Last year, gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner pledged to “crack down on waste” in government in order to save taxpayers more than $140 million.
He also vowed to cut $500 million from the Illinois Department of Central Management Services and find another $250 million in Medicaid savings.
Very little of that has happened to date, as the governor himself inadvertently admitted during a speech last week in the southern Cook County suburbs.
Instead of saving $500 million at CMS, for example, Rauner touted only $15 million in savings, mainly from grounding the state’s fleet of airplanes – although that doesn’t take into consideration the cost of paying mileage reimbursements for all those folks who can no longer fly.
The governor identified a grand total of $107 million in what he said are savings he’s found this year, but most came from cuts at the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and people I’ve talked to aren’t buying those numbers because some major state cost controls have been allowed to expire. He also failed to mention he vetoed a bill the Democrats said would’ve resulted in $400 million in DHFS savings – far more than his own stated campaign goal and lots more than the $70 million he claims to actually have saved.
Rauner also bemoaned the lack of a budget and the myriad court orders which are forcing state spending at last fiscal year’s levels.
“I can’t control” the court orders, the governor said.
That’s true, but the governor could try negotiating with the stakeholders and the courts to come up with more affordable orders. He’s not a complete victim.
Of course, Rauner repeatedly complained that the Democratic General Assembly hasn’t allowed votes on a single one of his Turnaround Agenda items.
He has a right to complain, but he’s not a legislator. He needs to eventually realize he can’t pass bills on his own.
Rauner also has to come to terms with the fact that “giving” the Democrats some Republican votes on a tax hike roll call in exchange for Democrats whacking unions isn’t exactly a Democratic “win.” To quite a few Democrats, that’s a most definite lose-lose proposition.
For crying out loud, man, what about an infrastructure projects plan? How about finding anything that could help grease a victory instead of this unseemly whining about how the other side won’t cave?
The Democrats, for their part, have got to get it into their heads that they have a Republican governor.
“I’ve stated all year that I will work with the governor cooperatively and professionally, but we will not devastate Illinois’ middle class and struggling families by furthering an agenda aimed at driving down their wages and their standard of living,” House Speaker Michael Madigan said shortly after the governor’s speech last week.
OK, well, first of all, comparing Rauner to Rod Blagojevich earlier this year was definitely neither cooperative nor professional on Madigan’s part, and his press secretary claimed the governor was acting like “a scared second-grader” when he skipped out of that south suburban speech without taking reporters’ questions.
Apart from that, Madigan’s two pension reform laws most definitely were designed to reduce the standard of living of retirees. Rauner was absolutely right last week to point out the various labor law exemptions Madigan has passed for Chicago. Even so, that doesn’t mean the Democrats ever would accede to Rauner’s demand teachers and local government employees should be stripped of their right to bargain over wages, benefits, overtime and working conditions. Ain’t gonna happen, man.
Eventually, because the governor is so anti-union and won’t talk about a budget until he gets some wins on that front, Madigan and the Democrats are going to have to do something that unions don’t love or this impasse will never end.
The problem for the Democrats is intensely political. Rauner’s horrible idea to spend the first four months of his administration touring the state demanding a so-called “right to work” law united unions like never before. Some major trade unions actively backed cuts in pension benefits for public employees, believing it would free up money for other state spending (a position encouraged by Madigan, by the way). Now, thanks to Rauner, they’re all one big happy family.
The Democrats are so frozen in position they can’t or won’t budge until things get so bad they will have no other choice but to ding the unions at least a little bit, which may be the ultimate plan here.
It’s just a mess everywhere you look.
* But he’s on the road again this week. From the Quincy Area Chamber…
- Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 8:47 am:
===The Democrats are so frozen in position they can’t or won’t budge until things get so bad they will have no other choice but to ding the unions at least a little bit, which may be the ultimate plan here.===
Could be. Could be. But I really think MJM is gonna wait it out. The Rauner ship is sinking way faster than the Madigan ship.
- Wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 8:49 am:
It’s crazy that there’s not a infrastructure revenue bond with gas so low.
- Anon - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 8:52 am:
Rich,
===Eventually, because the governor is so anti-union and won’t talk about a budget until he gets some wins on that front, Madigan and the Democrats are going to have to do something that unions don’t love or this impasse will never end===
Is that an indication that you think that the Democrats are more likely to be the adults in the room?
I recognize that pressure exists on the legislature, but they’re not the ones that might literally face jail time if the coffers run dry.
- PublicServant - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 8:57 am:
The recent SJR Editorial couldn’t have been more in the bag for Rauner, however, so there’s gotta be a lot more “catchin on” before sufficient pressure for movement is applied.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:02 am:
===you think that the Democrats are more likely to be the adults===
No.
- Lincoln Lad - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:06 am:
Excellent column Rich. It strikes that both sides have so focused on ‘winning’, that they fail to realize that the citizenry is also looking for an adult to emerge from the struggle. That may not be the ‘winner’, done right.
- Anon - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:08 am:
===No.===
Think we can turn “No Budget Till February” into a catchy tune?
- Malcolm Forbes - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:11 am:
So much for Rauner’s highly touted financial acumen, wizardry and genius. It’s not the voters fault either - $30 million in marketing can make you believe just about anything. Don’t hold your breath for the next three years either waiting for these promises to be delivered. If he slows the growth of wages and benefits and freezes property taxes (slowing wage and benefit growth at the local level) he may get a long term win with the voters. It’s clear that there simply is no easy and quick fix. He needs to get off of the failed “turnaround Agenda that has him bickering in Springfield and out into the world marketing Illinois to businesses. Here’s a tip: use Illinois’ unlimited supply of water to help sell the state rather than trying to enrich a few rich guys by shrinking Illinois’ middle class.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:12 am:
The real victims here have been the citizens of Illinois during the past decade or so.
- Democratic Response - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:14 am:
Look, this is easy. Rauner, drop the anti-union preconditions. Madigan / Cullerton, give Rauner a victory on legislative maps and workers comp. EVERYONE, (and I mean everyone) votes for more revenue and a balanced budget.
Done. Now was that so hard?
- Stones - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:15 am:
The Governor has to run statewide, the Speaker only has to win his district. The Governor has more to lose as a result of this impasse than the Speaker.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:16 am:
-Think we can turn “No Budget Till February” into a catchy tune? -
Tiny Tim style on the ukulele. Wait, we have some fine lyricists on this blog. There you go. I can’t wait. I get the biggest kick out of the songs from this blog.
- Soccertease - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:17 am:
==It’s crazy that there’s not a infrastructure revenue bond with gas so low.==
Illinois has the 5th highest gas prices in the nation.
http://www.illinoisgasprices.com/Prices_Nationally.aspx
- AnonymousOne - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:18 am:
This mad race to empty the coffers strikes me as a way to create that crisis (that creates leverage) towards police powers. How tolerant will the public be when everything in the well has run dry but pensions have to be paid? Is this the plan?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:24 am:
“5th highest gas prices in the nation”, and that is despite strong ethanol production and close proximity to refineries which reduces transportation costs.
- Skeptic - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:24 am:
-Think we can turn “No Budget Till February” into a catchy tune? - We could parody “No Sleep Till Brooklyn”
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:26 am:
Rich,
Great work as always. The story not being told, but the Press, outside the usual Statehouse Press, continually talking around it.
Mary Ann Ahern tweeting a picture of a car, then no follow up? Lazy Ms. Ahern. Lay-Zee…
To the Post,
I’ve tried to make clear for the Rauner Crew that Governors own. It’s not a made up thought, Candidate Rauner himself made it very clear; “Pat Quinn failed…”
My point? While both sides continue this standoff, the state is literally crumbling. Not hyperbole, the state infrastructure and the apparatus of functioning state agencies, under the Rauner Administration, is crumbling.
If you are a Democrat in all this, you need to learn something that you seem to forget at every turn; Rauner will spend more time and more money to blame you Democrats then to look for a way out. If Rauner can blame Democrats to leverage all of this fiasco, he will do it, and is trying to do it every single day.
If you’re Rauner’s Crew, what you’re failing to comprehend is as you continually try to alienate your partners, or blame them, or both as your Press Shop’s mission, “Pat Quinn failed” is haunting your subconscious, as you ignore the fallout that could destroy the GOP GA, and could lead to the defeat of Comptroller Leslie Munger too. The damage to a governor’s own administration isn’t just the political wins of loses, it’s the costs of the people needing those agencies under the governor’s watch.
The “Press”? The absolute “passes” Rauner gets is pretty embarrassing. I mean, Chuck Goudie literally chased Speaker Madigan for far less, and Mary Ann Ahern tweets a picture of a car, no follow up to hold Rauner accountable.
The bottom line for me is Rauner needs to stop whining, stop the “Well, the Democrats can without me…” and stop being the aloof governor, traveling the state with a smile and thumbs up while decimating groups like Diana Rauner’s “Ounce of Prevention” and think it’s just collateral damage.
Democrats need to allow for Rauner to give a budget, include a sweetener for them, require 67 green for the budget and tax increase, with no veto, and look at a couple Turnaround Agenda items that are NOT tied to Prevailing Wage or Collective Bargaining.
Lastly, the GOP GA; either step in to help the Governor or literally just be the chits I see your 67 votes. Participate, or don’t. I don’t need ignorant tweets of “oh well, too bad” or “Democrats are so bad, because… Democrats”. It’s your choice GOP GA; work, or be chits. Right now, you’re Owls, embarrassing Owls at that. Do better.
Thanks for a great column Rich, maybe the “other Press” might try, but I won’t hold my breath.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:26 am:
It’s nice to see an editorial board that is finally getting it.
- Muscular - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:29 am:
Rich,
thanks for publically surfacing what I have been thinking about for a long time. Bruce Rauner complains about consent decrees and court decisions, but he does not seem to be systematically reviewing them to determine if they can be restructured. He also complains about inefficiency in state government, but does not seem to have introduced management or operational changes that would reduce the cost of government, except to propose difficult to pass labor legislation. Many were expecting an active change agent, but not much has changed.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:30 am:
Well said Willy!
- Wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:30 am:
Soccertease, what’s your point? Gas prices aren’t lower now than they have been in years? Down a buck a gallon from a year ago here.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:31 am:
The moment this guy stood in front of a PowerPoint slide show in Decatur and babbled anti-union crap just days after being inaugurated, he blew up his entire administration’s effectiveness. Doing that meant:
1.) He lied throughout the General Election about where he stood on most of the issues. He lied about his priorities. He lied about his governing philosophy. He proved that he couldn’t be trusted.
2.) He was delusional. He campaigned throughout Illinois on a ridiculous and completely irrelevant “Right To Work” mumbo-jumbo that was easily taken apart and unsupportable, even in parts of Illinois he easily defeated Quinn.
3.) He wasted his entire political capital in three months. The moment he began losing across Illinois, he revealed his November win as having the depth of a single sheet of toilet paper. Worse, his administration kept chasing after every loss, losing valuable time and turning supporters into opponents.
4.) He united the Democrats, who as the majority party over the past decade, didn’t need uniting. Instead of keeping them on their heels after his win, Rauner exposed himself as a complete villain, far worse than what Quinn claimed.
The man who disrespected politics, government, public servants, legislators, courts and the electorate, discovered that without them, you can’t get jack-poop done as a governor. He bought an election and then let his mask drop. He didn’t, or couldn’t pretend anymore. The smiling happy man who was your best friend during the campaign, thought he could pitch you into the garbage after his swearing-in ceremony.
This is a man who has been exposed as a complete fraud. It is easy to be opposed to him. He makes the slimiest politician look like a white knight.
Pity? Playing the victim?
For the next three years, we have to deal with him and the only thing we can do at this point is feel sorry for him. It is all he’s got left.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:32 am:
== This mad race to empty the coffers strikes me as a way to create that crisis (that creates leverage) towards police powers. How tolerant will the public be when everything in the well has run dry but pensions have to be paid? Is this the plan? ==
The public may buy it but, giving the language in the SB-1 decision, I doubt the IL SC will buy it if a case end sup there.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:37 am:
== He also complains about inefficiency in state government, but does not seem to have introduced management or operational changes that would reduce the cost of government ==
I don’t know if it has been systematic but from what I’ve been told, a couple of the agency directors have got their head on straight and have been doing good stuff, which includes some streamlining and cost saving. It just doesn’t add up to big dollars immediately.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:41 am:
As far as the “can’t keep spending beyond our means” thing goes, I have a funny feeling the GA would have accepted Rauner line-iteming the budget into balance. I mean, they’d whine about certain programs getting cut, but there wouldn’t be this kind of brinksmanship.
Problem is, that was never offered…
- Rod - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:41 am:
I give you credit for trying to be balanced in the middle of all of this Rich. Its a very difficult task given your real concerns about human services you have expressed before. I thought your holding the Governor responsible for his campaign claims of quick cost savings in our state was really important.
None of this is as easy as it seems sitting once you are responsible for the day to day functioning of the State. But I believe Governor Rauner was told that by wise women and men before he was sworn into office.
- ZC - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:42 am:
I believe Rauner is giving new meaning to the expression “the permanent campaign.”
I mean, ten months in and he’s -still- campaigning, quite literally to the point where he hasn’t gotten around to starting the fiscal year up yet, and the state is slowly starving.
That all said the voters of Illinois aren’t without blame here. We’re getting exactly what we voted for - against the candidate who tried to balance spending cuts and income tax increases, and we went with the magic beans guy. Of course this is on us, ultimately. It always is in a democracy. The whole state of IL wasn’t gerrymandered.
- History Prof - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:43 am:
I am having a tough time with what looks to me like an entirely false equivalency here, both in the comments and in the column. Madigan did what, exactly, that was so partisan and disrespectful that it would rise to the level of Rauner and his administration? He compared Rauner to Blogoyovitch? Really? And given the track record of Republican policies for the last 35 years, isn’t it at least plausible to assume that Rauner’s policies would further gut the middle class. I have a hard time seeing that as rhetorical excess. But even if these rose to the level, which they does no, they happened after months of Rauner’s rhetorical excess and fiscal insanity. So I respectfully submit that you may be engaging in something similar to what the rest of the media is doing, reporting a “he said, she said” we we have video of the whole crime.
- Malcolm Forbes - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:43 am:
-Think we can turn “No Budget Till February” into a catchy tune? -
Tiny Tim style on the ukulele. Wait, we have some fine lyricists on this blog. There you go. I can’t wait. I get the biggest kick out of the songs from this blog.
The song should be the Beastie Boys “No Sleep till Brooklyn.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtztvaGN92A
- RNUG - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:43 am:
As far as who moves when, from where I’m sitting the D’s aren’t going to move at all until Rauner capitulates, sends through a budget balanced with tax increases and pledges all R’s will vote for both. Then, and only then, might Work Comp and the remap resurface. And, as stated the other day, a MOU won’t be enough because nobody trusts Rauner to follow through. The tax increase and budget will be passed together; the budget will be held until the tax increase is signed.
If Rauner were willing to do that, we’d have a budget by the end of the month. Otherwise, I’m beginning to agree with some others we won’t have a budget until 2020.
- My New Handle - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:45 am:
I thought the court decrees were supported by Rauner, especially that state workers be paid (he has a few of those in his office). Lisa Madigan tried to get that reversed, I also thought. Also, didnt the GA passed the property tax freeze that Rauner wanted? Plus the GA passed several budget bills that rauner vetoed, leaving only the K-12 bill, with its increased spending, with his signature. Seems to me that the GA, without Repub support, has given rauner some room to crow. And rauner himself wanted state workers paid by decree.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:46 am:
VanillaMan–
Guess you can forget about applying for that job as the Governor’s press secretary.
- Hack in the Back - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:47 am:
Communication. Respect. Trust. What’s missing here?
- RNUG - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:52 am:
== Communication. Respect. Trust. What’s missing here? ==
All 3
- Malcolm Forbes - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:54 am:
PS “The recent SJR Editorial couldn’t have been more in the bag for Rauner, however, so there’s gotta be a lot more “catchin on” before sufficient pressure for movement is applied.”
The Chicago Public Schools are set to implode over the next few months. Law enforcement’s 911 systems may slow down greatly or crash altogether. Higher Ed’s spring semester is is doubt. These are all problems that impact people who read newspapers (and increasingly blogs).
Let’s hope the newspapers catch on soon. they should or they will continue to lose readers to CF and other blogs that are presenting real news.
- Res Melius - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:01 am:
” “5th highest gas prices in the nation”, and that is despite strong ethanol production and close proximity to refineries which reduces transportation costs. ”
Illinois is one of the few states that has a full sales tax on gas and it goes into the general fund.
- Bemused - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:03 am:
VanillaMan @ 9:31 Is pretty much dead on.
I would add that a lot of this has been possible with the help of a compliant, if not outright Complicit media.
Due to all this I personally feel the D’s are under no obligation to give into the hostage taker. If they give even a little bit it will embolden this crew to go after more every year for the extent of the Rauner Term. Bruce Rauner was elected because he seemed to be the least repugnant of the two candidates at the time for some swing voters. He did not and does not have a mandate to take down organized labor in this state.
Now if this situation requires some give and take on things like workmans comp and legislative maps, I could live with that. Maybe even letting some of the R’s not push that green button, even though I think that has a lot to do with where we are at now.
The thing is it would be a one time bargain and if you go this way again the D’s let it play out.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:04 am:
Malcolm- No sleep till Brooklyn–No Love till late Spring!
- sideline watcher - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:05 am:
VanillaMan….
SPOT ON!!
- Louis G. Atsaves - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:07 am:
“The Rauner ship is sinking way faster than the Madigan ship.”
Both these ships are sitting on the SS Illinois Titanic. Bring your snorkel if you are waiting for a “winner” to emerge.
All sides need to put their Big Boy pants on, sit down and start talking and negotiating.
- @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:08 am:
– MrJM
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:08 am:
-I’ve been told, a couple of the agency directors have got their head on straight and have been doing good stuff-
I’ve heard these two are good.
Jeff Mays IDES
Connie Beard IDOR
Anybody else want to add to the list?
- Six Degrees of Separation - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:09 am:
Illinois has the 5th highest gas prices in the nation.
Iowa is #7, after passing a 10c/gallon motor fuel tax increase this year. It was a relatively popular move (for a tax increase) because the message-basically a list of things that were to be done with the $- was well marketed and received.
- Lincoln Lad - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:11 am:
- History Prof -
How about this for ‘false equivalency’ - one of the two principles has yielded more power than any governor during the term the fiscal issues were created and evolved, and one party was elected on the primary premise of a promise to change it. Rich’s column seeks resolution through shared concession irrespective of cause. No problem there, he’s right.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:13 am:
(Tips cap to - Norseman -)
- Norseman -,
As Editorial Boards awake from their slumber, is this, do you think, a true beginning, or is that editorial still an outlier that is so glaring that it stands out for its difference, not its message?
- Captain Illini - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:15 am:
Like I’ve stated previously, the time clock is ticking down to zero, and very soon individual lawmakers are going to face their own paradox…do they face the party bosses, or do they face their electorate. Many scathing letters are being sent as we speak to House and Senate members from local mayors, village presidents and the like that would trip a fire alarm if their words were allowed to. The message contained is simple - grow a pair, or get the heck out since being present won’t cut it any longer and your next vote will tell us where you stand.
- History Prof - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:18 am:
Lincoln Lad,
I think that analysis only works if you assume the two parties are monoliths and that they (and we) are not implicated in our borrowing from the pension fund rather than taxing ourselves adequately for the last several decades. If the Republicans had been pushing for taxes to protect the pension funds all this time, you would have a point.
- train111 - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:20 am:
Wait a minute
You mean to tell me that self proclaimed conservatives–those who like to parrot their talking points about people taking personaql responsibility for their lives–are pulling out the vicim card? Say it isn’t so!!!
Everybody it seems pulls the victim card when their own interests are at stake.
- Bemused - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:21 am:
Not sure what I did wrong on a previous post but I will add this.
I feel if I did what Rauner did while applying for a job in the private sector, I could very well be released for not being forthcoming to my employer.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:27 am:
=== As Editorial Boards awake from their slumber, is this, do you think, a true beginning, or is that editorial still an outlier that is so glaring that it stands out for its difference, not its message? ===
I hope this is a beginning. However, I think things are going to get much worse for a lot of people before more editorial boards give up their Rauner lovefest. The Trib hang-on even in the face of Armageddon. Silly me, they’re hoping for an Armageddon.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:28 am:
Oops: “The Trib editorial board will hang-on …”
- Dome Gnome - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:34 am:
The main difference between the public’s tired, old disgust with business-as-usual-in-Illinois-politics and a much stronger disgust wth Rauner? It’s less benign than you think. The good governor has piqued our wrath in a way that the status quo never did.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:35 am:
Guess you can forget about applying for that job as the Governor’s press secretary.
I could have bailed him out, but now I believe that he should face the same market, he so often claims is the best place for decisions to be made.
Earlier in another post, there was a comparison between Kasich and Rauner and someone noting that Kacish’s approval ratings returned successfully after he stop bashing unions.
Kasich did more than that. Before he stopped bashing unions, he called attention to himself and apologized for having bashed unions. Before he ever stopped doing something harmful to Ohio, John Kasich let everyone know that he was wrong to have done it.
There is a huge difference between Kasich and Rauner. I don’t see Rauner capable of ever questioning himself enough to do any 180s necessary to save his governorship.
Press secretaries can do a lot, but at some point citizens recognize that a bad governor is a bad governor.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:43 am:
===…I think things are going to get much worse for a lot of people before more editorial boards give up their Rauner lovefest.===
I concur. That’s the reality of what will probably evolve in the Editorial Board rooms.
- Deep South - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:49 am:
Oops: “The Trib editorial board will hang-on …”
Chicago media ain’t gonna pay attention to anything ’till the Cubs are done. Whenever that may be.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:51 am:
A Pro Wrestling analogy comes to mind over the crisis in government in Illinois. Some wrestlers made good money playing the heel by stalling and refusing to hook up, usually at the start of the match. He would pull his arms away, backpedal, jump out of the ring and walk around, to the growing consternation of the crowd. As time rolled on, the crowd would grow restless and angry against the heel, who continued to bait the crowd by refusing to hook up and wrestle. The good guy wrestler would also play to the crowd by sharing his frustration.
A good question of the day, who is the stalling heel wrestler here? Rauner? Madigan? And has Cullerton assigned himself a role of the hapless pro wrestling referee?
- Educated in the Suburbs - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 10:57 am:
Wait, who eventually goes to jail? What for? … at 8:52 Anon
- DuPage - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 11:05 am:
The Democrats should keep in mind once they start giving in to a blackmailer/hostage-taker type governor, they would start down a slippery slope. If they give in, he will do the same thing every year.
- Wensicia - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 11:06 am:
By playing the victim Rauner comes off as irrelevant.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 11:06 am:
Louis, I don’t think the analogy holds any relevance. This isn’t an act or fake posturing for entertainment. This is a fight to the death at this point. The better analogy is the Mad Max thunderdome. Two men enter one man leaves. Although I can easily imagine Rauner thinking that this is just a fake wrestling match. Going around the State doing his dog and pony shows is…..oh, maybe you’re right or quasi right…Rauner is posturing around the state….The public is Mad Max in the thunderdome and are going to murder him real soon.
- anon - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 11:07 am:
Memo to MJM—-You already devastated the middle class. A long time ago.
- Austin Blvd - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 11:09 am:
Lots of good material Rich, but I cannot buy into the Pantagraph’s premise that Madigan and the Democrats caused the current budget crisis.
Bruce caused when, upon his election, he implored Democrats not to extend tax rates. Had they extended the rates, bills would continued to be paid down, pensions would be funded, and Leslie Munger would not have such an insurmountable amount of debt to manage.
To label that the Democrats’ fault may be a politically correct way to try to write an editorial but it is intellectually dishonest nonetheless.
- walker - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 11:12 am:
==I don’t know if it has been systematic but from what I’ve been told, a couple of the agency directors have got their head on straight and have been doing good stuff, which includes some streamlining and cost saving. It just doesn’t add up to big dollars immediately.==
What RNUG said. I’ve been hearing the same, hopefully from two different agencies.
The massive “waste, fraud, and abuse” available to cut, and the “business executive management savings” of many hundreds of $millions, were both delusional campaign messages. Anyone from either party, with good information on state government, knew that.
But there are some appropriate savings being achieved of lesser amounts. Rauner Team should get credit for that. Too bad other factors are overwhelming them.
- Austin Blvd - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 11:16 am:
Honeybear @ 10:08am
How would anyone know if agency heads are doing a good job?
Phil Nelson at Ag was doing a fine job according to Rauner. Then he dumped him.
What is the standard?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 11:30 am:
-History Prof-
This is not a fight between two parties. It’s not Dem v. Rep. At this point, the fight is between two individuals. Party wide perspectives left the building months ago in this struggle.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 11:39 am:
===At this point, the fight is between two individuals===
You must write for an editorial board.
- illini - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 11:41 am:
Vanilla Man @ 9:31 - my feelings, analysis and sentiments exactly. You said it sooner and better than I could.
And 3 more years - scary, isn’t it!
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 11:43 am:
=== It’s not Dem v. Rep. At this point, the fight is between two individuals.===
What do you call the Turnaround Agenda?
No, you think on it, I’ll wait…
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 11:46 am:
Rauner’s Quincy appearance Thursday is at a venue located on “Koch’s Lane.” Heh.
- Harold's Left-wing Dinner - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 12:02 pm:
Foot on the pedal
Going to test the Dems’ mettle
Keep the pressure higher than a boiling kettle
My job ain’t a job
It’s a test of clout
City to city I’m running my mouth
Carhartt flapping
Pension fund jacking
Bruce Rauner always out attacking
Itchy veto biro
But a splendid agenda
I do what I do best
Shaft a long-waiting vendor
I ain’t faking
Fry the bennie bacon
Galena to Cairo, got the unions all shaking
While you’re at the blog mining nine to five
Bruce is lamping at the Mansion
Cold kicking the jive
No budget
Another (state) plane
Another train
Another way to cause pain
Fund a study
Make it muddy
Keep up the budget fight
Donna Arduin is crazy
She always rec’d cuts
Never knew some old bones could cause such a fuss
Tour around the state
You rock around the clock
Plane to hotel
IPI’s on the jock
Slashing state service like it’s going out of style
Getting paid along the way
‘Cause it’s worth our while
70 on the floor, Dunkin’s out the door
Chief’s seething with a reason on the House floor
CFR has a trunk with millions in a stack
With Schultz in the front and Griffin in the back
No budget
No budget till winter! No budget till winter!
Ain’t seen the light since we started this plan
Hey Mikey-M, get on the mic, my man!
Born and bred Chi-town
In the 13th
My name is Madigan
But he calls me Chief
Like a lemon to his lime
His lime to my lemon
I got enough votes, ain’t no way he’s winning
The meetings, hearings, TV-shows
All a sideshow, got to crack the no’s
Step off Bruce
I’ve got so much time
Cause you’ll wear the jacket despite all your whine
Waking up
Before I get to sleep
I’ll be carving up apples eight days a week!
No budget
No budget till winter!
No budget till winter!
No budget till winter!
No budget till winter!
- Jimmy0 - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 12:12 pm:
Nobody else finds it a tiny bit funny that the address he’s speaking at is Kochs lane
- Malcolm Forbes - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 12:14 pm:
Harold - I tip my cap to you!
- Old Timer - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 1:40 pm:
As I see it, the medias’ (minus RM and few others) complicity with Rauner is a dynamic that has been going on for a long time. Much of the press in this state parrots the Tribune and we know where the Trib is with respect to Rauner. Now, the majority of media are doing what they do best, pass on the Trib’s schtick, so the citizens are constantly being fed the Rauner line to the detriment of everyone.
- Lincoln Lad - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 1:59 pm:
However this mess started, MJM’s feelings of unchallenged power,, the Govs turnaround agenda, this has now evolved to a personal conflict between the two men. Party regulars on both sides would compromise, likely would have long ago.
Sorry if that wasn’t clear. Go ahead and think on it, but I won’t wait. Got better things to do.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 2:04 pm:
== How would anyone know if agency heads are doing a good job? … What is the standard? ==
Career employees can spot a political hack a mile away. I would say the standard is if the career management staff at the agency thinks the new guy has his act together, will listen to alternatives, and can make decisions in a timely manner. Even better if they can push through stalled cost saving policy / reforms that take a long-term view of the problems and solutions.
And that’s what I’m hearing some of the Directors are doing …
- Soccertease - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 2:44 pm:
===Soccertease, what’s your point? Gas prices aren’t lower now than they have been in years? Down a buck a gallon from a year ago here.===
Was going to ask you the same question-what does revenue infrastructure bonds have to do with this discussion?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 2:54 pm:
===what does revenue infrastructure bonds have to do with this discussion? ===
Um, did you even bother to read the column before spouting off?
- Soccertease - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 7:55 pm:
I did and you’re an axxhole
- Wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 8:11 pm:
I think Soccertease bet the rent on the Cards.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 8:22 pm:
===the Govs turnaround agenda, this has now evolved to a personal conflict between the two men. Party regulars on both sides would compromise, likely would have long ago.===
Nah.
The Democrats, even rank and file, are not too “enthused” about Prevailing Wage and Collective Bargaining as a must.
That’s not a personality, that’s an agenda.
It’s about knowing how to count, Rauner isn’t very good at it.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 7:56 am:
==I did and you’re an axxhole==
Wow, your intelligence is an example for us all.
Go away.