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There is more than one “status quo” in Illinois
Monday, Jan 11, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller * From a Daily Herald editorial…
* Leader Radogno spoke to the City Club today…
I’m more than just willing to stipulate that the status quo is lousy. I would second that motion with gusto. But I would apply that to both the pre-Rauner status quo and the Rauner status quo. What this state did before Rauner was not good, to say the very least. Pat Quinn deserved to lose. But now, after a year of Rauner at the helm, we have a new status quo, and quite a lot of things have gotten worse. I don’t want to go back a year, and I don’t want to remain in this crazy impasse, either. But from the looks of things, we’re pretty deeply stuck in the quicksand of ego, power and ideology, which means neither status quo will be overcome.
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- Honeybear - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 1:57 pm:
Really really really well put Rich.
- illinoised - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 1:59 pm:
My wife and I are leaving, but not due to the reasons Radogno cited. House is for sale, talking with realtors in Texas, do not want to live in a state that is turning into Kansas and Wisconsin.
- illinoised - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 2:00 pm:
P.S. Before you make Texas remarks, we are moving to Austin, which ain’t the Texas you might know.
- DuPage - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 2:00 pm:
I demand that Radogno and other Republicans pass a budget, and adequately fund the budget. Do this without any “turnaround” preconditions.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 2:08 pm:
They all need to do the doable.
If Rauner can’t get 60 and 30, move on. If Rauner works to get a veto-free budget, run the budget.
If some horse-tradin’ on things that can be traded, are traded, so be it. Rauner needs to get to 60.
The rest is just governmental ignorance masquerading as “holding firm” to impassable Turnaround Agenda items, and… passing a budget Rauner won’t veto.
Ugh.
Enough of any and all “status quos”.
Spot on, Rich, spot on.
- Precinct Captain - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 2:08 pm:
What if 2018 is Quinn v. Rauner 2.0?
Wait, don’t answer that question. If Rauner continues down this path there won’t be a state left by then.
- Austin Blvd - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 2:08 pm:
Radogno, and her counterpart Durkin in the House, are the status quo. They did nothing but bellyache for years.
Still bellyachin’.
- Red Ranger - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 2:08 pm:
Im starting to wonder if Rauner et al are getting too far over their skis on the issue of taxes and high taxes in IL. I know they want to lower or cap property taxes, but almost every other tax is on the table for a hikin’. That is why I never understood the #taxhikemike stuff; Rauner is going to raise taxes too! He’s said it, frequently.
- UIC Guy - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 2:13 pm:
This ‘a plague on both your houses’ or ‘blame both sides equally’ post is misleading. I agree that things were not good under Quinn, but the state was paying down the bills (very slowly) and making the pension payments. There was no crisis, so people were free to get on with their lives. And is a 5% income tax ‘crushing’? Well we survived it for a couple of years: no one was actually crushed. And many states (including our neighbors, and the states we’d like to resemble) have higher rates, at least on the top earners. (Yes, we need to change the constitution so we don’t tax the poorest citizens at the same rate as the wealthiest.)
Compare that with the present situation. We have a little more money in our pockets, but it’s not much (maybe $8-900 for the median family), but social services are not being funded, higher education (including the MAP grants) are not being funded, AND the pile of unpaid bills is growing at a rate of about $10 BILLION a year.
To put it in military terms: perhaps it was a SNAFU before, but now it’s become a FUBAR. And it’s Rauner who’s done it.
- Joe M - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 2:14 pm:
The status quo of an individual state income tax of 3 to 5% for the last 25 years or so - has not worked. Most other Midwestern states states have figured that out long ago and have significantly higher top tax rates. e.g. Iowa 8.98%; WI: 7.65%; MO: 6%; KY 6%; MN: 9.85%; etc. etc. Only two of the 43 states that have an income tax have a lower rate than Illinois’ rate.
Until the Republicans show us a budget that works with a 3.75% rate, I think we have to assume the status quo isn’t working.
- downstate commissioner - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 2:28 pm:
The old status quo was bad, the new status quo is worse. UIC Guy did an excellent job of summing it up with his military terms.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 2:31 pm:
===”Do this without any “turnaround” preconditions.”===
I was at the City Club today to hear Leader Radogno. Her point was to merely pass a budget without reforms would be a continuation of the status quo of misery in this state.
Just like it takes two or more to agree, it takes two or more to disagree. The solution isn’t more of the same.
- Michelle Flaherty - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 2:31 pm:
Congrats to the Rauner crew: they got two puppets — Radogno and DH edit board — with one string.
Now that’s effective government.
- Norseman - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 2:32 pm:
The status quo rhetoric plays to the simple-minded who don’t want to delve in the complexity of the issues facing us. Let’s look at Radogno’s list above:
=== Radogno: Rising debt? ===
Under Rauner our debt has increased while our credit rating had decreased. No we don’t want that Rauner status quo.
=== Radogno: Crushing taxes? ===
State income taxes has decreased exacerbating state government’s debt. Property taxes are high in large part because of the state’s failure to properly fund education. Rauner’s status quo has resulted in property tax hikes to mitigate Rauner’s budget impasse and as a contingency to address future revenue decreases from the state and state imposed tax freeze.
=== Radogno: A failing jobs climate and dysfunction? ===
Nobody wants a failing jobs climate, but Rauner’s status quo of government dysfunction has seen more jobs lost to social service agencies, universities and providers of goods and services. Where are all those jobs that should have been created with lower state income taxes.
- Timmeh - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 2:34 pm:
==Austin, which ain’t the Texas you might know==
Only the capital.
Kidding. Hope you find what you’re looking for.
- RNUG - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 2:36 pm:
== we are moving to Austin, which ain’t the Texas you might know. ==
Been visiting Austin for over 30 years … so I understand your point.
- UIC Guy - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 2:37 pm:
Thanks, downstate commissioner!
- Joe M - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 2:38 pm:
The status quo of ignoring pension debt (until it built up to over $100 billion) - is one aspect of the status quo that didn’t work so well. As one poster stated a while back - most didn’t think of it as a crisis until we finally started making the annual actuarial payment in 2011. But by ignoring the pension debt, we did keep our income tax rate at 3% for 20 years. But now we are paying the price.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 2:40 pm:
===This ‘a plague on both your houses’ or ‘blame both sides equally’ post is misleading.===
Poppycock.
Illinois has been ill-governed and ill-led for years. Yes, the tax hike was necessary, but did you not see all the misgovernance over the years?
Take off your hyperpartisan blinders. Or just take off.
- D.P.Gumby - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 2:42 pm:
UIC Guy summed it up best–from SNAFU to FUBAR…When will the T-Shirts be available?
- walker - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 2:48 pm:
any specific “status quo” does have a shelf life
- Ahoy! - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 2:53 pm:
Rich I agree with you but I have a hard time blaming Rauner right now for the impasse. What have the Illinois Democrats brought to the table? The Illinois Democrats are essentially the same as the tea party republicans in Washington who shut down the government because they didn’t want to compromise on anything.
More specifically Cullerton and Rauner could probably work out a deal, but Madigan won’t allow it and he doesn’t even care.
- Vole - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 2:56 pm:
Oh boy. Feeding back on the “status quo” war loop again. When was the last round of this? Couple months back? Stuck in the status quo quote loop. Radogno sure ain’t leading out of it but only feeding back in. It sucked enough before the double suck.
- Austin Blvd - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 2:58 pm:
Great comments, Norseman and UIC Guy. Much truth in your observations.
- Aldyth - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 3:00 pm:
Rauner won because there wasn’t a good Democratic candidate. Of course in Rauner World, that’s not how it is viewed. He’s done a lousy job (an accurately descriptive adjective would get me banned) and thinks he’s awesome.
The emperor isn’t wearing any clothes, but his minions aren’t about to acknowledge it.
- Anonymous - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 3:01 pm:
–I was at the City Club today to hear Leader Radogno. Her point was to merely pass a budget without reforms would be a continuation of the status quo of misery in this state.
Just like it takes two or more to agree, it takes two or more to disagree. The solution isn’t more of the same.–
Louis, I think you might have missed a couple of meaningless platitudes or catch phrases.
Amazing how some can discuss budgets and economics at length without ever referencing a number or a shred of data.
- Fusion - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 3:02 pm:
It’s true that the status quo is not sustainable: both personal and corporate income tax rates need to increase. Sooner better than later.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 3:05 pm:
Rauner is governor. He needed to prove an ability to govern before demanding fealty. He didn’t do that. He needed to not renege on his campaign promises. He didn’t do that. He needed to include all Illinoisans into his plans. He didn’t do that.
He has wasted an entire year. Worse - he made more enemies than friends. As the minority party governor, he had no reason to believe he changed the state with his election. He had no reason to believe he didn’t have to prove himself.
Everyone wanted him to succeed. He ensured he burned every bridge and ripped anyone who questioned his ideas in public. He couldn’t even make it through his honeymoon without cheating on Illinois.
What we have today is worse than the Quinn Status Quo - and that is a horrible thing. We’re stuck with this guy for another three years and it is going to take a decade to fix what he has shredded over the past twelve months.
A businessman cannot govern, but he can sure at least listen and be respectful in order to learn. Rauner keeps failing.
This governor is a liar. You can’t get the trust back once you so boldly lie as he has done.
- RetiredStateEmployee - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 3:09 pm:
I don’t think anyone who understands Illinois finances disagrees that the state was being run poorly. But there was some progress in the last administration. So yes, there needed to be improvements. That said, the current status quo is unsustainable. What is Rodogno’s solution? More talking points, no balanced budget, no ROI on Rauner’s turnaround agenda. Do we want the Democrat’s budget that Rauner vetoed. Do we want a balanced budget? Who will propose that? Certainly not the Dems. So who in the GOP will? Does anyone know?
- Handle Bar Mustache - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 3:13 pm:
==Illinois has been ill-governed and ill-led for years.==
And now, according to Big Jim Thompson it is the worst-governed and worst-led it has ever been.
- sal-says - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 3:36 pm:
== ILSenateGOP @ILSenateGOP - Radogno says status quo is not sustainable.”
Really? Ms. Radogno finds the lack of a budget ‘unsustainable’? Good for her. Go fix it, Ms. Leader.
== He was elected because of a simple truth: Illinois has become a state of disrepair. Just last week, another report came out showing people fleeing in droves. ==
No; ‘He was elected because of a simple truth: He Was Not Quinn !’
== Radogno asks question - Do you want the status quo in IL? ==
Thanks for asking. NO, I want a Governor for IL; not an obstructionist who won’t budge unless he gets EVERYTHING he has in his little brain !
REGARDLESS of what Raunner & his Repubs think, there can be a way out unless THEY wait too long. Go Do Your Jobs !
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 3:44 pm:
===…to merely pass a budget without reforms would be a continuation of the status quo of misery in this state.===
Then Rauner owns that part.
You can’t hold hostage a budget you can’t quantify the ROI.
Sorry.
You can’t have it both ways.
You don’t run the Governor’s budget until… that’s on the governor.
You’re saying that yourself - Louis G Atsaves -, lol
- Filmmaker Professor - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 3:47 pm:
Rauner has now had one full year, 25% of his term, to complain and complain about how bad things are because of his predecessors. Isn’t it about time to actually DO something? Just asking.
- Alexander Cut the Knot - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 4:02 pm:
If this were about the budget, we would be done by now. This is a war about who will be King between two guys who each believe we are all regretably, but necessarily, expendable because the Kingdom will be better when he is the victor. This is not a war between grown-ups.
- Keyser Soze - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 4:20 pm:
Passing through some Springfield saloons is a prediction that the March Primary will not bring an end to the budget impasse. Rather, some are of the belief that the fix won’t occur until after the November General. How’s that for status quo.
- foster brooks - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 4:26 pm:
They all need to do the doable.
If Rauner can’t get 60 and 30, move on. If Rauner works to get a veto-free budget, run the budget.
the problem is OW rauner claims he has tons of democrats running to him saying their with him on issues…I call bull
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 4:29 pm:
===the problem is OW rauner claims he has tons of democrats running to him saying their with him on issues…I call bull===
You are probably more Rught then even you might think.
“Why?”
There is a delusion Rauner has. Rauner believes what he says when he says it. Yikes.
- steve schnorf - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 4:35 pm:
Austin is to Texas what Madison is to Wisconsin
- Tucker - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 4:37 pm:
We aren’t going to be able to repair ourselves with any status quo for a long, long time. The harm this Governor is causing in increased medical and institutional costs, human suffering and lost talent runs really deep. What’s the opposite of ROI?
- Bigtwich - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 5:14 pm:
“What’s the opposite of ROI?”
IOR (Illinois Off Rails)
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 5:27 pm:
Look around. Different governor, same result.
Why?
The voters are pretty divided over the question of taxes and cuts.
Nobody really loves having their taxes raised, and even fewer people want to cut funding for core programs.
Under governors Edgar, Ryan and Blogojrvich, we did exactly what voters wanted: spent more without raising taxes.
We borrowed from the pension fund.
Quinn did the responsible thing, and he got tossed for it.
Now, we are back to our borrowing ways, only we can no longer borrow from the pension system so we are borrowing from state vendors.
- Poolguy - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 5:32 pm:
the status quo landed us GE Healthcare’s corporate HQ in Chicago today. guess the sky is not falling fast enough.
- Been There - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 5:35 pm:
One thing that has struck me lately is the only one of the leaders who actially has put out ideas instead of just talking points has been Cullerton. Don’t get me wrong he throws blame around with the best of them but at least it’s not just blame. He had a plan for pensions, he has proposed WC reform proposals among other ideas. The GOP just bashes the Dems and talks about how bad the status quo is (was?). And Madigan, while he is correct, only says the budget is our biggest priority without giving a plan to get a negotiated deal.
- Tucker - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 5:44 pm:
Good one, Big.
- Independent retiree/lawyer/journalist - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 6:00 pm:
What this state did before Rauner was not good, to say the very least. Pat Quinn deserved to lose. But now, after a year of Rauner at the helm, we have a new status quo, and quite a lot of things have gotten worse.
Thank you, Rich. Well said.
- wordslinger - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 7:37 pm:
The status quo is the state spending $33 million more a day than it is taking in while still shorting pension payments, not paying vendors for services rendered and zeroing out social service providers and universities.
Sen. Radogno is correct. The status quo is not sustainable. And pre-conditions for correcting it are preposterous, given that no rational case for them beyond nonsensical catch phrases have been articulated.
- justacitizen - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 9:25 pm:
I know OW and Word are much smarter than I am, but I still don’t understand how anyone can dispute Radogno that if Rauner “caves” and simply increases taxes without structure reforms such as WC, prevailing rate changes, union concessions,etc., how that is not status quo?
- Anonymous - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 9:30 pm:
Facts are stubborn things
Gov. Rauner pass a budget and quit holding this state hostage. Make your case to the voters in the 2016 elections and get more republicans elected. Can you count gov. Rauner, there are quite a few deems in the legislature?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 9:42 pm:
===…simply increases taxes…===
I made this same mistake;
There will be no tax increase. Madigan won’t run it now, and Rauner won’t sign it.
- justacitizen -,
The state needs a budget. It’s not caving if you do what is required of you to govern. The hostages are preventing the governing.
All good, bud.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 7:39 am:
–I know OW and Word are much smarter than I am, but –I still don’t understand how anyone can dispute Radogno that if Rauner “caves” and simply increases taxes without structure reforms such as WC, prevailing rate changes, union concessions,etc., how that is not status quo?–
Perhaps you’re smart enough to explain the obvious elasticity in this great principle in service of the noble cause.
As in, signing a K-12 bill after muscling every GOP voter to vote against it? Holding billions in non-GRF spending hostage for months, and then releasing it? Going to court to get state employees paid without appropriation?
The governor “strategy” has resulted in 90% of usual appropriations in the clear — just without the money to pay for them.
Perhaps you’re smart enough to explain the governor’s choices of hosing social service provider and clients, state vendors and universities. Why do they rate such treatment while other state responsibilities do not?
And since you have the skinny on the strategy, perhaps you can fill us in on the tangible, measurable benefits that will accrue for all the damage that is being done in service of it.
Try to use some actual projected numbers and data.
We’re all full-up on the catch-phrase rationales.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 8:36 am:
I know of someone who really prospered under Quinn and the Democratic GA: Bruce Rauner. His annual income pretty much doubled since 2010. It kind of puts a different spin on “12 years of failure,” or whatever is the attack phrase du jour.
- Tone - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 9:14 am:
- Poolguy - Monday, Jan 11, 16 @ 5:32 pm:
the status quo landed us GE Healthcare’s corporate HQ in Chicago today. guess the sky is not falling fast enough.
Yes, Chicago is doing quite well under Rahm. It is near peak employment, the problem is the rest of the State is an economic basket case of manufacturing decline and population loss.
- Tone - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 9:16 am:
My family income has almost doubled since then as well. But it has absolutely nothing to do with Quinn.
- common_sense - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 9:26 am:
Joe M go ahead start paying more to the state they will take it if you think higher taxes are the answer start paying the higher rate now. Personally I would rather spend that extra tax money myself the folks that have been spending my tax money have been doing a lousy job. They have robbed the pension fund and expect their constituents to repay their excess spending they should held criminally responsible. That is just one example I am not our governors present plan is the way to go but if holding out until he forces them to do something that does not strike me as the status quo.