58 Comments - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 8:45 am: ===1) Governor, we have entered an unprecedented seventh month without a budget. In a few weeks, you have to give a budget address for the next fiscal year, how do you expect to do that?=== “Comically” ===2) Since you’re talking transparency, why has your administration fought releasing basic information like your calendar? Don’t you think taxpayers should know who has the governor’s ear and with whom he meets? Will you fight the release now that the Illinois Attorney General’s office has ruled you must turn them over? Why did you fight it in the first place? “It’s a secret” ===3) You sold yourself as a negotiator who could get things done. Instead of a war of words, why can’t you come up with at least a short-term compromise to help Chicago schools?=== “Owl?” “@RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate.” “We done here? Thanks everybody.” - slow down - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 8:50 am: Because Madigan! — the answer to any inconvenient question. - Cheswick - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 8:51 am: Excellent questions. I can’t wait to see how, or if, he discusses 2016 in the 2017 budget address. Here are a couple more: 1. How do you plan to make up the difference between what Illinois takes in and spends in fiscal year 2016? 2. At what point do you plan to re-open the Illinois State Museum? What are your plans? - Mouthy - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 8:51 am: Answer to 1,2, and 3: “Because I’m a ruler and not a leader”.. - Huh? - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 8:52 am: OW you are a peach. I am glad I wasn’t drinking my coffee because I would have to clean off my keyboard. - Person 8 - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 8:54 am: 1) “Same as last year, but with a lot less G’s!” 2) “They are all-stars, and special players get special treatment, you all should know that by now.” 3) “Unions” - Been There - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 8:55 am: ===Talk amongst yourselves.=== There is some good advice right there - Jack Kemp - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 8:58 am: I don’t believe this budget crisis is “unprecedented.” If I am remembering correctly, the State did not have a FY2008 budget until sometime in mid-January 2009. - Ghost - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:02 am: and Gov you pushed ethics reform, but your buisness interests are not in a blind trust, and tou continue to push for moving state pensions into more expensive plans that would increase profits for the tupes of buisness interests you hold; not to mention interfering with gaming regulations by limiting strictures that impact the financial gains from your sports teams. we seem to have the opposite of ethics and transparency. using tour office to financial benefit your business interests, concealing meetings which use political power for personal gain, and pushin for cheap labor to line the pockets of your contributors. - wordslinger - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:04 am: What are the projected, measurable benefits to your agenda that justify this willful sabotage of core state responsibilities? Has your administration prepared a cost-benefit analysis to your “leverage” strategy? If so, will you release it? If not, again, how do you justify the strategy? Be specific, please. We’re full up on the catch phrases and weasel-words. - PublicServant - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:05 am: Hi Rich, The governor is too busy fundamentally reforming Illinois government to respond to questions with an obvious liberal bias from a member of the liberal media that Speaker Madigan controls. Thanks! ck - Father Ted - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:09 am: Maybe if more members of the media had been asking tougher questions like these all along, there might have been more pressure on the governor to, oh, I don’t know… govern? - Mama - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:12 am: 1. Blaming Madigan 2. If you knew what I was doing, you would not like it. 3. I hate the CPS union (I hate all unions). - Ahoy! - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:12 am: Are we asking these three questions to Speaker Madigan as well? Question 1 & 3 are obvious questions to the legislature as well, but Madigan is pretty secretive about his private calendar as well. Let’s treat both men as equally to blame in all this. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:15 am: - Jack Kemp - Done in January vs. Talking April… maybe… That’s unprecedented. To the Post, What we’ve all been watching lately, and very much so in the short days of 2016, is the Governor betting on himself. Rauner will have IRN soon, and radio shows like Proft’s. Rauner owns the Tribune Editoral Board and has Kass forgetting what that term “Combine” allegedly meant. With questions, very pointed and direct, like these, Rauner will pivot like a power forward in basketball away from danger and attach the hoop at what Rauner feels are the weaknesses of his opponents, sand try to score. Getting the basket and the points isn’t winnibg the game, and neither is pivoting off to talking points to attack someone else to score debate points, I stars of taking these questions, head-on, and realize the questions have merit to the job of Illinois Executive, and especially to governing the state of Illinois. There’s no attempt by Rauner to attack important questions head-on, be that leader he described himself as on the campaign trail, and actually never leaving campaign mode. The only thing missing? Kristen McQueary shaping the Raunerite talking points into a natural disaster then tweeting again about Haiti relief. The Owl, parroting the narrative isn’t an accident, and no disclose or governing by Rauner isn’t an accident too. When more Press decide that the same answers Rauner gives to Proft in the radio, or soon to IRN in “exclusives” has reached a point that “enough is enough”, then Rauner will go to McQueary, to Proft, to IRN and attack the “main stream media, not smart enough to report what is really being said by Gov. Rauner. The attack on the Springfield Press corps is coming. Bet on it. These questions are the salvo Rauner may just want, actually… “Media types? You know what? They don’t understand, and you know what? If they want to ask questions that feed into the death spiral and cronyism, you know what, all I can do is try to stand up to Mike Madigan who runs Illinois with an iron fist.” It’s coming. It’s that it another $2 million in ads “educating” us all on… “because… Madigan” - Mama - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:15 am: “Has your administration prepared a cost-benefit analysis to your “leverage” strategy? If so, will you release it? If not, again, how do you justify the strategy?” No because his strategy can not be justified financially or otherwise. - Earnest - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:16 am: No questions. It’s hard to be interested in what he says when it has no relation to what he does. Instead of asking something, I would ask for something: a budget proposal based on real numbers. - LizPhairTax - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:17 am: 1. You wouldn’t believe what I ate in Morocco 2. Congratulations to Charlie Parker’s Diner for winning the Thomas’ Breakfast Battle! Making Springfield and IL proud. 3. I bought some fish, to send some dead fish to the mayor. I think he will deeply appreciate that, as only he can. - Austin Blvd - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:22 am: Rauner says: 1) Blame Mike Madigan. 2) Blame Lisa Madigan. 3) Blame Mike Madigan. Silly. - Bruce Rushton - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:22 am: Point of clarification. The AG has ruled at least twice that the governor’s calendar is a public record. The first ruling came in September. It has not, so far, made a difference. - Grandson of Man - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:22 am: 1) “Mike Madigan and the insiders who are doing great while hardworking taxpayers are suffering must be stopped, as long as it takes. The collateral damage is unfortunately necessary to bring Illinois back from the brink of death.” 2) “Totally irrelevant. My administration is the most transparent in Illinois history. We’re trying not to read Illinois its last rites, because Mike Madigan and his insiders and cronies, who are doing great while hardworking taxpayers are suffering, have been slowly killing the state.” 3) “No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Rahm Emanuel is a Madigan crony and insider who is prospering while hardworking taxpayers are suffering. He won’t stop protecting his special interests, who are doing great at the expense of hardworking taxpayers.” - Anonymous - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:26 am: 1) we’ll do a biennial budget 2) to irritate ow 3) it takes 2 to tango - Mama - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:26 am: OW, what will happen to Illinois if there is no single or double year budget for FY17 either? - Big Joe - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:27 am: OW, you are right on with everything Rauner. I can’t imagine Rauner ever presenting us with any numbers on how his TA will improve things for Illinois workers. He is just like Trump. Say anything he wants to the audience in front of him, but without any proof that it will help the state. One of the worst governors ever to hold the position. Just ask Jim Edgar or Jim Thompson about doing what can get done, and worry about the other stuff later. Heck, he has 3 more years to go. - RNUG - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:27 am: Two more questions for the Gov: 4) Will we see the return of Squeezy? 5) Is there any truth to the rumor you will be introducing a new mascot, Scab, to explain your business friendly reforms? - VanillaMan - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:28 am: 1) Governor, we have entered an unprecedented seventh month without a budget. In a few weeks, you have to give a budget address for the next fiscal year, how do you expect to do that? It makes me sad that the Democrats in Springfield will not listen to Illinois taxpayers and put the needed reforms our state must have into place. All we want is to see these vital changes before agreeing to another dime of taxpayer money wasted by the corrupted status quo. Illinoisans elected me to give them value for their taxes. I will not quit in bringing my fight, our fight, to the same bargaining table where Michael J. Madigan, AFSCME and other tired Illinois politicians have been divvying up our hard earned wages for their back scratching benefits. I intend to win for all Illinoisans. 2) Since you’re talking transparency, why has your administration fought releasing basic information like your calendar? Don’t you think taxpayers should know who has the governor’s ear and with whom he meets? Will you fight the release now that the Illinois Attorney General’s office has ruled you must turn them over? Why did you fight it in the first place? I believe in doing the people’s business in a way that lets them see how their money is spent. I believe in transparency. I am committed to ironing out the problems we have had during our first year, so that everyone is better informed. I always did my business with my books wide open, and I won’t keep Illinois’ books shut just to pacify the Democrats who have benefitted at our expense over the past three decades. 3) You sold yourself as a negotiator who could get things done. Instead of a war of words, why can’t you come up with at least a short-term compromise to help Chicago schools? That is because I am a man who knows how to bargain for the people of Illinois. That includes Chicagoans with children in school. That includes the hard working teachers who are dedicated to making our children’s future brighter. That includes every Illinoisan who elected me to ensure that their money is no longer wasted in back room deal making with teacher unions like we see now bankrupting our state. I am in negotiations with the Mayor, his staff, our school’s representatives and our superstar staff in order to reach the compromise needed for all of our kids! - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:34 am: - Mama -, That’s a great question and - AA -, - RNUG -, Norseman - and - steve schnorf - last night really dig into some options last night and I learned quite a bit. It was the “Madigan is to blame… ” Post yesterday. Those 4 framed it. Check it out. - Big Joe -, if I have to choose the Superstars vs. 2 former GOP governors as to how to BE governor, I’m with Thompson and Edgar… all day. Thanks for your kind words. (Tips cap to - Huh? - and glad for the keyboard’s sake) - thunderspirit - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:34 am: Austin Blvd has the Governor’s likely answers down so well, it’s almost as though Governor Rauner has a script he’s following. - The Muse - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:38 am: 1) Governor, we have entered an unprecedented seventh month without a budget. In a few weeks, you have to give a budget address for the next fiscal year, how do you expect to do that? “Well ya’ll, we’re workin’ on it, and just trust me, I have my people pluggin’ away all the numbers so we can make it work. But remember, none of this mess is my fault.” 2) Since you’re talking transparency, why has your administration fought releasing basic information like your calendar? Don’t you think taxpayers should know who has the governor’s ear and with whom he meets? Will you fight the release now that the Illinois Attorney General’s office has ruled you must turn them over? Why did you fight it in the first place? “Lisa Madigan is just doin’ what her father is tellin’ her to do. What precedent is there for a governor to turn over his schedule??… Quinn did it??? I meant precedent for super-rich governors!” 3) You sold yourself as a negotiator who could get things done. Instead of a war of words, why can’t you come up with at least a short-term compromise to help Chicago schools? “Trust me, I’m still negotiating and very soon we’ll have a plan in place to get this state back on track. Sure I’ve been in office for over a year now but remember, none of this is my fault. Negotiating is tough business folks, and it’s awfully hard to get things done when I don’t control everybody.” - RNUG - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:38 am: Another question I would like to see: Mr Rauner, the Democrats were willing to enact some Work Comp reform and a Property Tax freeze but without your union busting provisions. Why didn’t you take those victories and try to build on them? - VanillaMan - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:40 am: In a few weeks, Rauner has to give a budget address for the next fiscal year. This is what we need to do: Laugh at him. Laugh throughout his speech. Laugh at Rauner’s arrogance. Laugh at his tired old bloviating. Laugh at him. Laugh out loud. Laugh hysterically. It is through ridicule that we can best let him, and his supporters know, that the jig is up. To let him know that he a clown. A governor without credibility. It is time every Illinois citizen laugh at this man because if we do not, he will keep thinking he is someone of consequence in our increasingly desperate state. A governor who will not govern until he gets his way is no governor at all. He has earned nothing but our ridicule. Laugh at him. - Juvenal - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:42 am: Jack Kemp - You are not remembering correctly. The FY 2008 budget was passed in August, 2007 by the 95th General Assembly, with not just veto-proof, but almost unanimous majorities. Governor Blagojevich line-item vetoed about $470 million. And the General Assembly overrode his vetoes in October. You are comparing applesauce to spam. They are both processed foods, but the similarities end pretty quickly. @RNUG; 5) If you are referring to the 12 foot tall black rat, we call him “Willard”. - Jack Kemp - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:44 am: “Done in January vs. Talking April… maybe… That’s unprecedented.” But that is not her premise. She claimed that we are in an “unprecedented seventh month without a budget.” That has matter-of-factly happened before, and in the not-too-distant past. Korecki should be know this. She’s been around for a while. As to the second question: if the Governor’s calendar is “basic,” and belongs on the public record, or is subject to FOIA, then the same should be true for every single state employee. - Jack Kemp - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:51 am: Juvenal, That’s odd. Could you help explain, then, this press release from Voices for Illinois Children on January 22, 2008: “Illinois finally has a FY2008 budget?” http://www.voices4kids.org/the-final-fy-2008-illinois-budget/ - kimocat - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:52 am: Because — Madigan. Afterall, he’s been trying to destroy the state for 40 years. I can wreck it in less than one term. Watch me. - RNUG - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:53 am: Answers: 1) The Superstars are working on getting our Microsoft software licenses renewed. Dealing with Bill Gates is really hard. As soon as we have a working copy of Excel, we’re going to plug our answers into a spreadsheet and we’ll be able to provide all the details. 2) We’ll be happy to print one off once the vendor is paid and resumes paper deliveries. 3) Negotiations require both parties to move. I’ve offered to help but I’m waiting on Rahm’s union destruction plan. 4) No, we have a new guy, Choke, in pre-production planning. 5) The Sesame Street group is filming the Public Service spots now. You will see our new characters soon. - Jack Kemp - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:53 am: Ah yes! I see my mistake. It was the FY2007 budget passed in January of 2008. Apologies. - lake county democrat - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:59 am: “I’ll quote my good friend Rich Miller: “Madigan has to give.” He said I have to give too and asked why anyone would negotiate with someone who talks the way I do. So let me respond: I have said repeatedly that I will negotiate the agenda items I’ve put forth. What I won’t do is surrender all my and my party’s negotiating power on the artificial principle that non-budget items can’t be part of the negotiating process. Speaker Madigan has says he’s not negotiating - there’s no amount of tax-trading, funding for programs to help the vulnerable, saving Chicago schools, NOTHING he’s willing to trade in exchange for political reform and curbs to union power. Why should he be willing to cut a deal with me? Because the deal will be public and put to a vote - there’s nowhere for either of us to hide. - Hit or Miss - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 10:08 am: I think that all of the question are good. However, for the Governor there are more important issues that need attention first such as right to work, tort reform, term limits, a property tax freeze, etc. - NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 10:16 am: Great questions and as others have stated get Madigan on the record for these also. - Peter Tosh - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 10:16 am: Beginning of 2 year budget cycle ,long overdue like most states do common sense. - wordslinger - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 10:30 am: –Beginning of 2 year budget cycle ,long overdue like most states do common sense.– LOL, you’re pretending this fiasco is some sort well-thought-out goo-goo plan. Also, you might want to brush up on your Illinois Constitution in regards to the budgetary process. Forward your findings to the Rauner Administration. Hint: there’s no “hostage clause” or “pre-conditions clause” or “do-it-when-I-feel-like-it clause.” - Honeybear - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 10:34 am: VanillaMan, as much as I would enjoy your suggestion of laughing at Rauner, I fear what your tactic would bring about. Rauner and his owned would become enraged and engage in even more wanton destruction. I, my work, my community, would be on the receiving end of that wrath. We are down but not out. I fear that such a statement of disrespect and loathing would push them to burn the state to the ground. They have already caused, in some cases, permanent damage to our state agencies and social services. I shudder to think what would be done then. Yes, my position might seem cowardly. But above all people need to keep their jobs, public and private sector. He, the governor, has shown that he has very little respect for union jobs or even private social service jobs. But returning the disrespect in such an overtly blatant manner I fear would enrage him and he would have his vengeance upon those who cannot defend. Thus I hope our representatives will not laugh at him. Say nothing, would be my council. - lake county democrat - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 10:38 am: Wordslinger - nice try. But as has been said repeatedly, there’s nothing in the state constitution that prohibits Rauner from holding gerrymandering hostage to the budget. Even Madigan Jr. won’t issue that opinion. If there was, there’d be a lawsuit already seeking the court (i.e., the real arbiter of the issue) to act. PS - still waiting for that answer on your opinion about the ethics of running dummy candidates. Thanks! - Sue - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 10:40 am: 1. Attorney-client privilege. 2. That’s proprietary information. 3. It’s none of your business. Shut up and sit down. - wordslinger - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 10:48 am: –PS - still waiting for that answer on your opinion about the ethics of running dummy candidates. Thanks!– Did you ask me that question? Or did you just make that up for some reason? It’s unethical. Feel better? See, it’s a lot easier for me, because I can speak my own mind. Partisan apologist hacks like yourself have to twist themselves into all sorts of nonsensical knots to be a good team player. - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 10:54 am: Is there any polling station that details who voters are blaming more for the stalemate? I think most of the commenters on this board blaming Rauner exclusively for the impasse are way off base - Sue - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 11:05 am: 1. I’ll hold my breath ’til I turn blue. 2. Then I will veto object permanence. I will close my eyes and pretend I’m not here - invisibility - can’t get more transparent than THAT. 3. Help Chicago schools? And ruin Rahm’s and my plan to privatize public education and take revenge on Karen Lewis and the school teachers? - walker - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 11:17 am: LCD: of course nothing in the state constitution prohibits Rauner from negotiating, or not negotiating, a budget any way he chooses. But are you arguing that potential benefits in 2023 and later, (we can disagree on how significant) are the reason to block the fiscal 2016 operating budget? Especially since the petition process on redistricting has a good chance of succeeding on its own? It’s a management question, not a legal one. One other quibble: To announce repeatedly to the press that “I’m willing to negotiate” is not the same as actually doing it. His actions and stances, both by him and his representatives in the “working sessions,” at least as far as we can see, have mostly said otherwise. In fact Madigan has moved a little on at least three items, and Rauner has said he’s willing to get off the local RTW campaign for now — but much more commitment to agreement needs to be made by both. - walker - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 11:19 am: Question for the Governor: If you stick with your current strategy, now do you see this playing out over the next three years? - Langhorne - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 11:21 am: Questions worth asking. But we know the answer is always revert to the script and buzz words. - Norseman - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 11:43 am: === 1) Governor, we have entered an unprecedented seventh month without a budget. In a few weeks, you have to give a budget address for the next fiscal year, how do you expect to do that? === With a lot of venomous rhetoric blaming Madigan for everything, including the winter flooding. ===2) Since you’re talking transparency, why has your administration fought releasing basic information like your calendar? Don’t you think taxpayers should know who has the governor’s ear and with whom he meets? Will you fight the release now that the Illinois Attorney General’s office has ruled you must turn them over? Why did you fight it in the first place? === Indy told me that transparency applies to everyone else except me. And, I will be fighting the Speaker’s daughter political ruling because my lawyers need more money. === 3) You sold yourself as a negotiator who could get things done. Instead of a war of words, why can’t you come up with at least a short-term compromise to help Chicago schools? === I have come up with a compromise to help Chicago schools. Rahm helps me roll Madigan and destroy collective bargaining and prevailing wage and I’ll throw him some money. - Anon221 - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 12:05 pm: walker- Question for the Governor: If you stick with your current strategy, now do you see this playing out over the next three years? ***** Some insight might be found in the reports on the IL OMB site- http://www.illinois.gov/gov/budget/Pages/default.aspx While his plan in cutting those pesky social services no one needs is working out well in DeWitt County- http://dewittdailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=22&id=202572#.Vo6kt3LUiic - Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 12:33 pm: Jack Kemp, you’re wrong about FY 2007 as well. That was 2006, Blago’s reelection year (shiver) and the budget passed more or less on time. - lake county democrat - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 5:15 pm: Walker - I’m sorry I’m so late with a response and will try to call back to it in the future since you didn’t deserve the blow-off. I’m just using redistricting as an example of the propaganda-speak (”hostage taking”) - I mean all non-budgetary measures. So Rauner can say some of what he’s fighting for could have immediate effects. But that said, even if only redistricting the answer would be yes: I think in a democracy there’s little more precious than one man-one vote. Gerrymandering makes legions of voters powerless in legions of elections, not as the by-product of a fair system but by intentional design. And as a Democrat (I voted for Quinn btw) it makes me sick that my party not only won’t simply agree to redistricting reform, they won’t even use it as a negotiating chit to help the vulnerable. - walker - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 5:50 pm: LCD. Thank you for your thorough response. Your position is clear. I’d say it’s important, but doesn’t automatically trump several other important concerns facing us right now. And I do think we can get it another way. - wordslinger - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 6:07 pm: –Gerrymandering makes legions of voters powerless in legions of elections, not as the by-product of a fair system but by intentional design.– You equate gerrymandering with disenfranchisement. They’re not remotely the same. Make your argument for map reform all you want, but it’s not a civil rights issue, and it won’t pay off in any way, shape or form in economic or fiscal benefits, as the Raunerbots are selling. - DuPage Great Grandma - Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 11:52 pm: Jack Kemp @ 9:51am The article you linked does not state when the budget was enacted. This article from SJR Dome does. As I recall a temporary one month budget was enacted. “The longest Illinois budget impasse, in recent memory at least, was in 2007 under Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, when the General Assembly approved a budget Aug. 10 and Blagojevich signed it Aug. 23, although there was no love lost between the now-imprisoned Blagojevich and Madigan.” http://www.sj-r.com/article/20150815/OPINION/150819688/?Start=1 Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.