Question of the day
Thursday, Nov 19, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Some headlines from today…
* Service agencies face uncertain future without state budget: “People who are most affected currently are the most vulnerable,” said Jean Pierce of Geneva, vice president of the league. “The state ended funding for services that help 75,000 survivors of domestic violence in Illinois. Many people will have to choose between staying in violent homes or becoming homeless.”
* Taxing is more responsible than borrowing: And if you think truly conservative elected officials won’t find creative ways to borrow to spend, well, think again. Just last week Governor Bruce Rauner’s administration revealed a plan to borrow up to $115 million from the Illinois Finance Authority — to cover basic operating expenses, like buying food for prison inmates. Governor Rauner is pretty conservative, and the Authority isn’t in the business of funding current services. In fact, according to its strategic plan, the Illinois Finance Authority exists to provide capital project “financing to 501(c)(3) nonprofits and private sector companies.” Let’s see, Illinois state government is neither a 501(c)(3) nonprofit nor a private sector company, and buying food for prison inmates isn’t a capital project, but the state’s short on revenue, so. …
* Cuts, tuition increasing as Richland deal with budget concerns
* SWIC approves belt-tightening measures in wake of state budget standoff
* Streator High raising property taxes: To get ahead of legislation in Springfield for a proposed property tax freeze, Streator Township High School is asking for the maximum it can without a truth-in-taxation hearing.
* Dementia care suffering as a result of budget impasse
* On November 2nd, Rep. Scott Drury sent this e-mail to his constituents…
Friends:
Between 1976 and 2015, the federal government failed to timely pass a budget on 18 separate occasions. The longest period without a federal budget was 21 days. Yesterday, Illinois entered its fourth month (124 days) without a budget, and there is no end in sight. Why?
FEDERAL SHUTDOWNS
When the federal government shuts down, it actually shuts down. Apart from essential services — such as law enforcement — government services stop. This angers the citizenry. Politicians, worried about the next election, find a way to get past their differences and pass a budget.
THE ILLINOIS “SHUTDOWN” THAT WASN’T
While Illinois does not have a budget, Illinois government is not completely shut down. According to the comptroller, Illinois continues to pay approximately 90% of its bills. As a result, only pockets of the citizenry are angered at any one moment. Things are kept at a simmer, rather than boiling over.
Drury ended up voting against the municipal, 911, lottery, etc. funding bill because it would take away a major pressure point.
* The synopsis for Rep. La Shawn Ford’s House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 43…
Proposes to amend the Finance Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that if appropriation Acts are not in effect on July 1 of a fiscal year that provide for the expenditure of funds, the Comptroller shall order payments and the Treasurer shall make disbursements at the levels provided for in the previous fiscal year’s budget, to the extent revenues are available to make those disbursements. Provides that this provision does not apply to amounts appropriated on a continuing basis. Effective upon being declared adopted.
* The Question: Do you support or oppose HJRCA 43? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
online survey
- wordslinger - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 12:39 pm:
Absolutely support. It’s a wise and responsible measure to prevent the reckless hostage-taking that has caused unprecedented damage this year, while running up an $8B to $12B FY16 at the same time.
- Elo Kiddies - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 12:41 pm:
No. Better to have a true shut down and force elected officials to take responsibility.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 12:43 pm:
$8B to $12B FY16 deficit, excuse me.
- The Captain - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 12:45 pm:
I generally support the concept but one interpretation of the above, emphasis mine, is that in the absence of a budget the General Assembly and the Governor are passing quite a bit of their authority to the discretion of the Comptroller.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 12:45 pm:
Support. Otherwise wedges, hostages, whatever you want to label it get used. This morning I heard on the local Public radio stations that Illinois’ Poison Control Hotline was going to be shut down because of the budget. Can’t find any links to that news though. However, there was media on this topic in June and July, and here’s the “leverage” we lose if it happens-
http://ipcblog.org/2015/07/28/how-the-state-of-illinois-leverages-1000000-to-save-over-52000000-in-health-care-costs/#more-3660
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 12:46 pm:
No. They need to pass a budget, even if it is a CR. This allows them to kick the can down the road a little to easily.
- Juice - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 12:47 pm:
Oppose. Agree with Word on the hostage taking being reckless, but I think part of that is because the Governor is choosing who he wants to hold hostage. State employees, not held hostage, downstate hospitals, not held hostage, schools, not held hostage, domestic violence shelters, hostage. And all of this is being enabled by a court system that is basically winging it because they don’t want the finger pointed at them.
State government should be shut down, and spending authority should remain with the GA and the Governor and not just be out on auto-pilot like the players have done now for political purposes.
- Anonin' - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 12:48 pm:
We voted YUP….good enough good enough for us
- Casual observer - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 12:49 pm:
Oppose. How do ineffective programs get cut if we lazily continue to pay for themselves?
- Casual observer - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 12:50 pm:
Themselves should simply be them
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 12:52 pm:
Voted Yes.
“Why?”
Can’t complain and be against hostage-taking and then oppose the logic of HJRCA 43.
You can’t reconcile that this doesn’t stop what you are against.
It doesn’t make me giddy being a “Yes”, but can’t be “No”.
- #5 - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 12:53 pm:
@Casual Observer
The same way they are now? This doesn’t prevent a budget from being passed that defunds some programs.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 12:58 pm:
Illinois Poison Control Center - Rauner got the go ahead this week to make the cuts proposed in June to the Center-
http://northernpublicradio.org/post/rauner-admin-progress-poison-hotline-cuts
- Phenomynous - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:01 pm:
Oppose. The legislative and executive branches are paid pretty well to fulfill their elected duties. If we went to a real part-time government and their salaries were significantly cut, then I would support it. They could come in and clean up the budget on an “as needed” basis and get their part-time paycheck.
- Casual observer - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:01 pm:
#5, do you see a budget on the horizon?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:03 pm:
- Juice - makes this one specific point I think is where I’m struggling with my “Yes”
===…not just be out on auto-pilot…===
The safety net this makes for the state of Illinois should be that, a safety net.
My hope is that putting things on auto-pilot, budget-wise, the programs receiving the funding still have their missions and the agencies still have goals to strive for too.
Budgets are also maps to programs and services.
Still a “Yes”, can NOT be a “No”.
- Mouthy - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:03 pm:
No. Too easy..
- Team Sleep - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:06 pm:
No. We need a CR - even if the CR is passed on January 4th and effective only through June 30th.
I wonder if Rep. Ford also thought of the political implications here. Comptroller Munger - who would face either Rep. Ford’s former caucus member or the smartest dude in the Senate - would be able to note in press conferences and releases that she took care of people. HJRCA 43 would also give her cover to tell voters that she was forced to make payments. She could cover both flanks.
- Empty Suit - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:06 pm:
Brilliant. Constitutional amendment to spend what you may not have..which is how we got here by ignoring the constitution.
- #5 - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:08 pm:
@CO
If I squint hard enough into February, maybe a budget. . .
But no budget now (and that legislation) doesn’t mean that a budget can’t be passed that defunds some of these “ineffective programs” right?
- Casual observer - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:12 pm:
#5, if I open my eyes wide, I don’t see where Rauner has any interest in a budget.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:13 pm:
- #5 -,
That’s choosing hostages.
That’s why I have to be a “Yes”
- Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:13 pm:
No. Absolutely the wrong direction. If amended it should provide that all programs stop and reinforce that NO OBLIGATIONS can be incurred. Make the GA and the Gov pass a budget and do what they are well paid to do (keep in mind their more than generous pensions). Include that after July 1 all members of the GA and the Gov must be in Springfield without per diem for the GA until a budget is passed.
- thunderspirit - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:14 pm:
Support, tepidly.
== Can’t complain and be against hostage-taking and then oppose the logic of HJRCA 43.
You can’t reconcile that this doesn’t stop what you are against.
It doesn’t make me giddy being a “Yes”, but can’t be “No”. ==
And this is exactly, almost word-for-word, why.
- Daniel Plainview - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:16 pm:
Oppose. People should see the effects of these dorm room idealogues.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:19 pm:
===Include that after July 1 all members of the GA and the Gov must be in Springfield without per diem for the GA until a budget is passed.===
How do hope to enforce this? Three state troopers for each GA member, holding them within the Springfield, IL city limits, 24 hours a day? Ugh.
(Tips cap to - thunderspirit -)
- Casual observer - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:19 pm:
OW, for the 1st time you have me confused. Wouldn’t the solution be the opposite of this resolution? How about a resolution that says no budget nobody gets paid.
- Honeybear - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:20 pm:
Support- hostage taking and execution is totally unethical and cowardly.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:20 pm:
==the municipal, 911, lottery, etc. funding bill because it would take away a major pressure point.==
smh.
How are those ==hostages== right now? Has the IML thanked the Speaker and Majority Leader for their hold on that bill yet?
- 4 percent - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:24 pm:
No. The amendment should say that without a state budget, state employees and other general programs should NOT be funded. The constitution can’t trump federal consent decrees. if we were not spending 85 percent of money now there would be a whole lot more pressure
- #5 - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:25 pm:
“any form of funding” wasn’t the right way to say that. I meant that programs like the GED program have funding, but the money isn’t being appropriated.
- No increase in appropriations - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:29 pm:
If lawmakers do not do their duty and pass a budget then programs don’t get escalation money to cover inflated costs. This would effectively be a freeze on the budget unless one was passed. I think that is plenty of incentive to pass a budget and all parties are hurt a little, rather than some being hurt a lot.
- Austin Blvd - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:30 pm:
Ford’s bill can’t create a hole any bigger than the ‘Rauner Hole’ that Rauner successfully created.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:33 pm:
- Casual observer -
No worries, I’ll try to help clarify.
The social services that needs the state either fund or need the state involved in a pass through mechanism can’t be put in harms way, by whim or calculation, due in large part that having them decimated and removed from fulfilling their purposes is devastating to the state as a whole.
No one can say that the Social Service network here in Illinois will be better off once all “this” is over. The collateral damage is far reaching. There’s a reason there was a revolt by moderate GOP members for they knew, and they know, the damage isn’t about today, but the days, months, years ahead that fold, and no one takes their place to fulfill a mission, up until the stalemate, may have been the provider of a service found anywhere in the country.
I can’t be a “No” and be against hostage-taking. Can’t.
I hope that helps. Thanks for giving me a chance to try to clarify. I hope I did.
OW
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:37 pm:
My phone is acting up;
“… that may force groups to fold, and no groups take their places to fulfill their missions, and up until the stalemate, one of those groups may have been the best provider of a service found anywhere in the country.”
My apologies.
- Angry Chicagoan - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:41 pm:
In practice, the Ford proposal seems to me to institutionalize the dysfunction. There’s very little incentive to do a deal under those terms. So, No.
- Jocko - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:45 pm:
Voted No. El Nino is the only thing working in Rauner’s favor right now. As soon as one of his hostages results in a fatality, or college kids are told to stay home this Spring, he’s toast.
- Casual observer - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:46 pm:
Thanks OW. I get where you’re coming from. But, to me, this amendment ensures we can survive without a budget. How’s that working out?
As I said to #5, I don’t see where this Governor has any interest in a budget.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:49 pm:
- Jocko -
Yep, I always felt the complete meltdown “will” be the Universities shutting their doors, and students being forced out of dorm rooms, or not reopening after winter break and telling students to pack up, “See you in the Fall.”
That will be the point where long memories will begin.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:53 pm:
- Casual observer -,
That’s why I’m not a 100% “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
A governor concerned about being governor would not NOT find their own agencies for an end of collective bargaining or prevailing wage.
I never thought I’d see a governor refuse to fund their agencies. It boggles my mind.
I can’t be a “No”. Federal pass through money alone is enough to be a “Yes” for me, but I’m not remotely giddy about it.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 1:54 pm:
“fund” - my bad.
- burbanite - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 2:33 pm:
It enables bad behavior. So I opposed. I would like to see perhaps some other proposed Constitutional changes however, no one wants to talk about the stuff that would make a long term change in our financial health, like by changing the tax provision.
- internal angel - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 2:35 pm:
No. Does not have any bite (consequence) such as all members of the legislator and all execcutive officers are up for re-election the following November after failing to pass a budget. Wouldn’t you love to be voting this month on them?
- Allen D - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 2:44 pm:
I oppose HJRCA 43, and the reason is from working in the Federal system. As stated when the Federal system does not have a budget signed on Oct 1st (Federal Fiscal Year) Everything stops… I have been part of everything stops… This is the way it should be rather than piece-mealing different areas until so much is funded that there is little to moderate pressure to bargain, and the courts should not be legislating appropriations from the bench.
I WOULD support an amendment that was more inline with the way the Federal Govt. handles not having a budget… everything stops and pressure is on… a week or two is all it would take…
- Alexander Cut The Knot - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 2:52 pm:
Voted No. If people take hostages, remember that and vote them out of office. If they act like grown-ups, remember that too and votem them in. A default CR becomes a negotiating tool - there is no consequence to not making a decision.
- muon - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 2:53 pm:
Some have proposed that everything stops like in the Federal system. However, since Illinois takes federal dollars to support various federal programs it creates mandates. Federal judges will then order payment as appropriate to keeps those mandates in operation. It seems to me that federal programs administered by Illinois, so we couldn’t get the same complete shutdown that the feds do.
- Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 3:21 pm:
When Word and OW line up for something, I am reluctant to oppose it. However, this proposal appears to solve the Budget problem while masking the revenue shortfall.
My worst case scenario is when Departments spend at a rate that results in a massive cash crunch. I have been told that this year; the day a Budget passes is the day the Comptroller runs out of cash.
This year we have neither budget nor cash. This will be resolved before there can be a Constitutional change. I hope the memory of the harm done stops a repeat of this impasse.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 3:52 pm:
- Last Bull Moose -
Specific to FY2016, thatight be the feature, not the bug.
This could lead to a quickening of monies finally running out, and welp, the unintended consequences be a deal(?)
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 4:01 pm:
I’m a reluctant Yes. I would hope this doesn’t institutionalize bad habits, but the alternative is far worse.
As far as this year, I’m still thinking the stuff hits the fan when the Comp’s postage meter runs dry, call me naive.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 4:03 pm:
That was snark, my phone is acting up.
- Last Bull Moose -
To finish where I dropped off,
Yeah, lots of questions, it’s more I can’t say “No” and fight the hostages quagmire that works in truly saving social services and not let anyone off the hook… and… make a balanced budget work.
Not at all giddy about a “Yes”
- Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 4:16 pm:
OW, you may be right on the cash crunch being a feature not a bug. But that can take us into March. Irreparable damage by then.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 4:20 pm:
- Last Bull Moose -
Yep. It’s not a long term solution, because without a budget they’ll never be a replacement for what’s really needed, a budget.
I think that’s the fallacy here; it’s not a budget and treating it as the end solution is the bigger mistake(?)
Thanks for your kind words as well.
- Independent retiree/lawyer/journalist - Thursday, Nov 19, 15 @ 6:02 pm:
People come first. Free the hostages, worry about the politics later.
- Babs - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 11:02 am:
I vote yes - so many are being hurt by political gamesmanship and… The games show no sign of stopping soon. I wish the children would learn to play well together.