210 Comments - Norseman - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:00 pm: Bravo. - A guy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:05 pm: Inching their way to helpful maybe. File a separate bill. - Snucka - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:06 pm: Nice. If passed, the Senate will need to approve the amendment. They’re not scheduled to be back until next Tuesday… - burbanite - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:08 pm: Did you read the pension bill A guy? Hows about the governor files separate bills for hia separate issues. - burbanite - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:08 pm: his - Huh? - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:09 pm: Given the governor’s opposition to the 1 month budget, the amendment is sure to die. Best to have a stand alone bill. - Westward - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:09 pm: Well yah! It’s crunch time! So predictable. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:09 pm: ===File a separate bill.=== Nope. The Governor had his chance, he blew it, it wasn’t worth it to Rauner to fix it the 1st time. Amendment is the right play. - Philo - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:10 pm: Now Rauner will have to decide if his is willing to pay pampered, overpaid state workers (based on his rhetoric) while taking his AV to the temp budget. Workers but not the sick and poor? - Wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:10 pm: Does anyone need to explain to the governor the range of his veto powers? He was confused about it yesterday. - Emily Miller - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:11 pm: The house amendment does not change the language that ends the appropriation as of August 1. We’ve still got a lot of work to do. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:12 pm: ===Either way, it puts him and particularly the House Republicans=== It’s the Ed Approp vote all over again. That’s why… it’s the right play for this Bill - A Jack - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:15 pm: Now let’s see if Rauner tries to one-up the Democrats by saying they only are paying them at FY15 levels, but those employees deserve a 5% raise. This pawn thing could turn out to be fun. - Bob Hicks - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:20 pm: It is a one-month budget. Rauner should sign it if he really wants to take paycheck issue off the table. - Just Me - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:21 pm: Call it a compromise and a win/win, then get back to work on a real budget. - Langhorne - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:23 pm: Calling rauners bluff. Now he will have to come up w a reason to object to it. Cant let madigan have a victory. Rauners blather that madigan controls everything, so he can just go ahead and pass $4 bil in revenue is laughable. Rauner is not pat quinn. 36/71, remember? Repubs dont get to sit on the sidelines and vote no. They have to do heavy lifting, esp including targets. - Cornbelter - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:23 pm: The amendment is drafted improperly, it won’t work as is. - A guy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:24 pm: +++ Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:09 pm: ===File a separate bill.=== Nope. The Governor had his chance, he blew it, it wasn’t worth it to Rauner to fix it the 1st time. Amendment is the right play.++++ And what are you risking with such bravado my friend? This is what it is; toying with state employees pay as part of a strategy. You for that? Matters not to me what could be done last week, last month, etc. A sincere effort to pay people and not financially disrupt their lives has some strong merit IMO. If you’re sincere, file a separate bill. If you’re not, well…that’s easy to see. - walker - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:25 pm: Rauner should have no problem with the numbers, only with the idea. Here we go again. - Frenchie Mendoza - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:26 pm: Rauner will veto this — and then spam employees with an anti-Madigan letter explaining that, yeah, you guys can’t get paid because Madigan is preventing it. Mark my words. This is what will happen. Lately, Rauner has taken to spamming employees with overly long — weirdly italicized — emails. - Wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:27 pm: Someome said he’d do everything in his power to get people paid. Here’s his second chance to do just that. - Mason born - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:29 pm: As for the poison pill you mention Rich. I was in my ignorance of the assumption the gov can spend less than the amount budgeted. If so couldn’t he simply spend the lesser amount? Ok small words for the Gov. take this sign it. You give up 30 days of your leverage in exchange for 365 days of the leverage on you. It’s called a good deal. - The Dude Abides - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:30 pm: Will the GOP members get to vote how they want or will the Governor instruct them to vote “present”, like he has been doing? Rauner has said that he will veto a one month budget but he can use his amendatory veto and sign this if he really is concerned about employees getting paid. If he doesn’t sign the bill it just shows that the act of doing to court to see that the workers get paid on time was, for lack of a better word, a “sham”. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:31 pm: - A Guy -, Nope. Amendment. It’s choosing time. All the commercials, “blame”, the phony baloney “worth” statements… enough. Rauner IS the governor. Rauner could’ve stop this with the employees. Laziness or the simplicity of an overall veto and lacking the courage to AV… Enough. The Amendment is the right thing, thanks. ===This is what it is; toying with state employees pay as part of a strategy. You for that?=== Vetoing their pay, on purpose, then “fightin’ for them” after being the cause… it’s tough… learnin’ on the job. Rauner and the GOP GA now need to decide. As @TribTowerChick says, “Simple” - Anonymous Redux - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:32 pm: Everyone deserves a second chance. Radical Rauner Republicans all have a chance to change their minds…especially those who wish to be re-elected? - Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:33 pm: “Who!” “Who!” Sandack has literally become the joke at this point. - Southern Illinois Hoopdee - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:33 pm: A guy, Madigan isn’t going to, because he doesn’t have to. I’m all for calling out Rauner for his slips, but the ultimate issue is nothing is going to change and IL will continue off the fiscal cliff. Only way to avoid that is a major tax hike, progressive in nature. - Nick Danger - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:35 pm: The Republicans already have a bill to pay state workers (HB4254). But like all the other political games that are run in the House by Madigan and his crew, they are keeping that bill bottled-up in Rules. Hypocrisy I say! - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:36 pm: To the second “Adding… ” The LLs and Press Shop… They were always going to hold Rauner’s trajectory. Think about that second “Adding…”… Laziness, or just vetoing to not owning led to this. All self-inflicted. It’s a meltdown of not fundamentally understanding what you are doing, and what it means after. Enough. It’s choosing time. Time to govern. Fun’s over. - A guy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:37 pm: Sorry Willy. Can’t agree with you. Sincere = stand alone bill. Chess = Screw with people’s lives. The Speaker’s playing Chess to get a crack in the door with his one month budget. Aren’t any circumstances that come to my mind that suggest to me a one month budget is a good idea is a state in the soup we’re in. Pay the employees and have the obvious transparent fight without hostages on either side. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:38 pm: The Owl Sandack, He beat Uihlein, and instead of riding that victory, it was “worth” being owned and co-opted. “Who” wouldda thought? - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:38 pm: ===Chess = Screw with people’s lives=== https://capitolfax.com/2015/07/09/the-mother-of-all-poison-pills/ - A guy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:39 pm: === Southern Illinois Hoopdee - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:33 pm: A guy, Madigan isn’t going to, because he doesn’t have to…=== SIH, yet. he may not have to yet. But his veil is getting thinner by the day. MJM is like dealing with China. Any agreement needs to allow him to “save face”. He could very likely be in too deep. We’ll see. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:39 pm: Then - A Guy -, Your Rauner, is Pat Quinn. How about ‘dem “apples” - Arsenal - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:40 pm: ==This is what it is; toying with state employees pay as part of a strategy. You for that?== It’s not toying at all. Democrats have already said that they consider the rest of this bill priorities, and are adding salaries to that list. If the Governor disagrees, he has a line-item veto. - Roscoe Tom - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:42 pm: Any stones on the Republican Side or do they just collect their pay and follow the boss with love in their heart? - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:42 pm: ===It’s not toying at all=== Sure it is. C’mon. - A guy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:43 pm: === Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:38 pm: ===Chess = Screw with people’s lives=== https://capitolfax.com/2015/07/09/the-mother-of-all-poison-pills/=== I read it. What? You want me to print it? lol I’m not advocating this BS on either side. C’mon man, if it can be an amendment, it can be a bill. That is; unless you’re entirely kidding about the amendment in the first place and not really serious. Chess. It stinks no matter who’s playing if the risk is to anyone other than the players. Privileged to know you’re watchin’ though. lol - @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:44 pm: “This is what it is; toying with state employees pay as part of a strategy.” As opposed to Rauner’s toying with state employees pay as an end in itself? – MrJM - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:44 pm: === MJM is like dealing with China. Any agreement needs to allow him to “save face”.=== Are you NOT paying attention. Seriously. Rauner, personally, vetoed state employees pay. Coulda used the AV. This… This is also saving face for Rauner. It’s as though you now are clueless as what’s at play here. - non-partisan - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:45 pm: Illinois Politics as usual. M. Madigan is tossing up another softball for G. Rauner to swat. Then the AFSCME fliers will circulate and will fail to mention Madigan at all. - Say It Ain't So!! - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:45 pm: Rauner knows that there will need to be some kind of tax increase to finally balance the budget. By stringing this out, he is ensuring that the tax increase will need to be larger than if he just agreed to it now. If moving the State income tax up to 4.75% over a 12 month period will generate enough income to balance the budget(I don’t know if really will), getting only 8 months from that same 3.75% tax is going to short balancing the budget, so it might need to be 5%. The more he waits to enact the tax, the more it will need to be and it will all his fault that it needs to be jacked up more. - Arsenal - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:46 pm: ==Pay the employees and have the obvious transparent fight without hostages on either side.== If you don’t want either side to have hostages, a temporary budget is the way to go. Otherwise, everything that woulda been funded by it has a gun to its head. - Arsenal - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:49 pm: ==Sure it is.== I don’t see it. If you want the state workers paid, the GA has to pass a bill. If you don’t want anything else paid, the Governor can use the Line Item. - A guy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:49 pm: Oh O Willy. Catch up to today. Clueless or not clueless about yesterday or last week doesn’t change what’s on the table today. That’s how these entirely idiotic overtime sessions go. Don’t preach about the shot that hit the post in the middle of the 3rd period man. It didn’t go in, we’re in overtime, and now we’re relying on luck more than skill. Doesn’t mean the state workers need to miss pay days. None of it does. - Nick Danger - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:51 pm: Lou Lang is eloquent no matter how much baloney he’s slinging. - A guy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:52 pm: ++++ Arsenal - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:46 pm: ==Pay the employees and have the obvious transparent fight without hostages on either side.== If you don’t want either side to have hostages, a temporary budget is the way to go….+++ Strange logic there. So strange, it isn’t logical. - Arsenal - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:52 pm: The moral distinction between passing 1 bill that funds government “essentials” including salaries, and 2 bills- one for the “essentials” one for the salaries- is lost on me, especially since the Governor has the power to nix anything he thinks isn’t “essential”. - Wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:55 pm: Guy, in your principled and well thought out stand of not screwing with people’s lives, how is that schools get funded, state employees get paid, but everyone else takes the hit? What makes them unworthy of not being screwed with, in your mind? - Frenchie Mendoza - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:55 pm: Actually, now that I think about it, today is a good day for the GOP folks to grandstand and talk about how important the little people (i.e., state workers) are to the functioning of the state. It’s a way to score some points — grab a little political karma for the big battle down the line. I hope the GOP are smart enough to take advantage it. Likewise, I expect the GOP to be the first in line to forgo their own checks when the employees of the state do not receive theirs. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:56 pm: ===Don’t preach about the shot that hit the post in the middle of the 3rd period man. It didn’t go in, we’re in overtime, and now we’re relying on luck more than skill.=== Rauner vetoed. Rauner owns. Glad you understand, lol. ===Doesn’t mean the state workers need to miss pay days. None of it does.=== Rauner can sign it, the GOP GA can vote for it. Governing is difficult. Choose wisely. - A guy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:57 pm: Or you could just send him a clean bill that could achieve a unanimous vote in both chambers. But, hey, your way sounds more fun. To you. - Arsenal - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:57 pm: ==Strange logic there.== I’m sure you do find straightforward thinking strange… - Southern Illinois Hoopdee - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:57 pm: –Sure it is.– Tell that to people like Willy. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ If Rauner is being held to that standard, so should the speaker. - A guy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:59 pm: “What makes them unworthy of not being screwed with, in your mind?” Nothing Sling, nothing. - Blago's Luxurious Grey Mane - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:59 pm: There are no angels in this thing. - Arsenal - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 1:59 pm: ==Or you could just send him a clean bill that could achieve a unanimous vote in both chambers.== I rather suspect the state employees don’t care if the vote is unanimous or if it barely gets over the line. I rather suspect the Governor doesn’t care, either. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:00 pm: - A Guy - and - SIH - Co-Equal branches… Rauner can always veto. Rauner isn’t helpless. No one is stopping him. In divided government, sometimes the co-equal bites back after an unforced error. Dems the breaks… - dawn - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:00 pm: Forget about Rauner for a second. Is Durkin really going to make his caucus vote against state employees’ salaries AGAIN???!!! - A guy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:03 pm: ===’I rather suspect the state employees don’t care if the vote is unanimous or if it barely gets over the line.”=== I rather suspect they’d memorize the name of every soul who voted against it. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:04 pm: ===I rather suspect they’d memorize the name of every soul who voted against it.=== Then I’m sure Durkin will let there be 47 “green”, even if Rauner vetoes… Again, governing is difficult, choose wisely. - Person 8 - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:05 pm: “Is Durkin really going to make his caucus” If Rauner tells them to, yes. They’ll call it a sham ect… ect.. and vote present. What would be interesting is if this does happen, and then Gov Rauner, uses his line item and leaves Durkin out to dry..AGAIN. - Arsenal - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:09 pm: ==I rather suspect they’d memorize the name of every soul who voted against it.== I actually kinda doubt that, but even if they did, I’m not exactly moved by the Representatives’ plights. It’s no one else’s job to make their political careers as painless as possible. - Southern Illinois Hoopdee - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:11 pm: Oswego - not denying that. But Madigan has made some unforced errors himself. Rauner has shown an exceptional lack of ability here, makes me think he’s playing checkers while Madigan is playing chess. But most around me could care less about the political chess, they just need to get paid. Blago’s Mane - couldn’t say it any better myself. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:15 pm: - SIH -, Then if it passes, and Rauner chooses, as a Governor does, then that will be it. This would be a good lesson the Governor’s LLs and Press Shop can learn from, I hope - Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:16 pm: Does anyone take this seriously? Run a clean bill or mutually negotiate an extension and we can take it seriously. Anything less, by Rauner or Madigan, is empty posturing. Some commenters seem to have forgotten to label their comments as snark today. - Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:21 pm: Also: If Rauner sits on his hands and does not counter this asap by introducing a clean plan to temporarily pay state employees, then he deserves whatever criticism he gets. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:21 pm: ===does not counter this asap by introducing a clean plan to temporarily pay state employees=== He has one. - Wensicia - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:22 pm: ==They’ll call it a sham ect== I don’t think they’ll want to call anything that restores state workers’ paychecks “sham’. Notice they’ve been quiet so far. - Norseman - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:23 pm: Tryon just said maybe the members should work on a budget amongst themselves. Wow that was funny. - Arsenal - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:27 pm: ==If Rauner sits on his hands and does not counter this asap by introducing a clean plan to temporarily pay state employees, then he deserves whatever criticism he gets.== Why can’t he just line-item it? - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:27 pm: At some point, the GOP GA needs to break from the grip… if they can… otherwise… more bills with bad “choices” will be run, because… Rauner put the GOP GA there. - Mama - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:28 pm: “I rather suspect they’d memorize the name of every soul who voted against it. ” You can bet your bippy they will memorize the name of every legislator who votes against them. - Elo Kiddies - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:28 pm: HA1 Cleared committee on a party line vote. - A guy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:29 pm: ===Why can’t he just line-item it?=== Override? Hello. Clean bill avoids it. Some might even say the employees deserve a clean bill. I’d be one of those. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:31 pm: ===Override? Hello=== Guess that puts Rauner and the GOP GA need to choose wisely. Boy, I bet Rauner wishes it was “worth” AVing those 19 “sham” bills now. Hmm. - A guy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:32 pm: OW, call it a hunch, but I don’t think he does. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:33 pm: ===Override? Hello. Clean bill avoids it.=== Of course it does. But this is divided government. Repub guv and GOP minority can’t dictate to the majority. On the other hand, the Dem legislative majority can’t dictate to the governor. Ergo, the veto. - Arsenal - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:34 pm: ==Override? Hello.== They can override a separate “essentials” bill, too. - Demoralized - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:36 pm: Rome is burning and no one has yet called the fire department. Every one of our elected officials should be ashamed of the callous way they are handling this situation. They could fix this right now. They choose not to. They twiddle their thumbs while many people stand by wondering if they will make it through the month. It’s despicable. Anybody that defends any of this should be ashamed of themselves. - Wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:37 pm: –Override? Hello.– You can’t be serious. You just don’t want the GOP to take a tough vote or the governor to explain in an AV message why some areas of state government are worthy of funding while others remain hostage to an unrelated reactionary agenda. - Skeptic - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:37 pm: “You can bet your bippy they will memorize the name of every legislator who votes against them.” Considering how few voters know who their own rep is, I doubt that. And besides, the only one that matters is the voter’s own. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:38 pm: ===But this is divided government. Repub guv and GOP minority can’t dictate to the majority. On the other hand, the Dem legislative majority can’t dictate to the governor.=== Thanks. The gamemanship and why I am for the Amendment is “Simple”; choose. It’s divided government, Rauner’s veto started this chain of events, and the Dems, controlling the Legislature, are now trying to do what they feel moves the ball. Rauner will get to choose again. Divided government, Caucus governing, Executive governing too. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:39 pm: ===I doubt that=== I agree. And elections are a very long way away. - Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:41 pm: ==He has one== That slipped my mind. Right as usual, Rich. Rauner should start emphasizing that immediately. Assuming he cares about paying state employees as he claims to. - Southern Illinois Hoopdee - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:42 pm: Oswego. I understand what you say but…The Speaker doesn’t function in a vacuum. Surely he’s also not immune to political consequences, right? Rauner is being held accountable. So should the Speaker. - Skeptic - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:43 pm: “And elections are a very long way away.” Ugh…..did you have to remind us? - Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:46 pm: ==Surely he’s also not immune to political consequences, right?== Or gamesmanship. @Demoralized says it well above. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:46 pm: ===Rauner is being held accountable. So should the Speaker.=== Why, why are we worried about “amendments” … Rauner vetoed. Rauner signs, or AVs, none, none of this happens. Either laziness or not wanting to own the AVs, Rauner’s choice, his choice, got us here, to this bill, all of it. The Speaker is playing out the hand, in divided government no less, so, Rauner will choose again. - hockey fan - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:47 pm: According to the GA website there are now 490+ bills that have passed both chambers and have been sent to the Governor. One would think that someone who understood negotiations and coalition building maybe would look at those bills, ID those sponsors and find out what’s really important to each of those members. Enough with the campaign style mailers, phone calls and worthless talking points Governor. Please. Negotiation takes place when both parties are talking to each other, not past each other. If I were a legislator who wanted the Governor to sign my bills, I would talk to him about it - and listen to what he has to say about his priorities. Rauner needs to start talking to members and stop calling them names. I am sorry that the man actually hates government. I am sad to see him take pleasure out of a government shut down. But the job he bought himself is running a government. I would be really happy if he would should show up for work and try to do the job ! - transplant - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:48 pm: Jeez. Even Blagojevich figured out how and found the time to use the line item veto, and we all know about his work ethic. - Forgottonianey - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:55 pm: ~~~Don’t preach about the shot that hit the post in the middle of the 3rd period man. It didn’t go in, we’re in overtime, and now we’re relying on luck more than skill.~~~ Sorry, but A Guy’s questionable hockey analogy still smarts. By not using the AV it was Rauner who dropped the pass, committed the error, fumbled the ball, missed the throw, fouled the pitch, balked the runner, binged the batter, and swung and missed. He’ll soon get another turn at bat…another chance not to strike out. - A guy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:56 pm: So much morass. Whoever gets a clean bill up first will accomplish decency and be able to see something pass at the speed of light. Weird. They could do this together. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:57 pm: ===They could do this together.==== Sure they could. But we’re in gridlock right now. - Demoralized - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:05 pm: ==But we’re in gridlock right now.== It might be interesting politics to some. To others it’s a serious matter. I really wish we would stop looking at this like it’s a game. - Wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:06 pm: So…… what does “do everything in my power” actually mean then? - A guy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:07 pm: === Forgottonianey - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 2:55 pm:=== Wow, that’s some name dude. Any AV he used then would have been subjected to the same override provision being faced today. I completely understand the tug o war over this policy vs. that policy, etc. That’s how the whole crazy system reaches compromise. My crumby provision passes because I let your crumby provision through. Same with better policy. It’s not a meeting of the minds; it’s a trade off of opposites…and we call it compromise. On this item, it’s the folks who work day in, day out for the state. There’s a lot of them. They shouldn’t be the chum for either side. It’s dehumanizing at best. Veto, override, AV, blah, blah,blah. When this happened to the Speaker’s troops, he resented the hell out of it and ensured it wouldn’t ever happen again. Lo and behold, he’s now doing the same thing. Just a different ox being gored; not his. Not worried about “sweatin’ the folks” a little. Maybe it’s time to extend them the same courtesy he extended his members. Yeah? Don’t remember the bill he passed for the Continuing resolution that keeps giving to him and his, but I’m wondering if there were any poison pills or codicils on that one. Betting not. Anyone know? First one who encourages me to use the google will receive a spit at my screen. /s - Southern Illinois Hoopdee - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:09 pm: The Speaker’s winning move would be to put forward a bill, it would show him to be willing to step above the fray. Rauner would then look like the petty one, especially if he vetoes the bill, which is a distinct possibility here. In other words, Oswego Willy, I think the Speaker should use that strategy. Not to mention it’s the right thing to do. - Demoralized - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:10 pm: To my friend Norseman . . . This is a sham. *deposits $1 into the sham jar* - Liberty - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:10 pm: Celebrate the separation of powers in the US. - A guy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:12 pm: SIH, I’ll bet you Oswego Willy’s house, the Governor would not veto a clean bill to keep paying state employees. Not snark, I’d bet his garage too. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:12 pm: ===On this item, it’s the folks who work day in, day out for the state. There’s a lot of them. They shouldn’t be the chum for either side.=== Then Rauner should’ve AVed. It was Rauner’s own choice… that got us here. It is, so, now we’re all watching to see if Rauner will veto again. - A Guy -, Rauner, like all governors own. It’s like you want to gloss over the real WHY we are talking about this specific action. Rauner wanted to veto, he has all the cards, coulda fixed it, Rauner blew it. - A guy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:14 pm: Willy, how do I get you to enter the time machine that brings you to 7/9/2015? I’d even settle for he morning of this date. Really dude. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:17 pm: ===Willy, how do I get you to enter the time machine that brings you to 7/9/2015? I’d even settle for he morning of this date. Really dude.=== First, why, why is there a need for this bill and amendment, your “guy” vetoed state workers pay. Really, “Dude”, it’s Rauner’s Veto. Period. Second, remember that time machine thing. I will, the next time someone blames Quinn, 30 years of MJM… Ugh. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:18 pm: ===GOP state Rep. CD Davidsmeyer just said on the House floor: “We’ve clarified, he’s going to veto this bill.”=== Welp, Rauner is choosing. We’ll see how that goes. - Norseman - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:18 pm: Well said Demoralized! - Mama - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:18 pm: “HB4223 - Amends the Compensation Review Act. Prohibits cost-of-living adjustments for or during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015 for State government legislative and executive elected officers and appointees in positions for which the Compensation Review Board previously recommended or determined compensation. Effective immediately.)” Here is the language for the Rep bill that is supposed to pay employees for 1 year. That is not what the language states. Rich, what am I missed here? - Mama - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:20 pm: Oops…should state missing not missed - Norseman - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:21 pm: Durkin’s revisionist history is amusing. - A guy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:21 pm: Willy, blame Quinn, 30 years of Dems, 2 govs in jail, Rauner, etc. for whatever. Pay day for the state workers is next week. The Speaker just used them as leverage for a one month budget. You know; like a bargaining chip. Yeah, dignity in the here and now is at a really high level. Ugh x 10. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:22 pm: It’s not even close to a game. People matter. It’s malpractice to not understand the divided government aspects and the gridlock causing this impasse. - Arsenal - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:23 pm: Sorry, Guy, no one gets Held Harmless for their past actions. - Mama - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:23 pm: SB2040 which just passed the House is a 1- month budget that will expire before the guv has a chance to act on it. Why didn’t they pass a 2 month budget? - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:24 pm: ===The Speaker just used them as leverage for a one month budget. You know; like a bargaining chip.=== Yes, but the governor is apparently vowing to total veto. So isn’t he doing the very same thing? Compromise isn’t: You cave to all my demands. A compromise, absent actual talks, might be in this instance to line item some stuff out that you don’t want. - Arsenal - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:25 pm: ==The Speaker just used them as leverage for a one month budget.== The Governor can line-item everything he disagrees with. Philosophy time: is leverage that doesn’t work, and everyone knows won’t work, really leverage? - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:27 pm: ===…might be in this instance to line item some stuff out that you don’t want.=== The AV is the logical choice. If Rauner wants state employees paid, AV. The Illinois Governor, no matter who is in the Nig Chair, isn’t helpless. - A guy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:27 pm: ===It’s malpractice to not understand the divided government aspects and the gridlock causing this impasse.==== No sir my friend. I do not believe there is an “impasse” over whether our state employees should be paid. What we have here is something entirely different. It involves divided government causing collateral damage by trespassing over the boundaries of good faith. Off of a war time playing surface, the Speaker is using them as human shields. - A guy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:28 pm: OW, please tell me you mean “Big”. - Mama - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:29 pm: “Durkin called Democrat budget “a cruel hoax” for not including revenue options.” - Macbeth - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:29 pm: I’m not going to accept months of “half pay” from some half-baked credit union. Get us our money. Or tell us not to show up. But don’t ask us to show up and *work* — and then not pay us. BTW — you legislators: Do, Not. Take. A. Paycheck. Until. State. Employees. Are. Paid. - thunderspirit - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:30 pm: ===Willy, how do I get you to enter the time machine that brings you to 7/9/2015? I’d even settle for he morning of this date. Really dude.=== === …remember that time machine thing. I will, the next time someone blames Quinn, 30 years of MJM… Ugh. === OW has a fair criticism here (though less directly on A guy than some others): if you’re busy looking at the things that got you to today, it’s all the more difficult to deal with today. The principal issue that got us to today on Governor Rauner’s side was his decision to use the wholesale veto instead of using his line-item veto. One side always tries to make the opposition look bad when they do something; the Governor has been doing it to Speaker Madigan from jump. It’ys unlikely that the Speaker would willingly give the Governor something in the face of that. A barrage of name-calling isn’t especially conducive to working together on, well, anything. What you or I would like to see happen can only be done through the prism of what can actually happen. A separate bill isn’t likely. No more likely than from the other side were the roles reversed. That’s politics. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:31 pm: A guy, there is plenty of blame to go around. But this goes back to the original total vetoes of 19 approp bills. Actually, it goes back further than that - to the bills that were passed in the first place. It’s a war. There’s CD in a war. And both sides have been guilty of it. Plus, as Wordslinger noted, the governor said he would do “everything in his power” to get those state workers paid. This bill, however flawed, would do that. He will soon have it within his power. It’s better than nothing at all. And in this GA, that’s about as good as you’re gonna get right now. - Arsenal - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:31 pm: ==I do not believe there is an “impasse” over whether our state employees should be paid.== If there isn’t, then the Governor can sign that part of the bill and AV the rest. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:32 pm: I did. BIG Chair. Apologies. ===Off of a war time playing surface, the Speaker is using them as human shields.=== Rauner never should’ve vetoed their pay. Then none of this would’ve been happening. Rauner chose. - Honeybear - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:33 pm: On a side note, do you think we will see Republican staffers, appointees, workers who came in with this Administration resigning in large numbers after this? I can easily imagine former private sector folks saying “I didn’t sign up for this crap”. The Raunerites I have experienced are so arogant and disdainful of pre-Rauner state employees and seemed to be holding their noses to take a state job out of some kind of nobles oblige. (Jim Schultz DCEO http://www.effinghamdailynews.com/news/local_news/schultz-ready-to-tackle-state-issues/article_356b6106-6671-574b-8e40-40490e69581c.html) I wonder how many will jump ship after this debacle. And who in the world would want to work for the state now? - Mama - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:34 pm: How can they pass a bill to pay people without a revenue option? - A guy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:34 pm: ===And in this GA, that’s about as good as you’re gonna get right now.==== Sad, but likely true. Even after tossing sand back and forth at each other in the CF sandbox, I still have a lot of respect and now sympathy for our pals who punch in on the state clock. They’re being treated very badly here. - Wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:35 pm: If the governor wants people paid, he has the power to use his AV to make it happen. Eveything else is spin. On a happier note, thanks to quick and decisive action by the governor, private consultants on the Iliana are in line for a $5.5 payday for work on that expressway the governor said he didn’t want built. Governing is all about setting priorities. - A guy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:38 pm: ===Wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:35 pm: ….Eveything else is spin.==== Including what you just said. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:38 pm: ===And in this GA, that’s about as good as you’re gonna get right now.=== Yep. - Honeybear -, No one will resign, no staffer will leave in protest, no one will throw the governor under the bus and leave in a huff. This is real, not Hollywood. Governing can be ugly at times, “… But this … is the business… we chose” - A guy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:39 pm: Gotta get to an appt. an hour away. If you’re looking for an opportunity to whack me…now’s the time! LOL. Let’s hope our pals get paid. - Wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:42 pm: Guy, you make no sense. - Macbeth - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:43 pm: Half-baked credit unions? Or actual pay for actual work done. That’s the question Rauner has to deal with. Employees won’t forget this, BTW. - Stopped Making Sense - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:44 pm: Bill passes 71-19 - Aldyth - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:44 pm: Why would anyone in their right mind want to work for the state of Illinois? - Bob Hicks - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:47 pm: Plenty of blame on budget but let’s be honest the spending problem started with Thompson, was corrected by Edgar and then Ryan, Blago and Quinn broke the bank. It is not just the “last 12 years”. - State Engineer - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:47 pm: A Guy Seriously what difference between a clean bill and line iteming this one till it’s clean? If he is really concerned about state employees why not sign that part? Oh wait he isn’t concerned and doesn’t care. As far as I am concerned this goes much longer and it’s resume time this is Horse patuty. - Stopped Making Sense - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:48 pm: Where can we find how they voted? i want to see how my Rep. voted. - Mama - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:50 pm: If a state worker retirees eff: 8/1/15, would they =get back-pay for the month of July? - Stopped Making Sense - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:51 pm: Disregard, found it… - Frenchie Mendoza - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:51 pm: — Why would anyone in their right mind want to work for the state of Illinois? — Because it’s public service. And to many employees, that means something. That’s important. It’s a good thing. To Rauner and his superstars, it means very little — if anything. - Just Saying .... - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:51 pm: The Gov doesn’t have to veto the whole bill. The Illinois Constitution (Sec 9) provides portions of an appropriation bill not reduced or vetoed shall become law. He can stick to his word to pay state employees and still veto the other “essential” services 1 month bill he previously said he would veto. - Skeptic - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:52 pm: Davidsmeyer didn’t vote. Interesting. - Anonin' - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:54 pm: Boy will Durkie and the GOPies really be hot when TeamBungle and the Bobblehead sign this one….especially the dudes and dudettes who told reporters they were for short term budget but then sat on their hands and show NV on the roll call Yikes - Norseman - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:55 pm: === Davidsmeyer didn’t vote. Interesting. === That’s the best he can do given his purchased status. - Give Me A Break - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:55 pm: Skeptic: Davidsmeyer, like some other GOP members (Poe) have large numbers of state workers in their districts. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:56 pm: The Owl was “red”. - LBJ - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:58 pm: It is amazing that the House GOP keeps making these suicide votes. When will Durkin be smart enough to let some targets off? - Demoralized - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:58 pm: ==portions of an appropriation bill not reduced or vetoed shall become law== And that’s what now makes this entirely up to the Governor. He doesn’t have to veto the whole bill. He now has within his power (or will when the Senate passes it assuming they do) to pay employees. - AC - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:00 pm: It’s time to end the status quo and learn about the amendatory veto! - Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:00 pm: It looks like state workers will get paid their mid-July paycheck out of FY15 approps, so as long as something is hashed out by the end of the month, then they can get paid their end of month paycheck. Madigan is proving to Rauner that everything must go through him. Therefore, no “clean bill”, at least at this time and no “clean bill” introduced by an R. Rauner doesn’t know what the heck is going on, he just knows that, by golly, he said he wasn’t goin’ to mess with no AV pen! Since he’s stated that he’s going to veto this bill, if he does AV it, LGOPs have, once again, been hung out to dry. To be fair, they should get used to that since it’s going to be par for the course for the next 3 and a half years. So, they still have right around 2 weeks to get something hashed out. Any guesses? - Mason born - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:01 pm: Wow how are Poe and Davidsmeyer going to square this. It’ll take everything they get from Rauner to explain that vote. - hockey fan - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:03 pm: Trover’s quote is weak. I thought he was better than that. Of course they can spend that money, the state has revenue. Time for the Governor to quit complaining about Madigan and actually do something. He sounds like the whiney lame politicians he always blames. Madigan Schmadigan. Do something Governor, the 50,000 employees who work for you - expect you to do something. - Anonin' - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:03 pm: Is it OK to mention to TeamBungle that the statement does use the letters V-E-T-O in that order in this communique? - Demoralized - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:04 pm: @Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:00 pm: Your 2 week window isn’t true. Some agencies are on an anticipated payroll schedule. Payrolls will be missed beginning next week I think. - Corporate Thug - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:05 pm: What Hockey Fan said. - Mason born - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:05 pm: OW Can Rauner get so toxic a R opposing him in the G.A. is safe from his cash? - Holy Cow - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:08 pm: - Just Saying …. - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 3:51 pm: The Gov doesn’t have to veto the whole bill. The Illinois Constitution (Sec 9) provides portions of an appropriation bill not reduced or vetoed shall become law. He can stick to his word to pay state employees and still veto the other “essential” services 1 month bill he previously said he would veto. Exactly. - Mason born - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:09 pm: @trover Approving a budget that’s unconstitutional is wrong, we prefer judges tell us to do unconstitutional things. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:11 pm: ===Can Rauner get so toxic a R opposing him in the G.A. is safe from his cash?=== Tough sledding. Rauner might Primary a “bad” GOP member. “No $&@%^ problems”. Some GOP Members might be better served running away from Rauner, today, but it won’t happen. One million dollars in House, let alone Senate seats, and no GOP Caucus campaign help, tough sledding. No, no one will break ranks, they just can’t… - Forgottonianey.... - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:14 pm: A Guy…sorry you hit the road for the day. Really wish some day you’d explain this one though: ~~~Any AV he used then would have been subjected to the same override provision being faced today.~~~ Well, yes, but that makes no sense in the present context. The Dems want state employees to be paid. They don’t want to override anything. AVs only require majority approval in both houses; Exec. Vetos require 2/3 overrrides. But they don’t want to override anything — the Dems want the employees paid! The Gov claimed he’d do ‘everything in his power’ to pay ‘em. So, why did he not AV the earlier bill? Why won’t Rauner AV the one coming today to his liking? The process is all spelled out in the Constitution. It makes no sense why the Rauner Admin can’t get this done. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:19 pm: Welp, Rauner Crew, Where’s your 71 votes? I guess Rauner can’t do anything? Six months, and Rauner, himself, says he “can’t” Mind-blowing. - Wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:20 pm: What is Trover talking about? Is he saying that there isn’t money to fund a 30-day budget? Oh, there’s money. We’re all still paying taxes, every day. We’re just not getting anything for it. That’s what passes for Illinois GOP conservative these days. Taxation without government services. - Ben Franklin - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:25 pm: Pride precedes destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall….. - Tha missin g - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:25 pm: Mr Trover It was nice hearing a different message coming from the governor’s office today. Thank you for shaking up the press releases. - Southern Illinois Hoopdee - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:27 pm: There’s plenty of opportunity for someone from either side to step up and grab the political goodwill, if only they will grab it. Too bad that doesn’t appear to be happening. - Mason born - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:30 pm: OW So much for a floor to this nonsense. I guess they are honest politicians. “An honest politician Is one who, when he Is bought, will stay bought.” Simon Cameron - Southern Illinois Hoopdee - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:30 pm: From reading Trover’s statement…well, he isn’t wrong. He isn’t right either. Problem is two fold: more revenue increases are going to be needed, and no one wants Rauner’s “reforms”. No one wants the state to go belly up, but without a progressive tax, I don’t see another way that doesn’t unleash chaos. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:32 pm: - Mason born - At least Durkin was “yellow”. The Owl Sandack as “red”… amazing. - Wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:37 pm: Trover’s reasoning suggests some sort of head injury. Apparently, Madigan can “force” legislators to vote on a one-month budget, but they all buck him on some phantom tax increase. Geez, make an effort. Edit. - Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:39 pm: Governor Rauner has 60 days from passage to veto. He can hold the bill and call for a vote on his clean bill. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:41 pm: - Last Bull Moose -, You think Rauner’s “Clean Bill” will ever be called? - Politix - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:44 pm: Gov’s people can’t keep Madigan’s name out of their mouths. This calls for a drinking game. - Skeptic - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:47 pm: “This calls for a drinking game.” It’s on the Rauner-ingo card right next to “sham”, “Phony”, “Corrupt” and “Union Bosses.” - Mason born - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:50 pm: OW Owls are color blind. I don’t think present helps if a good chunk of your constituents don’t get paid and a yes would have fixed it. - Politix - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:52 pm: When will the public get tired of Rauner’s obsession with Madigan? - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:54 pm: ===When will the public get tired of Rauner’s obsession with Madigan?=== Never. Have you seen MJM’s numbers? - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 4:54 pm: - Mason born -, Well played. And I agree, but lots of weeks before Election Day. … Owls… - Mason born - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 5:01 pm: OW I would think the anger is inversely proportional to the length of time we are talking. You have one check thats a week or so late you chalk it up bad luck. You can’t buy school clothes, supplies, no presents at your kids bday, or god forbid end up at food bank because your check is delayed 60+ days that anger burns hot and long. Right now not sure it won’t be months before it’s solved. - Mason born - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 5:07 pm: Sorry inversely should be directly. Can’t even blame my phone. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 5:09 pm: - Mason born -, Time is against Rauner, true, but the rhetoric and no checks, yikes, that might get “bad”… in six weeks… In about the 7th week, it will make it harder for the Owls stay in their Parliament. - Politix - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 5:19 pm: I got tired of it about three months ago. - Mason born - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 5:24 pm: OW Lord I hope so. Sooner or later play time has to end and it time to put on the big boy pants. Your owl seems like he hails from the 100 acre woods. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 5:31 pm: - Mason born -, lol. Yeah, The Owl Sandack could use a Christopher Robin. - Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 5:34 pm: OW. Probably not. But it provides cover and is easy to explain. - Langhorne - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 5:36 pm: Lance, exactly what “revenue plan” was madigan supposed to put to a vote? The gov wont talk about revenue, and has no plan. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 5:38 pm: - Last Bull Moose - You’re right about the cover, but tough way to provide cover, a “dead” bill. All good, thanks for clarifying. - PublicServant - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 6:02 pm: The game Madigan is playing is a necessity. He needs to show legislators, both GOP and Dem, that, while they may not agree with his positions, the alternative is Rauner’s extreme agenda, that will never get to 71. In the meantime, we suffer with the current impasse. Only votes can break this impasse. Those votes will come once the legislators constituents communicate their displeasure. - Might be the A Team - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 6:14 pm: I think some of the diehards on this blog defending the Speaker ought to look at his approval ratings. You may dominate this blog, but not the public at large. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 6:17 pm: - Might be the A Team -, Funny thing is, Rauner isn’t havin’ much success gettin’ much through the House… no matter what the Speaker’s approval rating… … so there’s that… - Mason born - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 6:18 pm: OW At this point we seem to have the whole 100 acre wood except Christopher Robin. Winnie is in the gov office counting his honeypots. Eyore is the speaker saying oh well. Pres is tigger bouncing around all over the place. Rahm rabbit is complaining that gopher Dart is in his garden. Piglet(s) is waiting for pooh to tell him (them) how to vote. Since pooh is his (their) smart friend. Finally we have kanga(s) trying to decide what to feed roo(s) after pooh took all the darn honey. We could really use that wise adolescent Christopher Robin. Unfortunately Christopher Robin went to her great reward in December and all of us in the 100 acre wood are all the poorer for it. - Norseman - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 6:25 pm: === I think some of the diehards on this blog defending the Speaker ought to look at his approval ratings. === This is not a popularity contest, it’s a competency issue. Madigan doesn’t care about his personal popularity as long as he can win elections. - PublicServant - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 6:32 pm: People got state services in prior years. Rauner is the new variable in the mix. His ratings are tanking too. The speaker’s statewide ratings are irrelevant, since the people in his district love him. In addition, he’s been elected to speaker by the legislature. Rauner barely won against a weak Dem contender, and then only by obfuscating his agenda. He’s done. Stick a fork in him. The same 33% or so of right wing zealots will vote for him no matter what he does, but the independent informed voters out there who voted anybody but Quinn are lost for good. His entire agenda is union-busting. While many think there are problems with unions, the response is not to abolish, or neuter them as is Rauner’s objective, but rather to tweek how they operate. To deny that they level the playing field between the employer and employee is foolish, and the reason they exist in the first place. We’ll all suffer because he was elected, but to say that he isn’t the proximate cause of our current impasse is outrageous, and will be shown as such in a very short time. - Might be the A Team - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 6:35 pm: OW - Norseman – The Speakers district was redrawn to make sure he jeeps winning his elections (needed to shift the growing Hispanic vote elsewhere). No one questions his ability to control what gets called, what gets passed, etc. Do it his way or get out! Ask the former Metra Director… Ask the senate team that said the pension reform he forced was unconstitutional. Some think that his my way or the highway approach has done so much harm, that someone needs to stand up to it. I’m not sure they’re wrong. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 6:46 pm: - Might be the A Team -, So… Is there a point you’re trying to make… or … If you want to “Fire Madigan”, I’m anglin’ for the Collar County distribution rights; t-shirts, mugs, the stemware is quite classy and understated, so hold off, I’ll send a catalog. - Mason born - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 6:47 pm: A team To be blunt it doesn’t matter how he stays in power. To get a deal he, cullerton, and Rauner have to come to a compromise. Anything else is just prolonging the current disaster. - Austin Blvd - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 7:38 pm: Durkin’ pretty much let the cat out of the bag during a speech in Chgo last spring when he said there would be no tax increase. The strategy was furthered yesterday by Rauner when he said the Ds should pass a tax increase. Nothing new, but Madigan knew all along. GOP votes needed to raise revenues. Period. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 7:40 pm: - Mason born -, ===Unfortunately Christopher Robin went to her great reward in December and all of us in the 100 acre wood are all the poorer for it.=== Yeah… that’s where we are, isn’t it. Hang tight, that’s all we can do… and wait. OW - Austin Blvd - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 7:43 pm: …or conversely, GOP governor and legislators needed to make specific cuts… - Norseman - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 7:53 pm: Willy, well said. I was about to say the same thing. These folks think that if Madigan retired today things would fundamentally change. The tactics may differ with a new leader but there still would be a Dem/Rauner conflict regarding Rauner’s anti-union Turnaround agenda. - Mason born - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 7:55 pm: OW Wait and hope some of these folks learn from this before next July. - A Jack - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 8:09 pm: River flood warning. Rauner is going to veto the appropriation for emergency services again. Kind of reminds me of George Bush’s response to Hurricane Katrina. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 9:26 pm: Team Rauner seems to feel they have something to prove, failing to understand that the ultimate victory is to achieve your objectives without having fired a shot. Negotiation starts with understanding your own vital interests and objectives and the vital interests and objectives of the other parties. Madigan’s statewide poll numbers are irelevant to him. What Team Rauner has managed to do that Madigan could never have accomplished on his own is to make Madigan and the House Democrats popular again with teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other public employees. And I expect the longer this battle drags on, Madigan’s popularity among the base will only go up, while Rauner’s general popularity will go down. At the same time, just as Russians fundamentally misunderstood America’s vital interest in Cuba, Rauner fails to understand Madigan’s belief - hardened by Blago - that he is the Constitutional protector of the General Assembly and the balance of powers between lawmakers and the Executive. Every time Rauner attacks Madigan, or attempts to dictate to the legislature, he only hardens Madigan’s resolve. - Special thanks - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 9:28 pm: Great blogging today! Ow, a guy, mason, etc.. For my two cents, Bruce is like Adam Dunn lots of cash, but can’t hit (should’ve stuck w football), madigan’s like abreu, great power lousy team record (room to improve), Trover/shrimp is theo, too smart for their own good and annoying, cullerton gets joe Maddon, solid but doesn’t play so hard to blame, durkin is burhle (lied to and left out to dry in Toronto), Ragdano can be Ventura, not helping should’ve been fired in April. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 9:43 pm: - Norseman -, the things we coulda done… or at least not be “here”? - Mason born -, if things work out, I hope we all learn, a valid point you made. - Strangerthings - Thursday, Jul 9, 15 @ 9:47 pm: Just in time to try to save their hides. Well I won’t blame Rauner alone they all need to be locked in a room until they work this mess out and find a workable solution that doesn’t impoverished the state and can fund a fair amount of programs. - VanillaMan - Friday, Jul 10, 15 @ 7:24 am: Voting to spend money the state doesn’t have is the cause of Illinois’ financial crisis. Dude - your boss is a multi-millionaire, representing other multi-millionaires and governing the fifth largest state economy in the US. How could you be so blind to believe that Illinois is broke? Closed-minded people like you won’t find a solution when they are too close-minded to see the plain honest facts before them. You weren’t sent to office to shut down the state. You were sent to find solutions to our problems. Statements like the one you are quoted as saying doesn’t come from problem solvers, but from someone who can’t find a solution and can now only argue against everyone else’s solution. You are wasting our time. Find some other line of work in another government more suitable to your narrow minded approach to problem solving. - Politix - Friday, Jul 10, 15 @ 8:48 am: “How could you be so blind to believe that Illinois is broke?” I don’t believe for one minute they think IL is broke. They know the honest facts. They know union busting won’t impact the IL economy. They know worker’s comp reform isn’t the biggest economic issue facing the state. It’s a charade, and a woefully transparent one. They might call the narrative spin, but with spin you don’t tell lies - and I do think they lie. A lot. To the press and to the people, catering to the least informed Illinoisans, of which there are many. - Wordslinger - Friday, Jul 10, 15 @ 8:54 am: – Illinois is broke.– What’s the point of parroting meaningless talking points? Any bird-brain, like a parrot, can do that. I’m still paying taxes every day. So is everyone else. The state collects billions in taxes every month. That ain’t broke. - cez - Friday, Jul 10, 15 @ 9:32 am: Word slinger Amen….taxes,taxes. .taxes . Government, both state and federal,collect taxes along every step of the process in the production and sale of every product and most services. There is just not as much of this money to gift out to political friends as decades ago..hence this current cry of debt crisis. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.