No movement yet
Friday, Aug 28, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
A major financial supporter of Rauner is the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. Greg Baise, the group’s president and CEO, said that regardless of the future political implications, both sides need to reach a compromise on the budget quickly.
“You can only go so far when you wake up every day and Mike Madigan has 71 votes and John Cullerton has 39 votes, and that’s not going to change until the next election,” Baise said.
“I applaud the governor for his ardent support of business reforms that the business community supports very strongly. But ultimately, we need to get a budget, a balanced budget, so our businesses — manufacturers included — understand that this state is finally getting its act together,” he said.
But Durkin, the House GOP leader, said Republicans aren’t going to back down or give up on their governor.
“I will hold out. We are not going to cave in. This may take some time, but there is too much at stake,” Durkin said. “Twelve years of one-party rule has come to an end, and (Democrats) aren’t used to this and they don’t like it.”
- Stones - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 8:44 am:
Compromise is not about caving in.
- Say It Ain't So!! - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 8:46 am:
Rep. Durkin: Here’s a solution… get out the vote, win the majority. Stop holding your breath and stomping your feet, we need adults in the room.
- Anon - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 8:47 am:
I’m not really sure what they’re holding out for. They’re not exactly defending the Alamo.
- Jack Stephens - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 8:49 am:
“Business reforms”…. Let me guess this will give me a “Right to Work”…..right? Because I have no Right to Work now. I’m prohibited from working. Like women and blacks were prohibited from voting until they got that “Right”.
These are “business reforms”.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 8:51 am:
===…”…But ultimately, we need to get a budget, a balanced budget, so our businesses — manufacturers included — understand that this state is finally getting its act together,”===
Governors need budgets. Always been. Maybe Baise can, publicly try to “leverage” the idea that a governor should try to be engaged in the governing process.
===“I will hold out. We are not going to cave in. This may take some time, but there is too much at stake,” Durkin said. “Twelve years of one-party rule has come to an end, and (Democrats) aren’t used to this and they don’t like it.”===
Those hurt by the GOP and the Governor holding out, blame the governor including Ounce. That’s not hyperbole, that’s what’s happening now. I’m rooting for you Leader Durkin, but you’re s smart guy, you know the “damage” the K-12 Approp signing felt, how far are you willing to go on this limb before the only option is to fall or jump?
Those state house races will be fun, but wearing the jacket at the governor’s whim, can they be successful?
- Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 8:53 am:
Durkin should listen to his chief of staff before drawing lines in the sand
- Jack Stephens - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 8:54 am:
Leader Durkin:
Where have you been while billions has been wasted on Welfare for the Wealthy?
- Unspun - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 8:55 am:
Baise’s quote speaks to critical driving forces behind the decisions that business owners make: budgetary stability and taxation policies. These should be the focus of the Illinois Turnaround.
- Politix - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 8:56 am:
Groundhog Day.
- Mason born - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 8:56 am:
To me this comes down to respect. You negotiate with those you respect you demand catipulation from those you don’t.
Rauner has no respect for the dems and is rapidly throwing away any respect he had.
- too obvious - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:01 am:
Jim Durkin’s not caving in? Hey Jim, how about telling your hero Bruce to submit a balanced budget like the IL Constitution requires the Governor to do. Rauner continues to ignore his constitutional duty and you do nothing.
Stop with the tired old platitudes and actually do some real work for the people of this state.
- Mason born - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:02 am:
Sorry. Should of said ….respect he had earned.
- Wordslinger - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:04 am:
First Edgar, now Baise.
Any of the superstars picking up what they’re putting down?
- Help - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:09 am:
C’mon, guys. Go easy on Durk. He’s just following orders.
- A Jack - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:10 am:
Headline: Durkin stays onboard the Titanic, while the IMA has the common sense to bring some life preservers.
- burbanite - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:11 am:
Does IMA have any influence whatsoever to get the gov. to actually listen to what they are saying?
- Louis G. Atsaves - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:11 am:
Compromise vs caving in or giving up. While the overwhelming focus is on Rauner, where is the Democratic Leadership in all of this?
I know the spin, been hearing it since November. Pro business is all bad. Pro labor is all bad.
Now with that labor “arbitration” bill set for an override, Illinois could (or continue) to give away the candy store to public sector unions and leaving business with the impression that this state still extends a middle finger towards it.
Both sides insist they cannot cave in to the other side and keep on fighting. Both sides need to put on their big boy pants and compromise to end all this.
We’ve reached that fork in the road. Few have noticed. Lots of complaints about judges forcing the state to spend money without a budget and without the cash to pay bills. Few complaints about the possibility of a single person ( arbitrator ) basically doing the same thing.
Reasonable people can see the similarities. Time to stop the brinksmanship, take a few deep breaths, clear some heads and take a few steps back from disaster.
But Durkin is right. Democrats haven’t realized they need to share power now. And thus, the situation worsens.
- Wensicia - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:15 am:
Yeah, you didn’t cave on education and your boss threw y’all under the bus.
- Marty Funkhouser - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:19 am:
I agree with Baise. Madigan and Cullerton aren’t going to have 71 and 39 votes after 2016. They’re probably going to have more given the state’s political makeup, the map and the fact that it’s a presidential year. Hard to imagine Illinois voters pulling the lever for Hillary and then voting for whichever Raunerbot is running against the Democrat.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:22 am:
===Compromise vs caving in or giving up. While the overwhelming focus is on Rauner, where is the Democratic Leadership in all of this?===
I’d be more sympathetic to your Rauner victihood, but what about Rauner calling Illinois the USSR and China? Ok, Rauner wants to go… there… then Rauner says Madigan is messing with his home…. Ok…. So, Governor… Are you saying somethimg so you can do nothing?
Rauner loves to talk, when is the walk coming, you know, besides walking in a U-Turn formation?
===Lots of complaints about judges forcing the state to spend money without a budget and without the cash to pay bills. Few complaints about the possibility of a single person ( arbitrator ) basically doing the same thing.===
Let’s look at this, shall we?
“Lots of complaints about judges forcing the state to spend money without a budget and without the cash to pay bills.”
Hmm.
Who does Ounce blame for payments, non-payments, cuts? “Who?”. The governor needs 71 and 36. It’s up to him to find a budget.
“Few complaints about the possibility of a single person ( arbitrator ) basically doing the same thing.”
Labor strife versus a $38 billion+ budget is… the same? Seriously? The budgetary processes versus getting a contract between management and labor IS the same? “Ok”…
===Reasonable people can see the similarities.===
Ok, you took the time to comment, what are they? Make the case, Counselor.
===But Durkin is right. Democrats haven’t realized they need to share power now. And thus, the situation worsens.===
For whom? Rauner? The Rauner GOP isn’t holding rallies about dismantling collective bargaining, or am I missing Rauner talking about it?
- Anonymous - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:24 am:
Finally, with Edgar and Baise,the beginning of the cover needed to get this thing moving. I suspect the two of them are talking, which would be fairly unusual
- A Jack - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:28 am:
The Democrat members in the GA weren’t elected to “share power,” but rather to represent the interests of their constituents and to keep the executive branch in check. Such is Democracy in action. If Durkin wants to get anything done, he best remember he is the “Minority leader” with a capital “M.” And that goes for the rest of the Republicans as well who aren’t going to have much of a record around election time except for No or NV.
- Downstate - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:30 am:
Put the constitutional provision regarding pensions on the ballot. Overturning that item will give breathing room to both Madigan and Rauner.
- The Captain - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:34 am:
At least once a week we see a well-meaning article written about how to find the statesmanship needed to reach a budget agreement and while I applaud the writers for doing what they can to help end the budget mess these well intended articles generally fail to take into account the mindset of Leader Durkin (and others) as enumerated above. The budget stalemate is the desired state of the participants and it’s going to stay that way for as long as it remains the desired state of the participants.
- illinoised - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:42 am:
If you know Durkin, be sure to print his remarks. You will need that piece of paper when the time comes for him to eat those words.
- zonz - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:49 am:
reforms?
Prof. Noah Smith debunks the lunacy of ALEC and cuts of Laffer-Moore-Arduin …
Growth fantasy of tax cuts and small govt
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-07-17/growth-fantasy-of-tax-cuts-and-small-government …
- The Colossus of Roads - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:49 am:
Greg Baise wants a balanced budget, don’t we all. He didn’t really say how to get there. The devil’s in the details.
- Austin Blvd - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:51 am:
Raunerepublicans still waiting for Ds to propose and go solo on tax increase.
Ain’t. Gonna. Happen.
Step up Raunerepublicans.
Do. Your. Job.
- Mason born - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:51 am:
I don’t know, the way Rauner likes to throw the G.A. Republicans under the bus Durkin refusing to cave may equal monday budget.
- nona - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:52 am:
As I recall, the Minority Leader has made statements about tax hikes being bad and chasing businesses out of state. Might have to eat those words too in the end.
- Bogey Golfer - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:53 am:
=Hard to imagine Illinois voters pulling the lever for Hillary and then voting for whichever Raunerbot is running against the Democrat.= Might be a little early to say this.
- Mama - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:54 am:
“The Democrat members in the GA weren’t elected to “share power,” but rather to represent the interests of their constituents and to keep the executive branch in check. Such is Democracy in action.” I would like to add: The Republicans were also elected to represent the interests of their constituents too. I think Durkin may have forgotten that his constituents put him in office, & they can get him out. That is called Democracy. Find a way to work with the other side.
- Mama - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 9:56 am:
I find it hard to believe Illinois voters will be pulling the lever for Hillary.
- Marty Funkhouser - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 10:01 am:
Bogey, Mama:
Then name the Democrat. Biden, Bernie, Gore, Lyndon Johnson. Won’t matter.
- rural observer - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 10:01 am:
I am reminded of the ogre that demanded a village child to eat at each meal. The village folk, armed with pitch forks, set out to do him in. The ogre asked the villagers to be reasonable, to compromise, he would have a child only for breakfast. There is no compromise with a greedy billionaire who advocates the repeal of the minimum wage, destruction of work place representation, sees fair and just arbitration as an outrage, demands fealty from his own party members, pays a miserly 4.6% of his income in combined state taxes and washes it all down with $100 wine.. This ogre needs to be humiliated, soon and often. There is no compromise.
- Honeybear - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 10:05 am:
–Now with that labor “arbitration” bill set for an override, Illinois could (or continue) to give away the candy store to public sector unions and leaving business with the impression that this state still extends a middle finger towards it.–
Give away the candy store? Really? Come on man, I can name half a dozen DCEO programs GIVEN TO BUSINESSES that actually give away the candy store. EDGE Tax program, ANGEL tax program, Enterprise Zone program, Film tax credit. You name it businesses get hundreds of Millions of dollars for near zero results. DCEO doesn’t enforce or monitor that money! It’s just a huge givaway. The public sector unions are just asking for what we have now! That 11.5 percent increase? It’s simply our step increases and longevity pay that we get now. I won’t get a step increase for another 2 years (I think). How will we keep workers in public service if there is no hope of a raise? Jeez some jobs are so tough like Revenue Tax Specialist that there is a huge revolving door. It takes a year to train one. Lower salary and benefits across the board would make 95% of IDOR unstaffable. So don’t talk to me about giving the candy store away.
- Toure' s Latte - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 10:09 am:
Best job in the world — IL GOP HRO leader. No responsibilities, a mic whenever any tiny thought needs amplifying. Agree with above, ‘16 will be a major Dem re-entrenchment as a permanent supermajority.
- A guy - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 10:15 am:
Lovefest for Sam McCann yesterday. Lovefest for Greg Baise today. CF commenters, I hardly knew ye.
One thing just doesn’t change: he who agrees with me if right. Even if it’s the first time we’ve agreed in decades. Tomorrow he’ll be wrong again, but today we agree. OY.
- Norseman - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 10:16 am:
Durkin is all about the Rauner money. He’s not a leader, merely the first in line of the followers.
- sal-says - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 10:16 am:
== “Twelve years of one-party rule has come to an end, and (Democrats) aren’t used to this and they don’t like it.”
“Twelve years of one-party rule won’t come to an end til the next election at the earliest, and taxpayers, support agencies and people in need aren’t used to this and they don’t like it”
There. Fixed it for ya.
- Ghost - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 10:20 am:
Mr durkin, we didnt have this mess with democrat majorities and jim thompson, or edgar etc as govenor. That suggest this is not a dem pouty fit; perhaps trying to eliminate thing thompson and edgar supported, like fair wages and state workers, is the problem. And you are just enabling a gov heading down the wrong path
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 10:22 am:
===Lovefest for Sam McCann yesterday. Lovefest for Greg Baise today. CF commenters, I hardly knew ye.===
Speaking for myself, I know I didn’t give McCann my “love”, I think I tried to catalog why I felt the move was more complex than agreeing with constituents.
What is Baise saying that isn’t agreeable to the situation we now face? What ate you trying to say abou analyzing ones words and finding agreement?
===One thing just doesn’t change: he who agrees with me if right. Even if it’s the first time we’ve agreed in decades. Tomorrow he’ll be wrong again, but today we agree. OY.===
That’s called being an adult to the words and thoughts, not a child to the “I don’t like them so they’re always wrong” dorm room mentality.
- D.P.Gumby - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 10:23 am:
Through the looking glass…Baise sounding reasonable and Durkin drinking Baise’s old Koolaid?
- Wordslinger - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 10:24 am:
Gee, Guy, agreeing with someone on some issues and not on others is a bad thing?
I guess if you’re a blind follower incapable of independent thought it would be.
- Liberty - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 10:36 am:
Madigan winning, Rauner loosing.
- A guy - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 10:37 am:
Gee Sling, it really isn’t a bad thing. I pointed out the irony of it all. You rarely see lots of agreement with Baise or the IMA here. Since I more often agree with them, it’s not much of a stretch for me. For some here who lambaste them regularly, I got a little chuckle. Especially since Sen. McCann was their flavor of the day yesterday espousing his new sincere self. Ack.
Willy, I did notice that you didn’t get weepy about ole Sam yesterday. I noticed you didn’t pound on Jim Durkin today, given your past admiration for him. Bravo. You’re consistent. Often consistently right, at times consistently wrong. But never dishonest!
Sling is consistent as well. Consistently surly lately.
- walker - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 10:37 am:
Be nice to know exactly what Durkin believes he should not “cave” on. Less spending? More taxes? AFSCME arbitration? “Turnaround” items which do not directly relate to the currently overdue budget? Does it have to be each and every one of them?
The reality is that some might be worth a fight to the last drop of blood, if you fully buy into the Rauner and Republican agendas, and others are not.
Both sides have to break the impasse into more or less negotiable pieces, before progress is made. No problem with Durkin not making that public.
- Facts are stubborn things - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 10:45 am:
I have been saying for months that you do not have to have a turn around agenda, but you have to have a budget. Turn around agendas will need to be done over many election cycles.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 10:46 am:
Leader Durkin is caught in the “Management Changeover” from the ILGOP to Raunerite, Inc., LLC. The primaries and general election races will dictate the validation of Leader Durkin’s positions more than I can, and as it should.
Plus, I’m still under the belief that autonomous caucuses help Rauner. Who knows, in the end, Durkin might think that too in August and September of 2016.
- Wordslinger - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 10:49 am:
Lot of “lambasting” of IMA around here? Hadn’t noticed. But you see many things.
There’s really nothing “ironic” about considering issues on the merits. It’s called thinking for yourself.
- Albany Park Patriot - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 10:59 am:
When you’ve lost the Manufacturers, you’ve lost. Pack it up and fight it out in the mid-term. This is madness.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 11:14 am:
Durkin is saying what he needs to, in order to avoid blame. He is like the taxi driver being told to go faster by the thief in the backseat, trying to get away from the police - and claiming that the taxi won’t go any faster, although he really is trying.
- A guy - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 11:36 am:
Maybe Durkin is tired of seeing his side get its teeth kicked in year after year and finally has an ally with some oomph. Power sharing is not coming easy to the other side. There’s negotiating and there’s caving…I think Leader Durkin knows the difference and he’s willing to do one, and unwilling to do the other.
So Sling, I think he’s “thinking for himself”.
- Eugene - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 11:37 am:
To all the commenters who carry on ad nauseum about the “giveaway” contracts AFSCME has enjoyed. Have you actually looked at the last contract signed between AFSCME and Quinn? Over three years, raises of 0% in the first year, plus 2% in each of the next two years. Average over the three year length of the contract: 1.33%. Plus a couple hundred million in health insurance concessions, which offset the raises. Hardly a sweetheart deal.
- Langhorne - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 11:57 am:
Compromise is the art of whats possible. Remember “half a sandwich”? Rauner is the one who wants the dems to cave. Not going to happen. Focus on any parts of the agenda you might get, and get the budget done
- Juvenal - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 1:14 pm:
Louis:
Democrats have proposed over $2 billion in cuts to state spending.
Democrats voted for hundreds of millions in cuts to the FY 15 budget.
Democrats said they are willing to support changes to worker’s comp, just not the ones that cut off our nose to spite our face by shifting costs from work comp to Medicaid.
And I have no doubt that if the Governor said he wanted $3 billion in cuts instead of $2 billion in cuts, and the GOP would support those cuts as well, Democrats would go along.
Instead, he’s mindlessly vetoing legislation like the bipartisan anti-heroin bill that save taxpayers money, as well as funding for DD care, child care, etc.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 1:20 pm:
===…and finally has an ally with some oomph.===
- A Guy -
Define… “oomph”, and what is the Rauner “oomph” specifically.
- A guy - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 1:25 pm:
+++ Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 1:20 pm:
===…and finally has an ally with some oomph.===
- A Guy -
Define… “oomph”, and what is the Rauner “oomph” specifically.+++
Oomph is power or influence. I’d say being the Governor comes with oomph. I think the Speaker would agree.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 1:29 pm:
- A Guy -
Not the money?
That’s odd you forgot the money…
- A guy - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 1:50 pm:
Willy, it sure doesn’t hurt, does it?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 1:54 pm:
No, the money never hurts, it’s the strings at times that do the hurting.
- 47th ward mom - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 2:18 pm:
someone needs to read how to win friends and influence people - no wins and no influence when digging in heels.
Durkin should be embarrassed.
- Buzzie - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 2:20 pm:
One of the happiest people in Illinois has to be Tom Cross.
- Wordslinger - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 2:44 pm:
Guy, I havent mentioned Durkin at all.
You’re implying that I said he wasn’t thinking for himself is thoroughly dishonest, and par for the course.
To be clear, you’re the one who is an uninformed hack who can’t think for himself.
- Track312 - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 2:49 pm:
What Durkin doesn’t like and isn’t use to is that he doesn’t have 71 Republican votes in the Illinois House! Only in totolatarian system does the minority rule the majority. Durkin and Rauner need to take remedial math classes.
- A guy - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 3:56 pm:
=== Wordslinger - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 2:44 pm:
Guy, I havent mentioned Durkin at all.
You’re implying that I said he wasn’t thinking for himself is thoroughly dishonest, and par for the course.
To be clear, you’re the one who is an uninformed hack who can’t think for himself.===
Thanks for the clarity Sling. Because until this very moment I had no idea how you felt. But your constant rebuttals to arguments not made and sinister innuendo as to what is implied is really unbecoming friend. Especially to you, because I’m merely an uninformed hack.
- Wordslinger - Friday, Aug 28, 15 @ 4:18 pm:
Guy, unlike you, I don’t make things up.
If you’ll read your own reply to me at 11:36 a.m. and can understand it, you’ll see that you’re implying that I said that Durkin wasn’t thinking for himself. I never mentioned Durkin, at all, anywhere. I was talking about you.
You have a pattern of dishonesty. That’s your problem, not mine.