*** UPDATED x3 *** Leaders to meet again
Tuesday, Dec 8, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As you know by now, the governor signed the mostly non-GRF funding bill yesterday…
Rauner billed the move as a compromise, although it also provided him political cover as some House Republicans were willing to vote for the Democratic plan in the face of pressure from suburban mayors to free up the money. House Democrats ignored the governor’s requests and pressed on with their first plan, but ultimately used a procedural move to prevent the legislation from going to the Senate while the latest deal was worked out.
Monday’s action is likely to be the last major effort to plug budget holes for the remainder of the calendar year, as neither the House or Senate is scheduled to return to the Capitol until January.
Key areas that remain unfunded include colleges and universities, scholarship programs for low-income students and various programs for victims of sexual assault and those with developmental disabilities.
* Republicans are blaming Democrats for not funding MAP grants…
Republican Sen. Chapin Rose of Mahomet blamed House Speaker Michael Madigan for the lack of MAP funding.
“The Democrats had a few things that they added into this budget bill today, but apparently library grants rank higher than MAP grants in their opinion. The Speaker patted them on the head and said ‘We’re not going to (fund MAP) but we’re going to fund library grants,’” Rose said. “You’ve got Democratic supermajorities in the House and the Senate, yet Representative (Carol) Ammons was told no last week by the Speaker.
“We already have the answer, and the Speaker said no.”
The MAP funding bill has no HGOP sponsors. Just sayin…
* And the leaders are meeting again today…
Gov. Bruce Rauner has planned another round of talks on state budget with legislative leaders in Chicago.
Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly says the meeting is Tuesday afternoon at The James R. Thompson Center.
Check back at 3:30 or so and I’ll have a ScribbleLive thingy posted if events warrant it.
*** UPDATE 1 *** The governor took questions before the meeting…
*** UPDATE 2 *** I’m assuming this sums it up pretty well…
*** UPDATE 3 *** More…
- walker - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 3:14 pm:
Is Chapin Rose saying they just should pass every bit of spending that Rauner previously vetoed? This is past ridiculous.
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 3:21 pm:
How many times has Chapin Rose voted against MAP grants?
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 3:27 pm:
Now Sen. Rose is for MAP grants?
These GOP reps. from uni and college districts have been playing fire going along with the governor’s “leverage” strategy.
When you cast multiple votes against the biggest economic engine in your district, you’re nobody’s victim, but you’re somebody’s, um, fool.
- Pius - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 3:29 pm:
I think that the link to the bill is wrong:
HB4156 99th General Assembly
Short Description: $DRYCLEANER ENV-TECH
- Pius - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 3:30 pm:
Nevermind! Scroll down and it is there!
- Tuesday's Pizza - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 3:32 pm:
Read amendment 1
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 3:33 pm:
Well, Rose is right that it was the Speaker that said no to MAP, most recently on November 10. Rose neglects to mention that he would not have voted for MAP regardless, but that’s just your typical run of the mill Springfield hypocrisy. Madigan forced an entire, day long “Committee of the Whole” charade and wasted the time of countless civilians just to say NO to MAP. There are no good guys in the MAP drama. The leaders are content to leverage it as a hostage and the rank and file are content to sit by silently and hope they don’t get blamed.
The problem there though, is lots of us are paying attention. And the silent ones are going to be remembers as much as the vocal opponents and the puppet masters on both sides.
- Tuesday's Pizza - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 3:36 pm:
61 sponsors on that bill but no Dunkin. Hmm.
- Team Sleep - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 3:39 pm:
Can they please have a Secret Santa drawing and gift exchange?!
- Papa Mikey - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 3:40 pm:
So everyone is aware, When it comes to MAP grants votes, Sen. Rose has been pressing the wrong button the entire time.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 3:42 pm:
Sen. Rose,
When the students leave Urbana-Champaign due to no budget, you better hope it’s only Rauner that will own that…
Senator, you’re not a victim to your voting switch.
and… what - 47th Ward - said…
OW
- nadia - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 4:03 pm:
Kick em in the shins that’ll help things Chapin.
- illini - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 4:08 pm:
The issue with the MAP grants does not only affect my Alma Mater, but the Community College that I pay dearly for! Governors own - OK, I said it - OK, time for a shot!!!!!!!!
- AC - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 4:19 pm:
Interesting quote from Rauner about ending public employees right to strike on WBBM. I’d include a link if I could find it on their website. Their feed better should include stories from 780 in addition to what appears on CBS 2.
- 32nd Ward Roscoe Village - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 4:25 pm:
Can’t wait to hear the Speaker at the City Club tomorrow; his speech is entitled “Illinois Budget Impasse.”
- Norseman - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 4:34 pm:
=== Can’t wait to hear the Speaker at the City Club tomorrow; his speech is entitled “Illinois Budget Impasse.” ===
Set up a pool on the number of times the words “extreme” and “non-budget” are used.
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 4:39 pm:
So the Speaker came over to the Senate and pushed Rose’s present button on MAP funding?
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2015-08-19/updated-senate-oks-map-grant-funding-37-0.html
- Norseman - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 5:12 pm:
Rose on TV 20, it’s all on Madigan. Norseman on Capitol Fax, empty rhetoric doesn’t become you Senator.
- Anonin' - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 5:22 pm:
Looks like rose forgot about the may budget with MAP money….opps
- History Prof - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 5:25 pm:
So the faster Rauner releases hostages, the sooner the state runs out of money this fiscal year, correct? For how much longer does it matter whether or not particular hostage appropriations like MAP grants have been released? Has anyone updated the timeline. When does the state actually run out of money?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 5:32 pm:
Yea but did they at least agree to meet again?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 5:49 pm:
===When does the state actually run out of money? ===
Never.
- Casual observer - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 6:12 pm:
RM: “Never”
Rich,
The idea that someone would consider that as a part of their thought process scares the bejesus out of me.
- CermakWentworth - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 6:12 pm:
The federal portion of adult education funding to ICCB was included in yesterday’s bill. This afternoon, ICCB released the grant allocations with contracts coming out later this week. Hopefully, community colleges, community-based organizations and other educational institutions who are providers can get some funds by the end of this month. This funding is based on last year’s state funding for adult education. The state does need to provide its share this FY or else lose federal adult ed funds next FY.
- thoughts matter - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 6:58 pm:
Another discussion on pension funds… yeah,that helps the budget get passed.
- The Dude Abides - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 7:04 pm:
So the two sides have agreed to work together on a pension reform plan. How optimistic is everyone that this time they will pass a plan that is actually legal? I hope they don’t end up wasting another couple of years working on a plan that will eventually be thrown out by the court. There are legal solutions to the pension funding problem and many thoughtful ideas have been proposed on this board. I just don’t have a lot of confidence in the legislature to display the political will to do it.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 7:35 pm:
=== Speaker Madigan & GOP leaders say staff will meet to talk state pension funds ===
Other than pushing the teachers pension onto the locals or delaying payments again, there is nothing that can be done to pensions to favorably impact FY 16 or 17.
On the day when there is a new report recommending improvements in the budget process, the loonies under the dome agree to talk about the worst option of them all.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 7:58 pm:
=Other than pushing the teachers pension onto the locals or delaying payments again=
@Norseman- And there it is….this is what will ultimately happen and it will offset any “additional” finding schools receive. Anyone taking odds?
- Cassandra - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 8:09 pm:
They don’t have to fix the pensions. They just have to come up with a slightly credible plan to fix the pensions along with slightly credible savings they can base their slightly credible budget on. We are in Wonderland.
- Omay - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 8:11 pm:
=====there is nothing that can be done to pensions to favorably impact FY 16 or 17.===
Ramp part II? New parameters, like something less than 100%?
- illinois manufacturer - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 8:20 pm:
WIU just announced 50 layoffs due to budget crisis
- illinois manufacturer - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 8:23 pm:
I dont know if those are all faculty but if they are its a large proportion of the 650 UPI membership. That is the number of faculty. An additional 50 have announced retirement. That does include the civil service
- The_Equalizer - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 9:23 pm:
“Reforms” = union busting for the most part. Just wish they’d call an apple an apple. Bust unions, get your budget and tax bump. MAP is the latest hostage for union busting.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 10:06 pm:
The only things up for discussion on the pensions are:
1) whether or not to shift TRS normal pension costs onto the local school districts
2) whether to offer a voluntary pension buyout to Tier 1 members (although why anyone would take it is a whole other discussion)
3a) which tax(s) to raise to properly fund the pension funds shortfalls
3b) and whether or not to dedicate the increased tax(s) to just paying off the pension shortfall
- RNUG - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 10:08 pm:
4) or whether to just kick the pension can down the road some more
- Person 8 - Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 10:16 pm:
Rauner and the Dems have already shown that they are ok with a “balanced” budget that has savings from most likely unconstitutional pension cuts. Is this how we end the budget stalemate? They agree to cut pensions(again), Rauner gets to put a plan through and have the unions spend more money fighting it, this may give him some cover for his 3rd(4th,5th) demand. Then call this “reform”. They then can raise taxes to cover the next few years while it is challenged. Them leave us in the same predicament 2 years from now!
- low level - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 5:58 am:
“GOP leaders … stressed ‘reform’ ” I’d really like to know precisely what ‘reforms’ they are calling for as it seems to change by the day.
By the way, this is one of the shortcomings of the press in the US these days. They let politicians get away with generalities like that without pushing for specifics.