* WTTW…
There were also reports that one of [Gov. Bruce Rauner’s] top lieutenants—the person he picked to head the state’s comptroller’s office, Leslie Munger—had also broke with him and said that he should abandon the union issues and pass a budget.
Today, she said that that quote was misreported. She and another top GOP official came to the governor’s defense.
“I think there are solutions, but we need two sides talking,” Munger said. “But right now we don’t have two sides talking, and I would put more blame on the legislature because they started with a budget that was $4 billion overspent.”
* From that story…
Asked if Gov. Rauner should stop targeting unions during a news conference in Moline Friday, Ms. Munger, said, “I don’t think it’s productive, I think we’ve got to work together, personally.
“I don’t think it helps to pit people against one another, to be completely honest,” she said. “I believe we need to be all working together to solve the problems in Illinois.”
* Back to yesterday…
“The things that I support are things like (changes in) workers’ comp and tort reforms. I don’t know what impact that has on weakening any unions, honestly. It really is just helping our businesses be more competitive with neighboring states. And actually the union members I talk to are looking for good jobs in Illinois,” Munger said.
“With respect to property tax reform and holding those, I do believe there are ways to do that if people would get together and talk. There are ways that don’t impact unions at all,” she said. “We have hundreds of unfunded mandates in this state. We can give up on a lot of those. It would give our municipalities the flexibility they need to manage a freeze on property taxes instead and yet still make all their commitments.”
Later, Munger was asked directly about the union provisions that Rauner wants and Democrats in the legislature oppose.
“I’d like to see us focus on, like I spoke before, ways around that. I’d like to see us find a way to freeze property taxes. I think there are alternatives to do it,” she said.
- Robert the Bruce - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 11:16 am:
Seems like a reasonable walkback from Munger. Good to see she is still assigning some blame to Rauner.
It is not her job, but I’d love to see Munger invite Rauner and the legislative leaders to a meeting.
- Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 11:18 am:
This is getting out of control. She thinks the quote was misreported then doubles down on what was misreported? Not only can the governor not get anything done, neither can his hand picked superstars. They can’t even agree on a message.
- 360 Degree Turnaround - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 11:18 am:
What she meant to say is she is really only for things that have polled over 50%.
- @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 11:21 am:
My Girlfriend, Talking Heads (1983)
– MrJM
- Norseman - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 11:22 am:
Seems like Munger received a snarky letter from Goldberg.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 11:23 am:
Yesterday, I did not comment on Comptroller Munger’s remarks because, frankly, I wanted to see if she’d stand by them after the fallout began.
I got my answer.
Comptroller Munger is walking a very fine line when just doing her job and actually being the Comptroller of Illinois gives her all the cover she would need, and then some.
Why o why is she taking on a parsing her thoughts on the political battle is puzzling to me, unless she’s required to, or is compelled to either buttress or blunt Rauner points or criticism.
This is a bit more disappointing, the “clarification” instead of sitting down with her Crew and Staff and the Press Shop and craft the Campaign messaging around being a thoughtful and competent Comptroller looking out for Illinois first, and Illinois last during this “crisis of leverage”.
You can see the struggles in the messaging by Munger’s Crew and Staff if you just listen or read her chronologically.
My hope is Comptroller Munger finds her stride in this “crisis of leverage” to be viewed as thoughtful and competent, not a “wingman” or Agenda Supporter first and formost, Comptroller second.
Munger has the Crew to do it.
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 11:24 am:
Someone got spanked by a superstar
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 11:24 am:
Too late Leslie. Your name was not included in “save McCann”. Walk it back all you want. McCann is the only one we care about. Choices have consequences. You chose to be appointed by Rauner.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 11:29 am:
That’s not much of a walkback, really.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 11:33 am:
=== That’s not much of a walkback, really. ===
Enough to show us that she got sent to the wood shed. You must not mess with the frat boys or the money will vanish.
- Anonin' - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 11:36 am:
WingMan wanted to say that under further review Madigan made me go to Rock Island….smoke some bad S* and speak
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 11:52 am:
@Robert the Bruce - nails it.
- Juvenal - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 12:38 pm:
I’m sorry, which part was “misreported”?
- Norseman - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 12:58 pm:
=== I’m sorry, which part was “misreported”? ===
The part where Munger is supposed to blame Madigan for trashing the state so badly that he forced Rauner to go after unions. Got to stay with the boss’s theme.
- sal-says - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 2:25 pm:
“I think there are solutions, but we need two sides talking,” Munger said. “But right now we don’t have two sides talking, and I would put more blame on the legislature because they started with a budget that was $4 billion overspent.”
Of course Munger has conveniently ‘forgotten’ that the GA is still waiting for The Governot’s Balanced Budget which was due months ago.
Way to go, Les.
- sal-says - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 2:27 pm:
Munger: ‘That was a sham report, leaked by the Speaker’s office. No I didn’t say false, tho.’
- Anon - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 5:14 pm:
==”The things that I support are things like (changes in) workers’ comp and tort reforms. I don’t know what impact that has on weakening any unions, honestly. It really is just helping our businesses be more competitive with neighboring states.”==
==”With respect to property tax reform and holding those, I do believe there are ways to do that if people would get together and talk. There are ways that don’t impact unions at all.”==
Translation: “This is Illinois. We whack the non-union private-sector chumps and protect the unions, particularly the public-sector unions. So let’s stick to the script.”
- River Tramp - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 9:31 pm:
Busting unions is not gonna solve the problem..