Because… Madigan!
Tuesday, Jan 12, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Mark Fitton…
“Clearly, the biggest disappointment is our failure, so far, to get Speaker Madigan or the legislators that support him to really negotiate in good faith with us to get structural reforms,” Rauner said Monday. […]
Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook, said she thinks there are areas where Rauner and Democrats can come together, including on portions of the governor’s agenda.
But she said Rauner has to take a realistic look at the makeup of the Legislature..
“The governor has overreached given the fact there are Democratic supermajorities in the House and Senate, so to go for the nuclear option just isn’t possible.”
* Riopell…
Gov. Bruce Rauner is marking his anniversary in office Tuesday by echoing some of the themes that got him into office, saying both that he’s ready to compromise and criticizing what he called the “stunning failure” of state lawmakers as a historic budget stalemate drags through a seventh month.
“We aren’t doing our duty if we don’t come together and get bipartisan compromise and get a balanced budget. We’re failing,” Rauner said Monday. “The General Assembly, stunning failure.”
Rauner, a Republican, says he’s still optimistic Democrats including House Speaker Michael Madigan will advance some of the pro-business proposals in a package Rauner calls the Turnaround Agenda. He says it’s a necessary first step in passing a budget, but Democrats criticize the plan.
“That doesn’t feel like compromise to me,” state Rep. Elaine Nekritz, a Northbrook Democrat, said. “That feels like, ‘Do it my way, and everything will be fine.’” […]
“I don’t think either the Democrats or the Republicans are going to be able to hang this budget dilemma solely on the other,” [David Yepsen, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute] said.
* Dan Petrella…
“To me, the real responsibility for the failure to have bipartisan compromise really rests with the speaker and the legislators who are supporting him,” Rauner said.
While other Democratic leaders, including Senate President John Cullerton of Chicago, have been open to private discussions, they have been “unwilling in public to buck the speaker,” the governor said. […]
Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said Rauner bears the responsibility for the lack of a budget, noting the governor could have used his amendatory veto power to balance the Legislature’s approved budget, which had a $4 billion deficit. Instead, Rauner vetoed all but the portion funding elementary and secondary education.
As for the governor’s proposals not making it through the Legislature, “it’s a question of the governor not being able to persuade either the Legislature or . the voters of the state that this is critical to getting a budget in place,” Brown said.
* Chris Fusco…
“Many members of the General Assembly, in private, along with the mayor of Chicago, in private, agree that much of our agenda makes sense,” Rauner told the Chicago Sun-Times Monday, the day before the first anniversary of his taking his oath of office.
Later, he said, “Frankly, if the mayor and the [Senate] President [John Cullerton] were willing to do in public what they talk about in private, I think we’d have worked something out by now. But they are afraid to buck the speaker.”
When asked to name the names of other Democrats in his corner, Rauner sidestepped the question.
“There are many …” he said before pausing briefly. “Publicly?” he then asked.
The governor then continued: “There are, I’ll say, many in the Legislature — in private — and there are many business Democrats in Chicago who are very supportive of us. And they’re saying ‘Stay strong. Don’t back down.’ People know we need change.” […]
“The governor chose to commemorate his first year in office, but rather than celebrating what happened, the year will be remembered for what didn’t happen,” [Emanuel press secretary Kelley Quinn] said. “Illinois is one of only two states without a budget . . . $7 billion in bills that haven’t been paid and college students who are still waiting for their state aid money. With a record like that, it should come as no surprise that he wants to pass the blame to others.”
But…
* Finke…
“Big change doesn’t come quickly or easily. It’s OK. We’ll get there,” he said.
Rauner again blamed Madigan, the longtime House speaker, for being an impediment to passing the budget.
“I can’t tell you why the speaker is disproportionately focused on the next election,” Rauner said. “I’m a little bit baffled by it. He’s always put politics ahead of policy by about 10-1. All I can do is stay persistent.”
* AP…
Rauner also bemoaned the volume of insignificant bills passed by the Legislature, referring to the lawmaking body as a “do-nothing General Assembly.” He criticized them for focusing on bills that don’t deal with the state’s problems, including addressing the state’s $111 billion pension debt.
Lawmakers passed more than 500 bills last year, including one that Rauner signed into law making pumpkin pie the official state pie.
“Virtually none of them dealt with our problems,” Rauner said of the bills. “And I love pumpkin pie, and I’m glad, I’m glad it’s the state pie. I love it. But you know what? We have a pension crisis. They pass a pie bill. They don’t pass a pension bill. Come on.”
[Madigan spokesman Steve Brown] also took issue with Rauner’s comments, noting that some of the accomplishments the governor listed in a Sunday editorial in the (Springfield) State Journal-Register happened because of his collaboration with lawmakers.
Rauner’s op-ed is here. Brown is right on that point.
- The Captain - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 9:30 am:
I thought Leader Radogno had the best take on the legacy of Rauner’s first year yesterday.
- Linus - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 9:34 am:
Ken Dunkin’s multiple personalities do not individually qualify as “many” Democrats.
- AC - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 9:36 am:
“Eliminated the $1.6 billion deficit inherited from the previous administration.”
Wait a minute, they accomplished what?
- Juice - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 9:39 am:
“But you know what? We have a pension crisis. They pass a pie bill. They don’t pass a pension bill.”
From the man who has spent the impasse tweeting photos of himself at diners and pumpkin patches no less.
- out of touch - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 9:56 am:
“I can’t tell you why the speaker is disproportionately focused on the next election,” Rauner said. “I’m a little bit baffled by it. He’s always put politics ahead of policy by about 10-1..”
This is coming from the guy who stockpiled $20 million dollars to be used to influence the next election within 1 MONTH of his own election, and before he was even inaugurated. C’mon.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 9:56 am:
The governor should flip all those Democrats who agree with him.
Dems can’t compete with him when it comes to campaign money, notwithstanding Sen. Radogno’s hallucinations of “hundreds of millions of dollars.”
What’s he waiting for?
- Anon - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 10:05 am:
“We aren’t doing our duty if we don’t come together and get bipartisan compromise and get a balanced budget. We’re failing,” Rauner said Monday. “The General Assembly, stunning failure.”
When one party continues to take items from their wish list off the table, and the other side just sits across the table with their arms crossed not doing ANYTHING, there is no “negotiation.” Still waiting for someone to name ONE real thing Madigan has been willing to compromise - even a little - on.
- Dee Lay - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 10:24 am:
“When one party continues to take items from their wish list off the table, and the other side just sits across the table with their arms crossed not doing ANYTHING, there is no “negotiation.” Still waiting for someone to name ONE real thing Madigan has been willing to compromise - even a little - on.”
Workers’ Comp
Check your Victimhood at the door sunshine.
- SAP - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 10:33 am:
=When asked to name the names of other Democrats in his corner, Rauner sidestepped the question.
“There are many…”= Apparently Dunkin is plural.
- @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 10:36 am:
At the risk of apple polishing:
‘Nuff said.
– MrJM
- Norseman - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 10:47 am:
=== “Virtually none of them dealt with our problems,” ===
So unemployment insurance is not a problem. Then why was the legislation modifying it hailed as a great fix?
P.S. Wasn’t the FY 15 budget fix done by legislation too? Gov your rhetoric is getting away from you.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 10:53 am:
It must be shocking for Rauner to discover that he has to work with Michael J. Madigan. The Governor was obviously taken by surprise at Madigan’s political successes over the past three decades. No one in Rauner’s world was ready to work this man. Madigan’s successes are such an aberration, no one could have predicted that he would still be around, let alone, as Speaker of the House with a massive majority.
So, I understand Rauner’s dilemma. He thought he would be working with a lackey yes man who did his every bidding without question.
The fact that Madigan is still in power is astounding to the man who is a persistent rascal and perpetual winner.
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 10:57 am:
I know of no Democratic legislators that support the “Turnaround Agenda.” Zero. Zilch. Not even Ken Dunkin nor the personalities he kinda controls support the whole turnaround agenda.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 11:11 am:
==But she said Rauner has to take a realistic look at the makeup of the Legislature.==
Something he has failed miserably at.
- Earnest - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 11:19 am:
Do you think the number of Democrats who support Turnaround Agenda items and the number of Republicans who oppose them would cancel each other out?
- justacitizen - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 11:33 am:
==The Governor was obviously taken by surprise at Madigan’s political successes over the past three decades.==
At the expense of IL citizenry.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 11:51 am:
–“Many members of the General Assembly, in private, along with the mayor of Chicago, in private, agree that much of our agenda makes sense,” Rauner told the Chicago Sun-Times Monday, the day before the first anniversary of his taking his oath of office.
Later, he said, “Frankly, if the mayor and the [Senate] President [John Cullerton] were willing to do in public what they talk about in private, I think we’d have worked something out by now. But they are afraid to buck the speaker.”–
Enough about that.
Governor, what really happened to the missing quart of strawberries?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlV3oQ3pLA0
- walker - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 12:10 pm:
Nekritz knows how to find middle ground. Rauner, so far, views it as swampland.
- DuPage Bard - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 1:36 pm:
Interesting, it’s all one man’s fault. The rules need to change because of one man. 13 million people are held hostage by one man. Nothing will get done without one man.
Some people might say that man is the Governor.
- illinoised - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 2:51 pm:
Let’s see, Rauner says some Democrats support him but he can’t name them. Hmm.
- Union Leader - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:35 pm:
Name, names Governor! Why not let the electorate know who is behind you and who is behind Speaker Madigan? This will help us either vote for them next time around or vote them out of office.
- jt - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:40 pm:
If only people where pumpkin pies.
- Ghost - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:44 pm:
why does the press and everyone keep buying the myth that we need a pension”reform” bill. how about saying we need a pension funding bill….. we already have tier 2 which brings in more then it costs. so we need to fund it and let tier 2 do its thing.
- ottawa otter - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 7:18 pm:
What themes got him elected? Is this let’s pretend? He only committed to two “themes”. Abolish the minimum wage, we quickly backed down on, and scratch the income tax hike which has proven to be a disaster. He didnt run on anything else but “it takes a business man”