* Press release…
ICPR to Governor, Leaders: Skip Hour Long Opening Remarks, Proceed Directly to Budget Talks at Dec. 1st Meeting
Last week, ICPR and other leading Illinois reform organizations called on Governor Rauner to propose a bipartisan agenda for the upcoming budget meeting with the legislative leaders, now scheduled for December 1st. On Friday, Governor Rauner circulated a letter outlining a tentative agenda for the meeting, which allots the first hour for individual statements by each meeting participant. ICPR and other signing reform groups believe that proceeding directly to open budget discussions between the Governor and leaders would ensure a more productive meeting.
The groups recommend focusing on recently released bipartisan budget proposals as a starting point for budget talks. ICPR Board Chair Hon. Susan Garrett believes that “these proposals could serve as an important framework and jump-start the budget negotiation process.” Copies of ICPR’s letter were distributed to the Governor and legislative leaders’ offices on Wednesday. Click here for a copy of Governor Rauner’s letter. Click here for a copy of ICPR’s letter.
ICPR, the League of Women Voters of Illinois, Business and Professional People for the Public Interest, the Citizen Advocacy Center, Illinois PIRG, and CHANGE Illinois were signers on the letter.
The Better Government Association did not sign the letter, which could be an interesting development. But if the BGA comes out against this idea, they’ll surely be reminded of the governor’s very large contributions to the group.
* The letter, with emphasis in the original…
November 18, 2015
Hon. Bruce Rauner, Governor State of Illinois
James R. Thompson Center 100 W. Randolph, 16-100 Chicago, IL 60601
Dear Governor Rauner:
Thank you for circulating your November 13th letter regarding the upcoming budget meeting, now scheduled for December 1st. We continue to be hopeful that this meeting will lead to a meaningful budget framework accepted by all parties – one that will provide a springboard to finding a solution to the ongoing impasse.
Illinois needs and deserves an immediate budget resolution for many reasons, most importantly to provide fiscal certainty to millions of individuals, families, businesses, municipalities, and organizations that provide much needed services. Without a budget resolution, Illinois will lose even more credibility nationwide. We cannot afford another week or month without a clear solution in sight.
We write today to respectfully express our reservations with your plan to devote the first hour of the meeting to individual commentaries from the leaders and yourself “on the issues about which they feel most passionately.”
Instead, given the urgency of the situation, we encourage you to dispense with the hour of individual statements and proceed directly to a public and open discussion of the various comprehensive bipartisan budget proposals that have been recently released. We believe this approach will enable all participants to collectively discuss their priorities on critical budget issues and lead to a more productive meeting.
We believe this discussion has the potential to generate a path to resolving the ongoing budget stalemate. Like many across the state, our expectations and hopes are high.
…Adding… It is worth pointing out, however, that all legislative leaders except Speaker Madigan have publicly agreed to the governor’s format.
I wouldn’t expect this to have much impact, unless MJM uses it somehow.
- out of touch - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:12 pm:
“Please refer all questions to our recently anointed mouthpiece, Ken Dunkin, until further notice or until his utility has been exhausted”.
Thanks, Governor Rauner
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:13 pm:
Hi Bruce,
We’re not going away, and we want public budget discussions, not an hour of public campaign speeches.
thanks,
-sg
- Former Hoosier - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:14 pm:
I love the fact that (with the exception of the BGA) the goo goo’s continue to push this issue. And, I like the fact that they are not shy about pressing the Gov. about the content and process of the meeting.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:15 pm:
“Dear Governor Rauner,
We’re not going away. Nice try on that Agenda thingy, then adjourning to the private meeting we didn’t request. This is still hijacking, governor.
Public meeting. Public.
Signed,
The Goo-Goos”
- Independent Thinker - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:19 pm:
Finally! Love it!!!
- Ghost - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:20 pm:
perhaps it would be more useful if the bga told the gov to drop the antiunion stuff…. that coukd move this closer to an agreement. a drop the opening remarks is as much a useless gesture as this meeting if rauner holds to his anti union demands
- Wensicia - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:21 pm:
If you want political leaders to perform in public, why wouldn’t they follow a script?
- N'ville - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:22 pm:
Looks to me like the ICPR is just as focused on posturing and posing as they accuse the Governor of.
- How Ironic - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:26 pm:
I’m just wondering why the Gov needs 1 hour of ‘opening remarks’. I mean really, “Blame Madigan” only takes like 2 seconds to utter. What else does anyone expect him to say anyways?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:27 pm:
- N’ville -
“Looks to me like the ICPR is focused on the fact Rauner hijacked the meeting, and the agenda, and the Governor wants nothing of what the demand for a meeting entailed. That’s what they are accusing the Governor of.”
Better.
- N'ville - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:32 pm:
OW,
If they want to set the parameters, let them have the meeting.
It’s high time that these groups, and the Speaker, let the Governor be the Governor. I’m sure you’ll have a cute little come-back, but that’s the heart of this impasse. It’s not about the budget, it’s not about the meeting, it’s not about the agenda…it’s about who’s going to be the Governor for the next four years.
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:34 pm:
===unless MJM uses it somehow.===
Triangulating the googoos. He will.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:35 pm:
Agree with the letter. Are the “goo goo” groups going to be moderating the meeting?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:35 pm:
The perfect retort to “Hang in There”:
“Get on with it, already.”
- Dome Gnome - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:36 pm:
I was hoping this would happen. The governor’s suggested topics for each of the major players was a grass bowl move. Somebody needed to say it (but a little more politely than me).
- How Ironic - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:36 pm:
@N’ville “…it’s about who’s going to be the Governor for the next four years.”
I’d sure like to know who’s been Gov for the last year. Any ideas? All we hear from the office now is “We’re not responsible. Blame Madigan. The Gov is powerless. We have no ability to shape policy. waaaaaaaaaa”
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:36 pm:
===… let the Governor be the Governor.===
LOL.
The reason the Goo-Goos feel the need to get involved is that the Governor isn’t being governor.
===It’s not about the budget, it’s not about the meeting, it’s not about the agenda…it’s about who’s going to be the Governor for the next four years.===
I think the Sicial Service organizations like Ounce of Prevention thinks it’s about the budget. Vendors think its about the budget. Munis think it’s about the budget. State universities think its about the budget.
Please, keep up.
- budget bedlam - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:37 pm:
-N’Ville-
How many months has it been without a budget?? And we should “let the Gov be the Gov??”
p.s. we are the ONLY state left without any hint of a budget agreement….
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:38 pm:
N’ville, don’t be so obtuse. If the governor had actually done his job, there wouldn’t be an impasse. There would be a budget, there would be no need for a meeting, and the governor could further his agenda independently of the destruction that he has caused. If you can’t understand that, it is not anyone’s problem but your own.
- Georg Sande - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:39 pm:
Yeah this is important. More on this from Willy, please!
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:42 pm:
Do not feed trolls.
- burbanite - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:42 pm:
- N’ville - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:32 pm:
OW,
If they want to set the parameters, let them have the meeting.-
They were having the meeting until the Gov hijacked it. The Gov’s proposal is a press conference then a mtg, with “suggestions” on what others should talk about. He could have done a mtg any time prior to the goo goos setting a mtg but didn’t. There is no reason a mtg in the Gov’s format hasn’t happened already, other than, he didn’t take the initiative.
- UnionLeader - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:43 pm:
The Governor hijacked the process from the beginning. Let the Gov be the Gov? What a joke! He hasn’t been the Gov since the day he was inaugurated.
- archimedes - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:57 pm:
The governor’s letter on agenda and meeting structure provided structure - but no agenda. This is unacceptable to a group that wants to see focus and progress on the budget.
In local government, the Open Meetings Act would require that this be done as a public meeting. Oh well…
- anon - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:57 pm:
I see Susan is down to six signatures–telling the Gov what kind of meeting he needs to run–not smart
- Anonin' - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:57 pm:
So HandoutAndy dropped out? Wonder why?
Don’t recall anyone biting on the SuperStars format — well you count Durkie and SenateLeader automatically - right?
Anyword from the Vegas confab yet?
- OP Resident - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:57 pm:
Better not blame the goo-goos if this meeting fails, they’ve tried everything they can at this point.
- illinoised - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:59 pm:
We all know their stances by now. The one hour opening remarks is a waste of time. ICPR is totally correct.
- Sir Reel - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 12:59 pm:
Come on folks. The Governor needs the public statement time to explain in detail, with irrefutable, corroborating statistics, how his Turnaround Agenda proposals will lead Illinois to the top. Oh wait. I was daydreaming.
- Really? - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 1:01 pm:
I don’t believe Gov. Rauner will receive the letter for a few days. I appears to have been sent to the wrong address.
- Facts are Stubborn Things - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 1:03 pm:
nothing is going to happen until the first of the year when it takes a simple majority to pass legislation. I think there is time for opening remarks.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 1:19 pm:
“===If the governor had actually done his job, there wouldn’t be an impasse.===”
Correct! Governors propose and enact budgets all by themselves without the legislature.
Oh, wait? Uh, . . .
- MOON - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 1:20 pm:
N”Ville
Remember the GA passed a budget which Rauner vetoed.
Why didn’t Rauner exercise his line item veto powers and construct a budget he wanted?
Lets see the specifics regarding his turnaround spending agenda.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 1:24 pm:
Oh - Louis G Atsaves -
Did I miss Governor Rauner’s budget?
What’s been holding up Governor Rauner from preposin’ a budget?
Welp, - Louis G Atsaves -, you “Hang In There”, lol
- Anon. - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 1:36 pm:
Moon’s response to N’ville addresses Atsaves’ wisecrack, too. The governor passed on his line-item veto authority. Did he not want to take the heat for his own decisions or was he just being lazy?
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 1:39 pm:
@Willy, are you trying to tell us Rauner never proposed a budget to the legislature, ever?
New administration. New rules. Lots of pain because many won’t acknowledge that basic fact.
The goo-goo groups are overreaching here. They should be happy they pushed everyone into meeting, which is one heck of an accomplishment others can’t brag about.
- Flynn's mom - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 1:40 pm:
It seems like BVR and the Superstars think that this is like debate club and not about our faltering state government.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 1:43 pm:
===New administration. New rules.===
Article VIII, Section 2, (a).
You’re a lawyer, is the Constitution just a “guideline”
Bud, you may have missed the memo;
“Hang In There” and “Surrendering to the Surrender Caucus” failed.
Please get on the right Raunerite talking points before Yiu get an angry phone call!
- Skeptic - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 1:43 pm:
“Oh wait. I was daydreaming.” Maybe that’s the gambit…bore the other participants stiff with an hour of rambling non-sense and put them to sleep?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 1:48 pm:
Oh, and - Louis G Atsaves -
===Lots of pain because many won’t acknowledge that basic fact.===
“Hang In There” made sure the pain happened. “Hang In There” is also Rauner owning the pain…
… until the least trustworthy General Assembly member of the 177, the President of the Century Club, Ken Dunkin, became a life raft, that his colleagues are still questioning what exactly was “delivered”.
So - Louis G Atsaves -, “Hang In There”, until you’re told to catch up and forget that tact.
- illini - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 1:56 pm:
Yeah Willy there are Trolls on this thread today, and tempted as I am I will not feed them.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 2:01 pm:
Hang in there Willy!
New administration. New rules. New traditions. New day.
Not everyone in Springfield got that memo. Thus, extended and needless pain.
And just to clear the air here, no one in the Rauner administration has ever placed “an angry phone call” to me over what I post on this site.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 2:06 pm:
- Louis G Atsaves -
===New administration. New rules. New traditions. New day.===
Bud, “Hang In There” is over.
“New administration. New rules. New traditions. New day.”
That’s “Hang In There” and owing all the bad. You know that.
Ya can’t have… “New administration. New rules. New traditions. New day.”…
Without owning all that pain, bud.
Rauner has moved on from “Hang In There”, you aren’t helpin’
===And just to clear the air here, no one in the Rauner administration has ever placed “an angry phone call” to me over what I post on this site.===
Well, speaking for me, I’ll sleep better, lol.
“Hang In There”, - Louis G Atsaves -.
- How Ironic - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 2:07 pm:
@ Louis G Atsaves: And just to clear the air here, no one in the Rauner administration has ever placed “an angry phone call” to me over what I post on this site.
That’s because your Boss has been too busy hanging out buying tuna filets in plastic to send to the Mayor to bother calling you.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 2:15 pm:
==We cannot afford another week or month without a clear solution in sight. == Instead, given the urgency of the situation, we encourage you to dispense with the hour of individual statements==
We waited months before speaking up together.
We also have no trouble with postponing the meeting for two weeks after the unfortunate loss of the Speaker’s father-in-law.
But that one hour for public statements is an unacceptable delay bc of the ==urgency== of this.
What?
- Anon III - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 2:18 pm:
N Vl*** It’s not about the budget, it’s not about the meeting, it’s not about the agenda…it’s about who’s going to be the Governor for the next four years. ***
“… to be the Governor…” Never having been a governor and absolutely never going to be one, I would be at a loss to know how to be a governor. A lot of commenter’s here are similarly situated. We likely look to the past to see templates for “be the Governor.”
After discarding the convicted, the ineffective, the pliant, and the biddable, there are few models to emulate. So he’s a one-off.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 2:22 pm:
- illini -,
Like the one above, lol.
- Louis G Atsaves -, no snark, is a well respected commenter here, adding his expertise in workmen’s comp as just one way he’s well respected here.
- JG - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 2:43 pm:
I was going to propose a Festivus-type scenario where the budget impasse won’t end until either Rauner or Madigan beats the other in a wrestling match.
After all, the negotiation itself is essentially the same as the Airing of Greviances.
- Georg Sande - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 2:47 pm:
Yes, more Willy!!
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 2:53 pm:
- illini -,
See, even by waiting, I couldn’t stop them when they come out… when they hear “the call”
To the Post,
How far will the Goo-Goos go as the day of the meeting approaches?
Will they fold, and let the hijacking be the backstory?
- Norseman - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 3:08 pm:
Of course everyone else is OK with the agenda. It was developed to have Madigan look like the bad guy by being the one to talk to taxes.
- walker - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 3:11 pm:
Interesting theater. Everyone knows, certainly including Susan Garrett, that the actual budget agreement will not be fashioned at a public meeting, though the final bills will go through public processes. Putting constant pressure on all sides to clarify and refine their positions by a certain date will continue to act as a prod to get moving. She’s proving effective so far. Long way to go.
- Facts are Stubborn Things - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 3:25 pm:
the budget will be passed, as MJM has always said, in moderation with cuts and revenue increases. insisting on non budget items before addressing the budget is not leverage at all but a noose around Rauners neck….figuratively speaking of course. Leverage must be powerful enough to support your agenda and I am afraid the need for a budget is way to heavy for Rauner’s “turn around agenda” (leverage) to work.
- illini - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 3:41 pm:
Willy - I am staying out of this thread for the rest of the day - you, if you chose to do so, are far better than me to put them in their place and to call them out for what they are. Thanks, and I will keep reading.
- Rasselas - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 3:46 pm:
Louis, the Governor’s top job is to propose a balanced budget. After abuses by Blagojevich and Quinn, a law was passed requiring the proposal to be based upon current law (i.e., no assumptions about new taxes or fantasies about laws repealed). Rauner never did that - his budget was out of balance by billions due to fantasies included. To date, he has still not offered a balanced budget. Is ignoring the law one of your ‘new rules’?
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 4:06 pm:
Put me in my place? What place would that be?
That’s the beauty of this great nation of ours, it allows for opinions to be freely aired and discussed that others may disagree with. Even in Illinois.
LOL!
- illini - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 4:20 pm:
Louis G. - I was not referring to you with what may have been an inappropriate or improperly chosen choice of words. I am familiar with your comments, and respect the fact that we will probably often disagree. I was simply referencing the many “new” commenters that suddenly seem to appear on this site when the subject is BVR or his agenda.
This was absolutely nothing personal and I am sure we will probably continue to disagree in a civil manner on points in the future - but, if I chose to call you out, I will direct my response to your comments.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 4:22 pm:
- Louis G Atsaves -,
I’m sure - illini - was not referring to you, as I was not either so it’s not you.
OW
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 4:25 pm:
- illini -
Well said.
I shoulda waited. Your response was perfect. OW
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 4:34 pm:
Dictating to a group of elected officials how to hold a meeting via letter is both presumptuous and disrespectful. That doesn’t help, we have had far too much of that already. You called for the leaders to meet, they have agreed to do so, let them meet and criticize or encourage them after. Nothing meaningful will happen in a public meeting, everyone knows that.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 4:38 pm:
=== @Willy, are you trying to tell us Rauner never proposed a budget to the legislature, ever? ===
Louis, if we look at it using the Rauner rhetoric of a balanced budget as the standard - the answer would be a big NO. Rauner’s proposed budget was unbalanced by about $3 billion.
- Daniel Plainview - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 4:58 pm:
- it allows for opinions to be freely aired -
As well as those paid for to the tune of $125k per year.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 5:52 pm:
@Illini, I accept your explanation. Let’s move on. Thanks.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 6:01 pm:
===Rauner’s proposed budget was unbalanced by about $3 billion.===
And left open revenue sources for discussion. The legislature in turn didn’t bother with that and sent back a budget with a much higher deficit that was vetoed. Override of the veto failed.
“Owning” this mess includes others than just Rauner. Just saying.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 6:08 pm:
===“Owning” this mess includes others than just Rauner. Just saying.===
Gov. Rauner refuses to fund his state agencies? Got it.
“Hang In There”, state agencies.
Rauner owns the refusal to make funding his state agencies Priority One.
No one else Owns that.
No one but Governor Rauner. Governors own the act of funding their state agencies.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 6:10 pm:
=== And left open revenue sources for discussion. ===
In other words, he sent an incomplete plan. No different than the Dems. All fail. Problem is your guy is holding budget hostage until non-budget legislation is passed.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 6:13 pm:
@Norseman, “All fail.”
That’s pretty much what I have been saying the past few weeks. Or reworded differently, plenty of blame to go around in Springfield.
- illini - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 6:48 pm:
== holding budget hostage until non-budget legislation is passed == This is the problem and while this charade is going on everyone in Illinois is paying the price!!!!!!!!!
- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 9:05 pm:
fka, I think you are spot on
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Nov 18, 15 @ 11:53 pm:
@steve schnorf - Thanks. Great minds, lol.
Also unusual that some of them continue demanding a public show.