so that doesn’t really alleviate the need for more revenue.
- Juice - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:25 pm:
47th, is Sandack now demanding that lobbyists be involved in the drafting of the legislation? Did he not get the memo?
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:37 pm:
Let’s see, he legitimately lives in Springfield. I’d argue he throws money around a lot better than Blago. His staff (or he) have consistently met with someone besides Emil Jones. He actually does go places in the state to speak with groups. And….he doesn’t spend a lot of time talking to reporters.
Anyone want to dispute any of those differences?
Sling, I get your point and accept the premise of your remarks/comparison.
- facts are stubborn things - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:45 pm:
MJM now pivots to give Rauner just enough of his turn around agenda to take the high ground and say, “ok you said give me some of my agenda and I will give you revenue.” We are reasonable having move a bit on reforms and also presenting a spending plan with cuts and now lets talk about how to fill the 3B gap in the budget. A dance for sure as each actually needs the other to get where we need to be.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:55 pm:
=== I’d argue he throws money around a lot better than Blago.===
Rauner has the “money to throw around”, lol. Further, if you call donating $400K hours before a vote “better”, yikes.
===His staff (or he) have consistently met with someone besides Emil Jones.===
“Do as I say, or have a $&@#% problem. If Rod had his own Raunerite funds, and PACs and bought 2 Caucuses, Rod would’ve met with those Caucuses he bought and paid for too.
===He actually does go places in the state to speak with groups.===
At times, with a PowerPoint talkin’ about things not possible. That’s pretty Rod-like
===And….he doesn’t spend a lot of time talking to reporters.===
With friends like @StatehouseChick, the Trib Edit board, you don’t need to talk to the press.
- A Guy -, Rauner, politically, IS running the Blago playbook that Rod salivated about; their own Caucuses.
That fundamental is true for both; they didn’t feel the need to be part of a party, they wanted themselves to BE a party.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 1:12 pm:
Willy, you’re convincing yourself and I think you’ve succeeded. As for me; no sale.
Little about these guys from birth to current day are much alike. But, tell yourself what you need to.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 1:24 pm:
- A Guy -, while your response seems dismissive, it’s only trying to be dismissive of me, not of the argument made.
It’s disengenuous thinking that the $60 million to get 60 and 30 from both parties to be Raunerites wasn’t Rod Blagojevich’s plan, and Rauner is implementing it.
- Juvenal - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 1:52 pm:
=== Unless it is an agreed bill with the governor and the republican leadership whats the point? ===
If it will actually save employers money, and the Republicans vote against it, how does the governor explain his opposition and his budget cuts?
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 2:39 pm:
OW, I don’t really know what Blago’s “plan” was. It’s hard to comprehend that he even had one. From my perch, he played the Senate against the House. The Senate is hopelessly more liberal today because of him. He paid a king’s ransom to them to pass nonsensical things. He made a few people around him very wealthy and then became jealous of their wealth. These two guys are from completely different molds with completely different ideology. A tactic here and there may be similar, as it would be with any Governor, but your repeated mantra about Rauner being similar to Blago is just a derogatory reference that highlights how much you dislike Rauner. I get it.
It’s just not a logically derived association. Personally, I think Blago had a lot more in common with George Ryan. But hey, that’s just me.
- facts are stubborn things - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 2:52 pm:
blogo had Pres. Jones
- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 3:05 pm:
Hey, guy, I knew both of them and you’re not even close.
- walker - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 3:53 pm:
A lot of watch words, a lot of speculation about secret motivations, a lot about personality comparisons, but not a lot of numbers.
The numbers say we can reach a budget solution, if both sides can get political cover.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 4:03 pm:
=== steve schnorf - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 3:05 pm:
Hey, guy, I knew both of them and you’re not even close.===
Fair enough. You know all 3, don’t you? (not sure how much better you know the current Gov. than you did before the election)
How alike are any of them?
To me, Blago’s in a category of his own. Shouldn’t have dragged George into it, but in a manner it made a point. If GR and RB were so far apart, BR is just as far if not further. He’s not like either of them or any of the Govs. I’ve been around for. (Stratton forward)
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 4:10 pm:
- A Guy -,
===It’s disengenuous thinking that the $60 million to get 60 and 30 from both parties to be Raunerites wasn’t Rod Blagojevich’s plan, and Rauner is implementing it.===
That isn’t ip for discussion. It WAS Rod’s plan with the “exotic” name, and Rauner IS running the plan with 2 PACs and Rauner’s own campaign fund.
It’s disingenuous to say different.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 4:28 pm:
OW, we simply don’t agree. It’s not because you haven’t said it enough, or don’t honestly believe it; I simply don’t accept the premise of it.
I will be interested in Mr. Schnorf’s answer (if he answers) on comparisons.
Generally speaking, the more I think about it, it’s hard to think of any of them that are really that much alike any of the others.
I understand how you feel Willy. You’re very clear. We don’t agree.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 4:40 pm:
- A Guy -,
It’s not that we agree or even disagree;
If you can’t understand the real ILGO PAC, the Turnaround Agenda PAC, the Rauner words stating clearly, that Rauner is… is looking to reward Democrats for supporting Rauner’s Agenda, all the while using $20 million to hold hostage the GOP GA. That was Rod’s plan.
You are being disenguous. It’s not a matter of opinion as to the playbook, it was Rod’s, Rauner is running it.
I’m not agreeing or disagreeing, nope. The actions of Rauner were Rod’s wishes.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 5:01 pm:
To the Update,
I hope the back channels are working better than these continuous talking points disguised as “new thoughts” towards another set of circumstances.
I would say it’s disappointing, but when you get the same drivel from the Press Shop as s response, your expectations for better messaging fade.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 5:01 pm:
Reading what looks to bathe proposed legislation, it’s nowhere close to what Rauner wants. Just a ploy.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 5:02 pm:
Do you think they discussed this; Bruce and Rod?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 5:11 pm:
It’s a playbook, a blueprint. Rauner is using the playbook of Rod.
I don’t understand “discussed”…
“Unsurprisingly, Gov. Rauner’s Press Shop has cut and pasted talking points to give the illusion of phony angst, in an effort to protect his doubling down on demands. The Press Shop’s release ignores the most important points of where they could help, publicly, but they need the work product to reflect Rauner’s messaging system, and in another instance, this could actually undermine previous olive branch efforts. Sadly, this is exactly the type of unserious, political posturing Illinoisans have now come to expect from those choosing rhetoric over governing and the Caucuses Rauner controls. Rauner needs a deal, and a win.”
- 1776 - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 5:33 pm:
You can put lipstick on a pig and it’s still a pig. Might as well have a “paid for the by the trial lawyers” at the bottom of the legislation.
- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 5:55 pm:
Guy, Governor Blagojevich was very charismatic, and had a very witty, self-deprecating sense of humor. He was not an effective Governor and I don’t believe he ever worked at being such. Governor Ryan isn’t charismatic, enjoyed and worked hard at being Governor, and was very effective. There’s a lot more that could be said, but why go into it now. The citizens re-elected Blago, and wouldn’t have re-elected GHR had he run. That alone shows the value of representative government over direct democracy.
- thoughts matter - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 8:32 pm:
I am confused. The governor keeps waffling over saying that he wants all of his Turnaround Agenda, to saying he’s compromising and only wanting some of it, back to he wants every item of it passed. I’m not seeing any compromising on his part from the outside looking in….
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 5:46 am:
The business groups need to figure out how to talk Rauner off the ledge, or it is going to be a very long four years.