Bread and circuses
Friday, Jun 5, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* It was more of a twig than a full branch…
House Democrats on Thursday passed their own workers’ compensation reform bill despite warnings from their Republican colleagues that it faces a certain veto.
Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Collinsville, said Democrats were making a sincere effort to improve the administration of the workers’ comp law and deliver savings to employers.
“We believe that, for the first time, this is us trying to extend an olive branch to the governor,” Hoffman said. “We are trying to move this issue forward.”
House Republicans were not buying in, especially when it came to changes in the definition of causation, or what makes an injury a workers’ comp-eligible injury.
* Gov. Rauner wasn’t impressed…
Rauner rejected the proposal labeling it as “phony” and warned that it could potentially cost businesses more. “This makes us less competitive,” he said. The legislation, which passed along party lines. The measure simply codifies existing interpretation of the law for legal purposes, critics say.
Rauner bashed Madigan, saying he believed some Democrats might embrace his proposals if not for their fear of angering the head of the state Democratic Party, who controls the party’s purse strings.
* To the bill…
One of the amendments added to the legislation addresses how compensation is paid if an injury is repetitive. Another would allow insurers to sue a previous employer for some of the costs incurred with injuries.
Another item makes it difficult for a company’s employees to obtain compensation if they injure themselves while traveling.
* Meanwhile…
But it wasn’t workers’ compensation that sparked a scorching verbal volley at day’s end. It was a Rauner aide’s comments to lawmakers who earlier in the day questioned him about how Rauner is paying his $250,000-a-year education secretary.
Deputy Chief of Staff Richard Goldberg labeled the appropriations committee’s proceedings as a “sham” when asked why school czar Beth Purvis is on the payroll of the Department of Human Services – an agency Rauner has targeted for spending cuts to deal with the deficit. The Chicago Sun-Times reported the arrangement last week.
Goldberg said previous governors had done the same thing and said, “There’s no reason to subject a great leader like Beth Purvis to a sham hearing.”
* I posted the governor’s stuff yesterday, so let’s take a look at the response…
Democrats say they are not concerned about Dr. Purvis’ qualifications or salary, but that her pay is coming out of a department facing significant cuts which will affect the elderly and children. They argue Dr. Purvis’ salary should come out of the education department or the governor’s office.
“This is not anything other than us being worried about precious dollars being diverted from the programs we are struggling to maintain,” said Representative Natalie Manley (D) Joliet.
* And…
“It really looks bad when we’re taking poor people off of child care and kicking them off of community care and paying somebody out of this budget,” said Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago. […]
“Her gender should have absolutely nothing to do with this conversation,” said Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Addison. “That is not what we’re questioning. We’re questioning why is her salary coming out of our budget.”
* Also…
Purvis herself did not appear before the committee, though numerous members said they wanted to question her personally.
Later in the day, state Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, blasted Rauner’s aide on the House floor.
“You used that committee time as an opportunity to be insulting and to be degrading and to say things that are beneath the dignity of this chamber,” Lang shouted. “I stand against those comments. I stand against that press release. . . . Those comments were degrading to the process, and they should stop.”
When Lang sat down after his remarks, Democrats gave him a standing ovation, including Madigan — who inched toward Lang while applauding and smiling.
* Oof…
State Rep. Lou Lang took to the House floor on Thursday to denounce Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration for accusing Democrats of launching a “sexual smear campaign” against education czar Beth Purvis.
A key Rauner aide answered back.
On Twitter.
“Seriously, Lou. Give it up. It is a sexist smear campaign you and your colleagues continue to engage in,” Rauner’s communication director Lance Trover (@ltrover) tweeted.
Trover also tweeted: “Lou Lang – another politician Madigan controls,” and “Speaker Madigan to Gov: please, please just raise taxes so we can all go home!!”
As House Speaker Mike Madigan took questions from reporters after the House session, Trover tweeted: “The Speaker is the best spokesman for everything that is wrong in this state.”
They are truly relishing their roles here.
- Just Me - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:06 am:
They’ve brought DC style politics to Springfield. Ugh.
- Anonymiss - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:06 am:
Lance - that’s Representative Lang to you, young man. You sound like a disrespectful child, and so should be treated like one.
- Norseman - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:09 am:
Give it up Lance! You’re nowhere near his caliber. Actually, you’ve become quite lame.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:10 am:
The Owl hooted a tweet about storming out of the hearing, which was exciting and full of zest and vigor…
Where are the Adults?
It saddening to see both Caucuses and the Governor’s Office went about all of their businesses with such utter rancor.
But, the show, I’m enjoying the show.
They all can begin governing at any time too.
- Austin Blvd - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:10 am:
Kind of mean-spirited, just like this new Administration.
- walker - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:10 am:
A shame about not making more progress on the workers’ comp bill. Rather than just calling it “phony,” why not say “here are a couple of amendments to make it better?”
The whole Purvis salary issue was a waste of time for all involved. Lang oratorically soared, Trover jabbed at the balloon, nothing accomplished. Only thing missing was a command performance sing along.
- Arizona Bob - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:11 am:
BTW, did any “journalist” question the Madman regarding what he wants to do for reallocating funding priorities to protect the “poor, sick and weak” or damaging families, jobs and businesses through state tax increases?
No leading questions from me, huh?
- Cassandra - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:11 am:
Is Ms. Purvis worth all of this, er, political capital on either side. And does it matter what budget her salary comes out of, given that state monies are so, so fungible. For example, to make up the dif, they could sweep another fund or something. Plenty of money in those special funds still. Our Illinois shadow budget is full of cash.
If she does anything substantive to improve Illinois’ abysmal public education system (doesn’t seem to have happened so far–attending Calif. conferences is not substantive) she’ll be worth her $250,000. But what, exactly, are her goals for her tenure. Has she said yet. Then we’d have something to measure.
- MrJM - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:12 am:
I have it on good authority that things posted on Twitter aren’t news. Ironically, that snide message was delivered in the form of a tweet: https://twitter.com/rap30/status/606634934212493312
– MrJM
- wndycty - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:13 am:
Since Trover’s Twitter profile reads:
“Communications Director for Gov. Rauner. Love politics, Chicago, DC, and Cardinals baseball. Embrace the unexpected. Tweets/Re-Tweets are my own.”
Shouldn’t he have used a government account at that time? Or since “Tweets/Re-Tweets” are his own was he on personal time and will his time sheets reflect that. . . .hmmmmmm
- West Side the Best Side - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:15 am:
Let’s take away everyone’s twitter accounts, e-mails, etc. Try to act like adults not like people who sit next to each other not talking, but e-mailing back and forth. That should apply both to elected officials as well as smart___ young staffers.
- Austin Blvd - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:19 am:
There are some pretty good reason the troops outside the Sfld sandbox aren’t exactly rallying around the GOP and House.
1) they are learning that Rauner’s budget was a sham.
2) they are seeing that Rauner is really a mean-spirited kind of guy and it is resinating throughout his administration.
3) Ron Sandack is not ready for prime time.
- Langhorne - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:19 am:
===as House Speaker Mike Madigan took questions from reporters after the House session, Trover tweeted: “The Speaker is the best spokesman for everything that is wrong in this state.”===
Juvenile. Undignified. You do realize you are going to need him before this is over, right? Not smart at all. Madigan doesnt forget insults.
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:20 am:
For being in the business world for so many years, you would think the governor could at least hire people with some level of professionalism.
- x ace - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:21 am:
wndycty - good point on Trover’s personal/government conflict - Qui Tam Whistle Blower Suit possible ? Ring the Bell ?
- Downstate GOP Faithless - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:23 am:
I am not expert, but when the argument is “this is sexism” you’ve already lost…this is not the first salary battle the governor has taken on, and you never win them!
- Anonymous - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:24 am:
==Shouldn’t he have used a government account at that time?==
Steve Brown freely posts here many times during work hours, no? What’s the difference?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:25 am:
The Owl has been known to hoot his Tweets during committee hearing, when in the floor, while he should be listening…
Wonder if someone is cataloging the over 29,900 Tweets.
“Who” tweets so much that the feel the need to Tweet, then do the people’s business?
Who? Who?
- Deep South - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:29 am:
Guys like Trover, and Goldberg, eventually go down in their own flames. The strategy should be how to make than happen sooner rather than later.
- Langhorne - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:29 am:
===he believed some might embrace his proposals if not for their fear of angering the head of the state ______ Party, who controls the party’s purse strings.===
So when madigan controls purse strings, he is a corrupt puppet master, defending the status quo. But when rauner spreads cash around, he is leveling the playing field, to shake things up and break the strangehold of unions. Got it. Get the guy a mirror.
- wndycty - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:33 am:
===Steve Brown freely posts here many times during work hours, no? What’s the difference?===
Simple as far as I can see Steve Brown is acting in his official capacity, Trover was using his personal account. A very big and important difference.
- Norseman - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:34 am:
=== Steve Brown freely posts here many times during work hours, no? What’s the difference? ===
Steve Brown’s job is to communicate with the public through media outlets. That’s Lance’s job too, but Lance seems to avoid forums where his logic, or lack thereof, can get challenged.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:36 am:
==Simple as far as I can see Steve Brown is acting in his official capacity, Trover was using his personal account. A very big and important difference==
Odd, I never see any such indication in his posts. They’re both spokespersons. Its their job to spread the bosses message, by any medium necessary.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:38 am:
==Lance seems to avoid forums where his logic, or lack thereof, can get challenged.==
People never debate on Twitter?? LOL, that’s funny
- wndycty - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:42 am:
===Odd, I never see any such indication in his posts. They’re both spokespersons. Its their job to spread the bosses message, by any medium necessary.===
If he is posting on his personal social media account, he should be doing so on personal time and his time sheets should reflect that.
Do you understand the difference between personal and government time? Both Brown and Trover have more leeway re: politics than most state employers, but I believe the line here is the fact he was using his personal account.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:47 am:
I guess “ck” likes the drama…
@catekelly: The Democrats could win a Tony Award for this political theater. If they used this time negotiating, we could turnaround Illinois.
Her Twitter isn’t as much fun as Lance’s
- hisgirlfriday - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:48 am:
If it’s his personal account he is still a citizen allowed to have an opinion. Not sure what you are on about with this govt/personal time thing. I doubt Trover is an hourly hire anyway. The only issues would be if he’s using the account for work if he has to make all tweets even deleted ones foia-able and if his DMs could be subject to possible foia issues like e-mail
- Muscular - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:53 am:
There is a difference between the money Madigan gives to lawmakers and that of Bruce Rauner. Madigan’s money comes from the special interests that have business in front of the general assembly, such as trial lawyers and government unions. The money Bruce Rauner has in his accounts for political activity comes from the money he earns himself as an investor. Other donors, such as Ken Griffin, have no business in front of the GA. Bruce Rauner has no conflict of interest with his donations.
- wndycty - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:55 am:
So “hisgirlfriday” you have no problem with state employees using their personal social media accounts when they are on the clock? So if you knew a state employee was tweeting about basketball or bars, or posting FB pictures from their last vacation DURING THE DAY, you are cool with that?
If you allow them to use personal social media you really can’t dictate what they post, but you could keep them from using personal social media.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:57 am:
==Steve Brown freely posts here many times during work hours==
==acting in his official capacity==
You clearly have not read some of Mr Brown’s comments here, which can be very funny at times and are clearly not ==official== or work related. Both Trover and Brown should be given some slack.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:58 am:
You’re stretching like Armstrong to try and create an issue here, wndy, where there isn’t one
- Austin Blvd - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:58 am:
Note to hisgirlfriday…
The point to be made here is that Trover is a public servant, paid by taxpayers.
He is not paid personally by Bruce Rauner.
- Juice - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 12:01 pm:
Muscular, do you have a breakdown of the companies and interests in which Ken makes his money? He’s already made millions back from his election investment from his income tax rate. What else may he see a return from?
- Get a Job! - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 12:03 pm:
Muscular, give me a break. The tax rate doesn’t affect Ken Griffin?
- burbanite - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 12:12 pm:
How old is Trover? 10?
- Wensicia - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 12:13 pm:
The bottom-feeders Rauner uses for mouthpieces aren’t helping him.
- Precinct Captain - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 12:20 pm:
==- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:20 am:==
You’re mistaking the governor’s businesss experience for meaningful management experience, which he sorely lacks. He was a smiling pitchman, not an analyst, not a management guru.
==- Muscular - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:53 am:==
==from the money he earns himself as an investor==
Bruce made billions off of public pension funds.
- Georg Sande - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 12:24 pm:
Gosh this space is funny. #Delusional
- Wordslinger - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 12:25 pm:
If the message is we have a strong leader superstar woman doing a great job, demonstrate that by the strong woman delivering the message.
Not some twitchy wonderboy campaign hack who still gets carded when he buys his Zimas.
Rauner would be wise to put some peeps out front who have been able to rent a car for a few years. And someone a little more stable than Shrimpf to vet the message.
But, hey, it’s his frat house.
- Team Sleep - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 12:38 pm:
First - for all the angst towards Lance’s last tweet, remember that Mike Madigan’s poll numbers are in the toilet.
Second - to tie the first point into this point, Madigan finally has an opponent who can push points behind those poll numbers and behind that sentiment.
Third - the reason Illinois has “avoided” DC style politics is because one side has been so weak for so long that the majority party has been able to play both offence and defense. But divided government (especially over the last 20 years) has almost been the norm in D.C. Other than 2003-2007 and 2009-2011, the political landscape in D.C. has been split. So the opportunity for true gridlock and non-stop PR battles has been there for the taking. That has not been the case in Illinois. Even in 2010 - when the ILGOP did very well in the federal races and pretty well in the state legislative races - we never captured the true prize and were almost left back where we started. Now the story is different, and people are surprised. Why? Did anyone think that a guy like Bruce Rauner was going to come into 207 State House and lay down? I never thought that, and I assumed on January 12th that we would be in overtime.
- Demoralized - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 12:41 pm:
I find these constant Tweets from Mr. Trover to be absolutely ridiculous. The fact that they allow this guy to say crap like this on Twitter is truly amazing to me. Enough already. Stop acting like a bunch of two year olds. Everybody.
- Demoralized - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 12:41 pm:
And I agree that it is completely disrespectful to come into a committee of the GA and lecture them. Save that for the press releases and press conferences. It’s inappropriate.
- ALT - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 12:49 pm:
There is nothing illegal or unethical about Trover jumping in the fray like this. But still, as a former flak, it strikes me as unprofessional and a little risky, too. Rule number one for a media spokesman is (or at least used to be,) don’t make yourself part of the story…when you do, bad things happen to your career.
- Politix - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 1:05 pm:
Goldman is young and arrogant. He acted like a petulant child, talking back, always having to get the last nasty word in. It’s OK to disagree and even get angry. But show some class, man.
I will refrain from commenting on Sandack today to avoid deletion.
- sideline watcher - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 1:11 pm:
Again…Rich Goldberg. Lance Trover. Someone mentioned on one of these threads that the staffers should never become the story. Agreed. Totally.
Insults and name calling generally always create awesome negotiation strategy! Well played for people who want to make it clear that they have no intention of agreeing on anything. Its in their best interest to play scorched earth politics. That’s who they are. That’s who they play to.
Rich’s capitol fax for subscribers today is very simply awesome and highlights where people are falling for show and being distracted into ridiculousness. If you are on here, you should really subscribe for the real back story.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 1:14 pm:
==Someone mentioned on one of these threads that the staffers should never become the story. Agreed. Totally.==
You’re assuming they’re doing what they’re doing on their on, without approval and/or instruction. I would guess that to be a poor assumption
- Ghost - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 1:42 pm:
the dream of another Jim Thompson implodes as the GOP version of Blago moves in….
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 2:04 pm:
==state Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, blasted Rauner’s aide on the House floor==
Blasting staffers from the House floor is now accepted and applauded?
Bert Brooke, Steve Brown and others must be excited to issue their next press release.
- dupage dan - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 2:18 pm:
The politics of race and sex. As ye sow……..
- zatoichi - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 2:18 pm:
Using Twitter as a response in a verbal argument is hardly a gutsy move.
- Filmmaker Professor - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 2:18 pm:
=If it’s his personal account he is still a citizen allowed to have an opinion.=
Really? Look up Salaita, Steve to find out more about what happens to citizens tweeting their opinions.
- Arthur Andersen - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 2:25 pm:
That’s true, Professor, but in this situation the Employer is highly unlikely to be offended or receive “constituent group concern” over the Employee’s Tweets.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 3:18 pm:
Time to sick William Kelly back on Trover. The Dems should hire him to follow Trover around.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOz6oZGrPyA
- Short Bus Rider - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 3:20 pm:
MJM appropriates more than than in a good day, that’s the pot calling the kettle black.