AFSCME Stuff made me cuss like a sailor at lunch. I’d like to point out that, IF it is true that we are the highest paid workforce, that would be only true because we are also the smallest workforce in the nation. Man, he made me so mad. I know this is petty but I can’t stand hearing him drop “g”s. Why does he do that. I think I’ll download a written copy of the speech. At least I will see the g’s.
The poison pills of collective bargaining and prevailing wage will sink the former GOP.
Between, in this speech, taking on all unions in one shape or another, and the ultimatums and doubling down, how can you have “doing the doable” and “hang in there”?
Whaa?
Do the doable, but the Agenda is still on the table, including the destroying of all Unions.
I don’t get it.
I’d like to understand, but in paragraphs, contradictory in scope and goals.
GOP GA, you are also under attack, yiu might just not know it.
He proposed/advocated for a number of issues I don’t support or have the opposite position so that may be clouding my judgement but I don’t think anything in his speech made him more likely to have success with his agenda and if anything it may have been counterproductive. It may not have been as bad as his disastrous pension press conference day but overall it still felt like a net negative for me. Then again, I acknowledge my own bias.
I also think that Leader Radogno’s comments will play well to their base but would not be well received by the general public. If I was working in a Democratic press shop I’d be doing what I could to megaphone those and make sure they reach a broader audience.
If the Governor wants to move Illinois up the technology scale, it will take the effort of a lot of people that the Governor just called overpaid and unreasonable.
- CharlieKratos - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:18 pm:
When you’re so understaffed that overtime becomes mandatory and the SOP, then of course you’ll look like you’re getting paid more. You’re being forced to sell your health and your quality family time, but at least you get respect and appreciation from your employer… oh, wait…
Radogno’s insistence that most of the social service agencies would close anyway is mind boggling.
- Super Gus 123 - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:20 pm:
I wouldn’t say that was the state of the state address. It was more like I have been in office one year and haven’t accomplished my campaign platform..,.
His criticisms of ridiculous AFSCME grievance stories are valid which is something the union will have a hard time questioning, but they will since they have a tin ear regarding reality.
A bunch spin. Shared governance means nothing to this man. If I were the Republican leaders I would be livid. I know people who voted for this man but will not be voting Republican in future elections if this the man does not bring the democratic process to the table
Rich, at least get him for a beer with a heavy ABV.
- Overpaid and unreasonable - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:23 pm:
A Jack @ 1:18:
Bam! You hit the nail on the head and thanks for the nickname. I love how he first says most state workers are great and hard working. Then he proceeds to tell us we are overpaid and the worst at everything in the entire country. Way to boost morale Gov!
- He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:24 pm:
If the Governor wants to move Illinois up the technology scale, it will take the effort of a lot of people that the Governor just called overpaid and unreasonable. ++
He will contract out all technology to a private firm so he will have total control over all data in IL.
Didn’t listen because I can’t stand the dropped g. But read the text. In a vacuum the text wasn’t bad. However, in context of how he has behaved and the current stand off, most of what requires legislation is impossible. By the way, all the gs were present in the text, though there was a ’cause.
Instead of the recall bill, can the governor be identified as a nonessential employee? Somebody please explain the end game here. Does he still hold presidential aspirations? Scott Walker did and that didn’t turn out so well.
===His criticisms of ridiculous AFSCME grievance stories are valid which is something the union will have a hard time questioning, but they will since they have a tin ear regarding reality.===
Absolutely agree. And if he had come out against the union for their stupid rules, I would have been behind him 100%. But he didn’t. He wants to destroy the union. So I am against him 100%
To the address: How can you not acknowledge the lack of a budget?
Some Easter eggs in there, like the new cabinet position and the filing of incorporation. Most interesting will be the reaction to statements like Radogno’s and Durkin’s. Dunkin this afternoon should be a gem! /s
“His criticisms of ridiculous AFSCME grievance stories are valid which is something the union will have a hard time questioning, but they will since they have a tin ear regarding reality.”
This is barely comprehensible, but I think what you’re trying to say is that the stories are true, in which case, I’d like to know where you get your information. You know, to verify for the tin ears.
I heard him say he wanted to work together with the General Assembly with mutual respect, as befitting a co-equal branch of government.
So he made some nice noises. We’ll see if action follows. I’m not going to hold my breath. I don’t see how this speech got us any closer to a budget agreement. Hopefully, though, we’re no further apart afterward.
I was surprised by Radogno’s remarks regarding social service agencies closing. I’m more than fair usually and give speakers the benefit of the doubt, but that was callous to the point of being beyond belief.
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:38 pm:
The one big thing of substance that could have a major effect was his possible deal with Cullerton regarding pensions. If the pension clause is not going to be removed from the Constitution, then this is the only possible thing which could survive the Illinois Supreme Court.
- RetiredStateEmployee - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:40 pm:
He’s selling magic beans at best. I will comment on the technology proposal since I have been involved with that for over 35 years. This has been a problem for decades. There is seldom enough money to create a system, let alone upgrading as technology changes. There are still systems I created 30 years ago being used today.
In just one area, accounting applications, this has been identified as a problem for a long time. I was in a meeting with the comptrollers office when Roland Burris was the Comptroller. Not a new problem but an incredibly complex issue to get all of the state agencies requirements in one system. Gov. Quinn also had this as an initiative. There has never been enough money or human resources to pull this off. There is also very little training money to keep the staff educated in new technologies.
It will be difficult if not impossible to attract talented people that would be able to pull this off when in the same breath the gov tells the existing staff you make too much and your pension is in jeopardy.
So the bottom line is it takes money to develop and maintain state of the art computer systems. Doesn’t look like that’s part of the plan so it won’t happen.
It seems clear that nothing will move forward unless the House and Senate Republicans take the lead. It’s a tall order against Rauner’s $$, but they can help him accomplish parts of his agenda and get him out of that all-or-nothing mode.
–Right, like her claim that the LSSI closures causing pain for her own constituents are “worth it.”–
As a true believer, Sen. Radogno should have the courage of her convictions: self-toss herself out of work, take some food off the table of a senior loved one, throw a beloved college student in her life out of school, etc….
So worth it.
Look at what’s happened to the Republican Party in this state. It’s a crying shame.
To all the whining about Dems and all this Legislative power;
@moniquegarcia - Asked why Democrats didn’t use supermajority to override Gov. Rauner veto of budget, Madigan says “we don’t have a working supermajority.”
Shame on you Radogno. I hope you or your family never need the vital services that have been so arrogantly cut. And shme on you for being a puppet and not expressing the beliefs of your constituents.
- Handle Bar Mustache - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:42 pm:
===The one big thing of substance that could have a major effect was his possible deal with Cullerton regarding pensions. If the pension clause is not going to be removed from the Constitution, then this is the only possible thing which could survive the Illinois Supreme Court.===
I’d lay odds on it being DOA at the court. So, we could actually have a budget. Or we could spend the next year fighting about a supposed billion dollar savings that won’t ever come to fruition even if all the lawmakers agree.
- RetiredStateEmployee - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:42 pm:
When did “special interests” become a republican code word for unions? The “special interests” that run this country’s governments are the rich, people and companies.
- Gruntled University Employee - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:45 pm:
- CharlieKratos - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:50 pm:
Rauner plan:
Year 1: Blame Madigan for everything
Year 2: Stop blaming Madigan, start blaming everything on unions. Madigan will be so relieved, he’ll pile on to help destroy the unions
Year 3: Continue destroying the unions and the middle class leeches
Year 4: Work on re-election
It’s a good speech and I don’t really see anything I disagree with. However, speeches are speeches and actions are actions. He needs to tone down the rhetoric, take today’s speeches tone and stop the over-top-antics. Rauner has created a lot of self inflicted wounds and he needs to stop this.
Also, Madigan needs to start having some serious negotiations and stop being the affliction on our state.
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:55 pm:
If I were Patti Bellock’s constituent, I’d love to hear whether she, too, considers the human services cuts to be “worth it.”
- Middle Class Taxpayer - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:56 pm:
You AFSCME guys on this board are the worst. At this point, I’m for firing all of you and replacing you with H-1Bs and using overseas call centers and paper pushers.
You’d think no one else was middle class except you entitled buffons who think the answer is the always attack my paycheck and my children’s future.
It wasn’t the worst speech. It wasn’t the best speech. On the flipside, listening to Speaker Madigan is almost as bad as listening to golf announcers talk about a putter choice.
The guv continues the program of painting the Dems as the old guard standing in the way of progress. He knows there will be sound bites on the news (and that average voters might notice), so he gave them some about compromise. We’ll see how it plays to Average Joe.
- Middle Class Taxpayer - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:56 pm:
You AFSCME guys on this board are the worst. At this point, I’m for firing all of you and replacing you with H-1Bs and using overseas call centers and paper pushers.
You’d think no one else was middle class except you entitled buffons who think the answer is the always attack my paycheck and my children’s future.
Governor Rauner, fire them all and let them eat cake..
===He knows there will be sound bites on the news (and that average voters might notice), so he gave them some about compromise. We’ll see how it plays to Average Joe.===
So…
You approve of the sound bites and no governing by Rauner?
Got it. Thanks.
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:00 pm:
“- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:33 pm:
Everything the governor said about economic development was spot-on and this new P3 organization can’t come fast enough.” Funny how the Raunerbot drop-ins usually prefer to be “anonymous.” Cmon guys, at least come up with a handle boys and girls.
-It will be difficult if not impossible to attract talented people that would be able to pull this off when in the same breath the gov tells the existing staff you make too much and your pension is in jeopardy.-
“Create a Cabinet on Children and Youth so we can better align our health and human services with our cradle to career education.”
Does anyone know what this means?
–The guv continues the program of painting the Dems as the old guard standing in the way of progress. He knows there will be sound bites on the news (and that average voters might notice), so he gave them some about compromise. We’ll see how it plays to Average Joe.–
Because the personal, self-aggrandizing spin is all that matters.
The actual gig is just an annoying distraction, and the real people tuned up — by their government — just meaningless statistics.
“Support programs that create more quality school choice options for low income children stuck in failing schools.”
How is those low income kids suppose to get to the quality schools outside of their area?
It doesn’t matter what is in the speech today. Rauner isn’t going to do a darn thing until he gets his Turnaround Agenda (destroy IL unions).
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:07 pm:
==- Mama - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:02 pm:
“Create a Cabinet on Children and Youth so we can better align our health and human services with our cradle to career education.”
Does anyone know what this means?==
Social services run like charter schools and diploma mills.
Governor Rauner must use a teleprompter and/or a written script.
Are the g’s missing from these written documents?
Or, does Governor Rauner completely disregard the fact that there are g’s in front of him?
I suspect the later, as that his is usual procedure– to disregard things that are right in front of him.
(I did hear one g pronounced correctly. It was right after all the Thank you’s at the beginning. I found that very odd and inconsistent with his image. Very curious). /s
- All the king's men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:13 pm:
I think my IQ dropped from 150 to 140 while listening to that. Sounded a little forced and desperate overall.
“#6: testing for student growth, #7 : school choice, #8 new schools for “disconnected youth”, #9 : consolidate councils and taskforces”
The only item on this list that we don’t already have in place is school choice.
Remind me again what it is that public employee unions actually produce? It’s not like the UAW or the International Textile Garment and Leather Workers Federation where those employees actually produce a product and whose workplace environment are at issue for their safety. AFSCME leadeairship needs to get a grip on reality!
-Everything the governor said about economic development was spot-on and this new P3 organization can’t come fast enough.-
Too fast is the problem. DCEO can’t tie their own shoelaces. How are they going to produce a viable economic development corp? Magic beans thinking if there ever was. Oh wait….actually I take that back. It’s probably already up and running in shadow form run by corporations who want some of that state money. No need for transparency anymore. No need to be hampered by “work rules”. From here on out just good ole American corporate cronyism. I’m sure consultants are lined up around the block.
He is a governor incapable of speaking in a bipartisan compromising way. He once again demonstrates a complete inability to build a bridge to any support beyond his own yes-men and yes-ladies. He is a marvel to listen to without being offended by his callous disrespect towards anyone unsold on his ideas beforehand. Bruce Rauner is the worst salesman I ever heard give a presentation. His communication skills are nearly non-existent.
What kind of governor doesn’t understand that the purpose of the job and the purpose of the speech is to build consensus? Rauner may tell us that he wants consensus, but the words and language he chose, say otherwise.
Governors cannot build consensus by tearing others apart. They cannot build any compromise by inaccurately describing opposing views held by the MAJORITY of the audience present.
At every opportunity to present an issue in a way that could be considered gubernatorial and as honest and unbiased as needed - Bruce Rauner failed. He feels a need to take a shot, make a dig, prove a point that he is right and everyone else is wrong, during the most important annual speech he gives. What is wrong with this man?
Talk to him!
- All the king's men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:20 pm:
Mama, I think no child left behind took care of choice.
Willy - there’s a stand-off going on, with each side trying to convince Average Joe the their side is the good guy. He chose to put some conciliatory bites in the speech today for that reason. Seems like a better play for him than saying “my way or the highway.”
===Remind me again what it is that public employee unions actually produce? It’s not like the UAW or the International Textile Garment and Leather Workers Federation where those employees actually produce a product and whose workplace environment are at issue for their safety. AFSCME leadeairship needs to get a grip on reality!===
You are utterly clueless in an embarrassing way.
The missions of state agencies are to serve the citizens of the state in capacities, many times, private entities just can’t… and usually one main reason is its unprofitable because nothing if tangible value is gained except for a healthy citizenry, and another reason is nothing tangible is actually made.
Do yourself a solid. Learn why government does what it dies here by the agencies’ missions.
Get back to us. Ugh.
- All the king's men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:26 pm:
Calm down VanillaMan, it’s not worth blowing a gasket over. But that said, I think it’s pretty obvious the only person he was trying to build a bridge to in the room is the Senate president cullerton. He very clearly avoided any mention of madigan.
creating more upper management structures while he cuts lower management and outside funded services and claims “shareholder” value. he’s operating to line the pockets of insiders and hurting the poor. He could have phoned in his short nonsense by saying big players count and the poor can head for welfare.
- working stiff - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:27 pm:
==it will take the effort of a lot of people that the Governor just called overpaid and unreasonable. ==
=How is those low income kids suppose to get to the quality schools outside of their area?=
Ahhh…and there is the rub! That is why things like vouchers are such a canard. They more like a wealthy tax break because only those with some wealth have the means for transportation. The poor will struggle to move their children great distances.
=actually produce=
Welp, they are not in factories making low cost electronics I’ll give you that. But, they might be inspecting those “factories” that produce things making sure that the workplace is safe.
++- Father Ted - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:37 pm:
I was surprised by Radogno’s remarks regarding social service agencies closing. I’m more than fair usually and give speakers the benefit of the doubt, but that was callous to the point of being beyond belief.++
I agree she was very callous about social service agencies closing. Our new Tea Party Republicans simply don’t care about the people of IL.
Illinois is blessed with womder teachers, once they are fired, stripped of their pensions, and rehired at minimum wage by private contractors all will be fine.
- Almost the Weekend - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:33 pm:
Dropping the G’s was brutal. But I thought it was very tame..compared to what he has been saying in the press.
Thought he was spot on with AFSCME, he needs to be careful to not categorize all state workers under AFSCME.
Be interesting to see how Raunerton’s pension bill works without Madigan.
Let’s see if the pension bill and worker’s comp can be achieved. Rauner sounded reasonable on that issue as well.
- All the king's men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:33 pm:
I have no problem with term limits, I mean the biggest argument against them is the loss of institutional experience and knowledge. That’s an easy fix. I would take either term limits or redistricting. Do one right and the other becomes less necessary.
–You AFSCME guys on this board are the worst. At this point, I’m for firing all of you and replacing you with H-1Bs and using overseas call centers and paper pushers.
You’d think no one else was middle class except you entitled buffons who think the answer is the always attack my paycheck and my children’s future.
Governor Rauner, fire them all.–
Does anybody want to work for the State of Illinois now? No? Anybody?
Collapse of the State workforce is already in progress. If folks were thinking about waiting for retirement, I’m sure they are putting their papers in today. I’m also sure that people are job hunting right now. Being dead last in number of State workers per capita is going become deadly to the functioning of government. If the impasse goes on much longer a lot of local folks are going to get cut. But hey, Rauner doesn’t care
“Remind me again what it is that public employee unions actually produce? It’s not like the UAW or the International Textile Garment and Leather Workers Federation where those employees actually produce a product and whose workplace environment are at issue for their safety. AFSCME leadeairship needs to get a grip on reality!”
Well, my job involves helping citizens with disabilities gain employment skills so they can be self-sufficient. Many of them rely on state and/or federal benefits when they seek services. Tax consumers become tax payers so there’s that.
With regard to workplace environment, if you’ve ever dealt with a furious person with mental illness and a history of violence, as we often do, you might not be so quick to judge. As Willy suggested, educate yourself.
- Let'sMovetoNorthDakota - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:36 pm:
So have Madigan/Cullerton offered to compromise even one inch on turnaround agenda items?
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:37 pm:
Why should Madigan/Cullerton compromise on turnaround agenda items, when the people of Illinois have not elected the turnaround agenda, nor do they seem to support it?
I fully agree with both of your comments, having seen much of the same over the last 40 years. However, I do wonder about the apparent removal of Info System functions/entities from various agencies into a consolidated mass.
I’ve seen various consolidation schemes rolled out by CMS over they decades and ultimately they have not worked out well, though the financial systems issue probably is the exception.
As to the comments about overpaid, etc. employees, I’m enough of a cynic to expect the proposed answer will be to contract it all out under the new “relaxed” procurement rules …
- East Central Illinois - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:39 pm:
- All the king’s men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:26 pm:
“Calm down VanillaMan, it’s not worth blowing a gasket over. But that said, I think it’s pretty obvious the only person he was trying to build a bridge to in the room is the Senate president cullerton. He very clearly avoided any mention of madigan.”
Are you serious?? Have you not been payin’ any attention to what Rauner’s lack of governin’ is doing to this state? People are losing jobs, services are being cut to the people that need them the most, universities and community colleges are losing millions of dollars, students that might have attended those educational places are thinking twice of being able to attend any higher ed facility. And you have the nerve to say “don’t blow a gasket”? What, are you and Radogno reading from the same sheet of music?
Look up “malignant narcissism”–might be the explanation everyone’s been looking for.
All snark aside, I almost don’t blame Rauner anymore for his pronouncements, as I’ve come to suspect he literally has no conscience, and therefore can’t be held accountable for exhibiting something he was born lacking. Radogno and Durkin, though–what’s their excuse? They know better.
Middle-class taxpayer, did you seriously just attempt to insult state workers by calling them “buffons”? Lol; that’s hilarious.
“He once again demonstrates a complete inability to build a bridge..” I’m reminded of one of Thompson’s SoS speeches where the motif was something like “…and what about that Democrats? Republicans?” It was clear he was poking the Dems, but equally clear that there was blame on both sides. More of that, please.
That was a good question. What has Madigan offered as a proposal/counter-proposal to Rauner? (I’m not being political, I just don’t follow this close enough that I might have missed it.)
I thought Cullerton had an interesting counteroffer with the school financing proposal.
It’s great to see the willingness of folks on this thread (most of them that is) to find common ground with anything the Governor talked about today. The Governor has made some mistakes in the past year, no doubt about it. But we have to acknowledge that he alone is not to blame for the dysfunction we see in this State. The problems we face are decades in the making. There is a common ground to be found on so many of the issues he talked about today. The Governor has compromised his position to meet people halfway on a host of issues in the last year. I haven’t seen the Democrats do very much compromising of their views. Illinois was in dire financial straits long before the tax increase expired last year.
==The Governor has made some mistakes in the past year, no doubt about it. But we have to acknowledge that he alone is not to blame for the dysfunction we see in this State.==
Absolutely true. Also, absolutely irrelevant. The question is, is the state better off today than when he took office? From the sound of the speech, even Rauner doesn’t think so. We are worse off. And there is no end in sight.
>>There is a common ground to be found on so many of the issues he talked about today.
Yes! But he is all or nothing when it comes to the anti-union stuff. He could have gotten a long ways through the common ground this past year and made positive changes for Illinois. I can’t believe his supporters aren’t angry at him for that.
Anonymous…..anonymous…..(gently smacks cheek) anonymous wake up! Wow…you were having the most bizarre fever dream just now. You were saying something about Rauner wanting to compromise and how posters weren’t trying to find common ground….man…you need to lay off three day old sushi. I know it’s on sale but you got a bad one.
- Overpaid and unreasonable - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:03 pm:
“The Governor has made some mistakes in the past year, no doubt about it. ”
Some mistakes? Propose a balanced budget please sir. The constitution requires it.
“But we have to acknowledge that he alone is not to blame for the dysfunction we see in this State.”
Tired, tired argument. It needs to be said again and again until it gets through to some of you: propose a balanced budget.
There is most definitely common ground to be found on all of the issues. The Governor has yet to prove that he can be relied upon to live up to any end of a compromise.
I lobbied Leader Radogno years ago, on issues relating to mental health and adult guardianship. At the time, she was in leadership, but not The Leader. She told me about her Oak Park roots and her professional connection to human services, and I believed that her interest (then) was sincere. She spoke kindly of my agency, and voted our way on our request. George Ryan was the Governor then.
She would do well to reach out to a current Oak Parker, Mr.Lavin at AgeOptions. The social services cuts impacting the aging network may well result in new combinations and new economies, as she now suggests, and Mr. Lavin could speak to that point. But I would assume he could remind her of the human costs borne by many among us that require the assistance that our state has provided. Trading the well being of people in need, today, for economies in scale, later. Sigh. That’s a harsh bargain.
The fact that Leader Radogno could be persuaded to run counter to her own history is another example of the Governor’s all-or-nothing approach. I see what side she is on today, but I also hope she still knows who she is. She could be a voice of reason, if she chose to.
Honeybear- It was during her post SOTS interview with Jak. Basically from my post on another thread)- Radogno’s statements following the SOTS on social services shows her true colors- many (small social service providers) were failing anyway and were absorbed into better, stronger agencies.
***
It’s seems to be one of the Quotes of the Day - and week, and year, and campaigns to come;)
- Name Withheld - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:07 pm:
Anonymous - respectfully, the man came into office calling everyone corrupt, including the judges on the Illinois Supreme Court. He’s lack of command of details has led to situations like “Rich works for Madigan” and his gross misrepresentation of the agreement with Cullerton. He lays blame for an unbalanced budget at Madigan’s feet while conveniently ignoring his own unbalanced budget. His vilification of state employees as overpaid while his own ’super-stars’ rake in higher salaries than anything paid under Quinn, including one who needed a pension sweetener to make his salary comparable with others who previously held the position. And he allows institutions like LSSI to wither and die on the vine without owning one shred of the blame for the situation.
He is so removed from the suffering and pain he has allowed to occur, and in fact treats that same suffering as a bargaining chip and leverage in negotiations. So yeah - I have little difficulty seeing why Democrats, with some singular exceptions, aren’t lining up to support him.
I thought the Governor gave a great speech. But I admit to being a tad prejudiced here.
The Governor should abandon all those ideas and enact the first budget the legislature votes on, whether it is 4, 5, 6, 8 or 10 billion in the red.
Illinois from the comments in this thread deserves all that this government represents that its voters elected. Cut nothing. Reform even less than nothing.
We deserve it.
Blaming Rauner for decades of this nonsense for his single year in office is worse than disengenuous. More status quo is not the answer and labeling those of us here who recognize this basic fact as trolls solves nothing.
This is our dysfunctional government. We voted for it. And soon we will pay the harsh consequences for our action. And it make us all even crabbier than we are now.
But we have to acknowledge that he alone is not to blame for the dysfunction we see in this State. == The problems we face are decades in the making. There is a common ground to be found on so many of the issues he talked about today. The Governor has compromised his position to meet people halfway on a host of issues in the last year. ==
A joke post,right? ‘compromised…on a host of issues in the last year’. LOL. Like what exactly?
>>Radogno’s statements following the SOTS on social services shows her true colors- many (small social service providers) were failing anyway and were absorbed into better, stronger agencies.
Keep in mind, she’s not commenting on what has happened. She was talking about making this happen back in the spring. This is what she intended to happen. And no disagreement from her caucus makes them complicit. It’s time to accept some shame and make it right.
- All the king's men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:14 pm:
I think workin for the state sounds like a good deal currently since I am told my generation would have to work until I am 70 to 75 before I would be eligible to retire otherwise.
I just read the speech text.
He trashed AFSCME and told state workers that they make too much right after saying most state workers were great and deserved to be highly paid.
To the 41% of union voters who voted for Rauner:
You sure showed Pat Quinn didn’t you?
“Too fast is the problem. DCEO can’t tie their own shoelaces. How are they going to produce a viable economic development corp? Magic beans thinking if there ever was…”
Actually, I would hope that existing DCEO personnel had no input whatsoever on the new P3. I sincerely hope that Jim Shultz and like 2 or 3 other people designed the entire thing themselves without any input from the old guard.
Non ED-people don’t seem to understand that the reason why DCEO was such an utter failure over the past decade is because of the personnel.
Economic Development is a professional discipline. Quinn and Blago stuffed DCEO with loyal political creatures who knew absolutely nothing about actually doing economic development. And our state’s ability to attract businesses suffered considerably as a result.
The main reason why P3s are more effective in other states is because they are run like meritocracies.
Frenchie - considering the fact that “continuous session” in Madigan speak means “whenever I feel like it”, I care what Dunkin has to say. And his get up and shtick are a lot funnier than anyone else’s attempts at humor or at least trying. People in Springfield and D.C. take themselves WAY too seriously. A little humor is okay every now and then.
>Blaming Rauner for decades of this nonsense for his single year in office is worse than disengenuous. More status quo is not the answer and labeling those of us here who recognize this basic fact as trolls solves nothing.
Louis, there are fewer chinks in your armor than among the House and Senate Republicans in terms of supporting Rauner. Give me this: aren’t you frustrated that he has passed on making progress on so many of his items because it is all-or-nothing on the anti-union stuff before he’ll do anything else?
Anon 2:54, Why should I compromise my views for any one? Especially someone who is costing me money? That is right, the Gov’s insistence on acquiescence to his anti union agenda are costing all of us money. I hope someone fact checks the numbers in the speech. Any one catch his addressing Rich’s alleged wrong numbers in the speech, I missed that part.
===The Governor should abandon all those ideas and enact the first budget the legislature votes on…===
Thank you - Louis G Atsaves -
Thank you.
You admit Rauber is inept abd can’t do his constitutional duty as prescribed in Article VIII, Section 2 (a)
Thank you for admitting Rauner is clueless, can’t do his job, unable to understand government, willing to have another branch of government decide his fiscal priorities.
Thank you - Louis G Atsaves -
You’ve come around. You now agree, Rauner is unable to be a governor.
Tell me; How can I help you go around him?
- All the king's men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:21 pm:
I will agree with willy. A governor needs to govern regardless of Whether others like it at least do something useful for the good of the state.
It’s as if Rauner has some weird belief that AFSCME members are pining away for a liberator to free them from the dreaded iron boot of AFSCME leadership.
Didn’t watch it. There aren’t any headlines stating the Governor is ditching his TA pre-conditions to the budget, so I didn’t miss anything.
- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:27 pm:
Louis, I strongly suspect more than half the people here (if not more) have a vested interest in Madigan winning (i.e., beyond that of taxpayer).
Anonymous, Sandra Day O’Connor effectively said the same thing about Illinois. Indeed, any system where lawyers are allowed to contribute to the judges who hear their cases and where judges have to win the favor of people like Joe Barrios is not honest.
- Louis G Atsaves - agrees with us. Rauner is not capable. Stop this. What we all should be doing is asking - Louis G Atsaves - how we can help him go around Gov. Rauner.
======The Governor should abandon all those ideas and enact the first budget the legislature votes on…===
What can I do? I told you, admit Rauner can’t do his job, I’d be the first to help you go around Rauner.
What are your orders - Louis G Atsaves-, how do we just go around the governor?
== People in Springfield and D.C. take themselves WAY too seriously. A little humor is okay every now and then. ==
Yeah. Especially when social services orgs are going under; people being served lose their lifelines; more IL workers lose their jobs and the State’s backlog of bills are going up astronomically…. Yeah; right on.
== Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:14 pm: “Economic Development is a professional discipline. Quinn and Blago stuffed DCEO with loyal political creatures who knew absolutely nothing about actually doing economic development.”
Actually, that started while “Big Jim” was still the Governor and increased under “Little Jim,” especially after he laid off almost all the ED staff and then refilled their positions over the next several years.
Glad to see this study highlighted; it’s the same study that many of us have been quoting here. IL has above average personal income, there is no fundamental reason it should be in debt.
=== In Illinois, the lowest-earning 20 percent paid 13.2 percent of their income in total state and local taxes, but the top 1 percent paid just 4.6 percent. That’s a 9.6 percentage-point difference. ===
This is a key point. The top 1 percent enjoy 1/4 of all personal income in IL; we can’t afford to tax that much income at less than half the average rate. The top 10% take 1/2 of all personal income, and still pay well below the average rate. Even a partial repair of this disparity would end our fiscal problems immediately.
A progressive income tax would be great, but we don’t need it to make serious change for the better. We can reduce, but not eliminate, the disparity in tax rates for the rich and poor if state and local government rely more on the flat income tax and less on regressive sales and property taxes. Close some corporate loopholes, make some judicious cuts, add reasonable labor reforms, and we can end the fiscal crisis with something left over for strategic investments for the future. This is the true Turnaround Agenda.
It seems the Dem leadership is either too timid or not interested in this sort of revenue reform. The relative success of Sanders’ campaign, with a much more radical vision, suggest that this rather modest policy change should be a winner with the electorate. Add Rauner’s submarining approval ratings and his callous treatment of social services for more momentum, and the Dems have a rare opportunity for political gain that they would be foolish to pass up.
So, Cullerton, stop messing around with bogus pension reform ideas and get with it. Speaker Madigan, your move. Let’s see some proactive leadership.
“What I took away from the SOTS is that Illinois should look like the love child of Massachusetts and Texas!”
And when Rauner is finished, IL will probably actually end up inheriting the tax and business environment of Mass. (which I know isn’t all that bad, but it’s called Taxachusetts for a reason) combined with the social and regulatory safety net of Texas.
Sal - so then none of us should ever joke on this site. And when we see a Rep or Senator laughing or even smiling at the Capitol we should sternly remind them to be more serious.
==To the 41% of union voters who voted for Rauner: You sure showed Pat Quinn didn’t you?==
I tried. Phone banks, door to door and the like. A lot of people did. Too many argued tgatthings were bad (they were right) but they didn’t yet understand how much worse things would get. I don’t think anyone yet knows how bad it ultimately will get, but we will.
Funny how the Governor did not mention his demands of AFSCME yet addressed what is wrong with it. It ALMOST made him appear to be reasonable to people who do not closely follow politics, and will cut into sympathy for union members. I have to admit it was sly of him to portray this as what the struggle is about.
Radon I-Minority Leader with all the compassion of a cactus. I hope her religious constituents caught that.
Anonymous 3:14 that’s really rich. From what I understand there is no old guard left. Schultz is the only one with an MBA and even then Schultz is just there to do dog and pony shows all over the state. He didn’t even want the job according to an article from Effingham. Rauner had to ask him like six times. His LinkedIn had his venture capital business for the longest time and didn’t even mention his state service. But regardless your comment proves my point. No from what I understand there isn’t a bit of business experience in the leadership of DCEO. Yeah, how could a state economic development corp have problems designed by 2-3 people? s/
- Daniel Plainview - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:52 pm:
- @Louis G Atsaves- surprised to learn you support the governor what with all of the “g’s” you use and all. -
Louis is mainly concerned with the 125 “Gs” Rauner is dropping into his annual household income.
- working stiff - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:54 pm:
“i work hard at being overpaid and unreasonable ”
joking aside, this IT guy works his tail off keeping things running.
I sure do miss the good old days of Big Jim Thompson. If I remember correctly, he once set foot on the floor of the House to persuade a Southern Illinois Democrat to cast the the deciding vote on the White Sox deal. By comparison, all Rauner can do is get an irrelevant Chicago Democrat for a Statehouse sleepover and a box of Dunkin doughnuts.
So much for waiting the Gov out. So much for he’s under so much pressure he’ll have to cave.
Mr. Speaker, you are not ‘winning’. He’s as stubborn as you are. Everybody is losing.
Next act is funding races to try and sway the GA mix to a more favorable balance to him and his friends. That’s what he is waiting for.
–Louis, I strongly suspect more than half the people here (if not more) have a vested interest in Madigan winning (i.e., beyond that of taxpayer).–
What would “winning” look like? How would it manifest itself?
I’d like to determine whether or not I have a “vested interest.” Unlike Louis, of course.
You know, there are actual, real people being tuned up due to the governor’s refusal to negotiate a budget without pre-conditions. Core functions have been abandoned. The state’s fiscal condition is much worse now than it was one year ago.
Your silly focus on personality conflicts and “winning” is childish and shallow. As childish and shallow as the governor’s own “economic and fiscal rationale” he released to justify this sabotage.
But go ahead — bring on more meaningless catch phrases like “structural reform” and “hang in there.”
== Mr. Speaker, you are not ‘winning’. He’s as stubborn as you are. Everybody is losing.
Next act is funding races to try and sway the GA mix to a more favorable balance to him and his friends. That’s what he is waiting for. ==
Yes, as I’ve suggested before here, raunner will eventually and unfortunately win. Then again, what would you have The Speaker do? Cave now or go down for the middle class, workers, and Unions without a fight?
- Robert the 1st - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 4:21 pm:
=what would you have The Speaker do? Cave now or go down for the middle class, workers, and Unions without a fight?=
This is the only place you can find people who see Mike Madigan as some sort of hero. You guys are great.
Press coverage makes Rauner look conciliatory and like he’s the grown up. No surprise. There is no end in sight.
- Robert the Bruce - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 4:40 pm:
==what would you have The Speaker do? Cave now or go down for the middle class, workers, and Unions without a fight? ==
(I’m no relation to Robert the 1st, by the way)
I’m not optimistic he’ll do this, but I’d have The Speaker agree to the Raunerton pension compromise and some workers comp reform in exchange for a budget deal so that social services stop closing.
In so doing, he’d know that the pension compromise would be overturned by the courts anyway, but at least we would have a budget and needed services would re-open.
@ Dupage Don The state could probably get by without leather for a while, but it would be pretty difficult to run the state without a Dept of Revenue. Get a clue.
-I’m not optimistic he’ll do this, but I’d have The Speaker agree to the Raunerton pension compromise and some workers comp reform in exchange for a budget deal so that social services stop closing.-
This will not get a budget deal. Rauner says it’s his entire Turnaround Agenda or nothing. Pension reform and work comp will not cut it.
-Robert the Bruce-
Agree. Though I think some pension reform does have a chance under the Cullerton plan. I also believe he will seek Union acceptance as he did last time.
Rauner’s SOS speech was a waste of everyone’s time. Time we will never get back. Reinforced his worthless T-Agenda. Nothing new.
- Tired of games - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 5:09 pm:
Well, more posturing from all involved. This game of chicken our state leaders play (and badly - see Dunkin) is hurting us all. I am waiting to hear how Rich’s meeting with gov. went. Does he really understand the pain he has inflicted on this state?
Dunkin should not be allowed to run as a Democrat.
- Robert the Bruce - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 5:21 pm:
L.A., you may be right, but Speaker Madigan’s “you’ll get nothing and like it” stance from the last 9 months hasn’t enabled social services to re-open.
Don’t read that as blaming Madigan. This is Rauner’s fault.
But if it was just up to Cullerton, I bet we’d have a budget by now.
- Cook County Commoner - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 5:22 pm:
All the kings men @ 3:21pm:
“I think working for the state sounds like a good deal currently since I am told my generation would have to work until I am 70 to 75 before I would be eligible to retire otherwise.”
You’ve probably hit the core of the battle. Competitive global labor markets have decreased private sector opportunity for all but the skilled and decently educated.
Opting for the public sector may be a sound decision, but I suggest reaching for a fed job. At least there you’re closer to the currency printing press.
What we’re seeing now in Illinois and several other states is the unwinding of the decrease in private sector unionism and the taxable consumption it created and the explosion of public sector unionism. Most of the participants here appear to be part of the latter.
I cannot criticize their vitriol against an obviously anti-public sector union governor, which is distinct from being anti-private sector union. Two very different things.
In any event, if you want the middle class and retirement before you’re senile, the public sector, preferably federal, is the place to work with the highest percentage of reaching your goal.
The only issue is how long will a deteriorating private sector bear the increasing cost of the public sector. The disparities are becoming more stark each passing year, especially in Illinois.
=actually produce=
State workers also make sure your breathe clear air and drink pure water. They make sure an abused child has a safe place to stay & someone to care for them. They administer test for drivers licenses, etc., etc., etc…
The constitution says the governor is supposed to present a balanced budget.
The 3rd Edition (1987) of a state publication entitled 1970 Illinois Constitution Annotated for Legislators explains on page 78: “In Illinois the executive branch is primarily responsible for preparing a comprehensive budget proposal, which by law is required to be sent to the General Assembly by the first Wednesday in March of each year.”
Why is he not being held in contempt or something for not doing his constitutional duty?
When talking about vision and goals, lots of lofty sounding verbiage, most of which I can even agree with. When talking about facts, someone needs to do a bunch of fact checking.
A few things stood out to me. By my admittedly imperfect counting, I think he totaled up over $3B in estimated savings but he never talked about the up-front cost to achieve the savings. He talked about new school funding but didn’t say where it would come from. So we don’t have a clue if the new spending will be more or less than the projected savings.
I continued to hear the code words “local control” in a lot of what was said. In other words, still going to strip everything possible from the unions but do it one government entity at a time. A lot of that local control was aimed at property taxes and school districts; maybe that’s where he’s going to find the money for expanding classroom spending.
Finally, he talks about Illinois workers needing to be better paid and he talks about how the State workers are good, but then he immediately attacks the State workers with featherbedding examples and another attack on the pensions. Not th best way to motivate the people you are going to need to implement your policies and changes.
Rich got to the bottom line in his post speech summary: ignore what Rauner says and keep an eye on what he does. I would add: Rauner also hasn’t given up on trying to destroy the unions.
Today Rauner demonstrated- again- why he is a complete and utter disappointment. I never vote for his “run government like a business” type candidates, but when they get elected, I at least
hope they have a clue about how to run government in some way, shape or form. Not Rauner, though.
Until I see the language, it’s my opinion the proposed Rauner / Cullerton pension reform isn’t going to be found legal. What’s been described is a coerced choice, not a voluntary choice. Contract modification via consideration requires a voluntary choice to be valid.
He can try to contract it out but it probably won’t be successful. After the RSEA meeting today, I was listening to stories about recent outsourcing efforts on different computer programs being changed; the contractors didn’t have a clue about the old programs and had to contact the retirees who wrote them. Plus I heard rip off horror stories about the body shop operations keeping over 2/3’s of the fees being paid. They’re going to need the old timers to help … and a lot of them aren’t in the mood because they’ve already been hit by health insurance changes and will be hit worse by the changes that are coming if Rauner’s version of the AFSCME contract is rammed through. It may well be a (banned word).
Why does he drop all the g’s in his speech pattern!! It is maddening!!! Crushin. Breakin. Waitin. Reducin.
I don’t think I can ever listen to him speak again. I know you have all talked about it but I am ashamed to say I never listened to him long enough to hear it. Embarrassing or is it embarrassin.
@Earnest: “Give me this: aren’t you frustrated that he has passed on making progress on so many of his items because it is all-or-nothing on the anti-union stuff before he’ll do anything else?”
I would normally agree with you Earnest on the above statement if we both ignore the 17 union contracts and agreements reached with public sector unions not named AFSCME. All or nothing? Decimate all unions? Destroy all unions?
Rauner’s actions belie all of those statements.
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:18 pm:
RNUG, 100 percent agree on the pension proposal.
Again, we need to see the bill, but I think the salary freeze “choice” violates Federal tax law.
On your 8:00 post, I never liked using body shop contractors. After a couple years of phase-out, we eliminated them completely at my last agency and enjoyed a six-figure savings.
@Willy: “Thank you - Louis G Atsaves - Thank you. You admit Rauber is inept abd can’t do his constitutional duty as prescribed in Article VIII, Section 2 (a).”
Silly Willy! You read far too much into my comments little grasshopper. Rauner did in fact perform his constitutional duty and presented a detailed budget to the legislature in March, 2015, and they in turn fumbled the ball.
Now, let the legislature enact a budget. Show that Rookie Governor how things REALLY get done in Springfield! Who cares if it is $4, 5, 6, 8, or 20 billion in the red. It’s government! Spend it even if you don’t have it! I agree. Status Quo rocks!
If I sound like I’m on medial weed with the above, can you imagine how you sound with your constant “Rauner is a failure” routine which began all of 2.5 seconds after he was first sworn into office?
- blue dog dem - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:32 pm:
DcEO has done enough harm. Dont privitize. Eliminate. Put displaced workers somewhere else. I do have.one compassionate bone in my body.
- All the king's men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:36 pm:
Let’s be realistic, Rauner is doing less than he could, but there is no guarantee that the house and Senate would have worked with him anyway. So what is the difference?
===Now, let the legislature enact a budget. Show that Rookie Governor how things REALLY get done in Springfield!===
I know it paid you that Bruce Rauner is inept. I get it. I do. Like Diana Rauner culpable in destrying the social services net, but if you admit Rauner can’t get a budget, why is he governor? Seriously, why be governor except to destroy unions and decimate social services?
===Who cares if it is $4, 5, 6, 8, or 20 billion in the red. It’s government!===
If Rauner ever produced a balanced budget, you’d have a swell point, Rauner, inept as he was, had an unbalanced “blueprint”, requiring revenue. I know it’s pathetic, I feel for you, I really doz
===Spend it even if you don’t have it! I agree.===
I know you do. I indeed KNOW it. Rauner’s own budget blueprint required revenue, lol
===Status Quo rocks!===
You should say that to LSSI, their new Rauner status quo is ending 750 jobs. Bruce Rauber did that. Diana Rauner vouched for it.
Oh, I didn’t forget…
===Rauner did in fact perform his constitutional duty and presented a detailed budget to the legislature in March, 2015, and they in turn fumbled the ball.===
Rauner was billions off in needed revenue, failing to meet his constitutional duties.
Rauner lacks.
It’s true. I’ll help you, you admitted Rauner can’t do the job with a budget, let’s work around him, I’m ready…
===“Rauner is a failure” routine which began all of 2.5 seconds after he was first sworn into office?===
I actually gave Bruce Rauner three things to do to be successful for his first year, remember? I do.
FY2015 Fix
FY2016 Budget
Labor Peace
If you’d like I’ll point it out to you… lol
I’m not the problem, Rauber being feeble isn’t helpin’ your cause.
- So Blue Democrat - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:40 pm:
It is quite obvious that the Republican Party has started a new War on Poverty by attempting to destroy individuals needing critical services.
- All the king's men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:46 pm:
Okay, that’s just nuts
- All the king's men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:49 pm:
The vast majority of Republicans, want or have nothing to do with Rauner and the spineless can kissers in the house and senate.
- PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:51 pm:
At least he wore a gdmned tie.
- All the king's men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:54 pm:
Yeah at least there is that
- All the king's men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 11:06 pm:
I got a new catch phrase for everyone.
Fiscal Conservative. That means that, at the end of the day you are going to stop spending when you run out of money. You don’t go into debt or if your in debt then you need to adjust spending to prioritize paying off debt. Ya’ll should try it some time
@Silly Willy: “Are all those “17″ have the same health insurance agreements? You are being disingenuous at best.”
It just kills you to admit that Rauner reached agreements with 17 public sector unions in Illinois, doesn’t it? Destroys your whole “decimating” unions argument.
Are you really still making the silly argument that Rauner isn’t out to destroy unions? What a load of malarkey. He freaking said it OUT LOUD? Stop it already with your commentary about him not wanting to decimate unions because you are full of it. Rauner disagrees with you too. Either comment honestly or don’t comment at all.
I am in the shop this morning. After reminding each of my employees individually yesterday on were they could read up on the SOS, today’s feeddback. Zero for seventeen. That’s 17 union households that don’t take the time to find out what affects their lives. I shudder to think how many actually voted in 2014. Union membership nationwide at 11%. Wonder were its going to be ten years from now, with or without the help of the RAUN Man!
Radogno’s comments on social services from her interview with Jak on Illinois Legislators following the SOTS. Transcript starts at 12:39 in:
Jak- “Is the cost of pushing this agenda worth it in the long run?”
Radogno- “ Well, I believe it is, because the fact of the matter is we were on a path to many of those agencies to have to make cutbacks and closures anyway, and if we simply capitulate to what the Democrats want, and that is no change in the status quo, just raise taxes to fund it, we’ll be right back where we were. And, I want to point out that many of these are small agencies that have closed, many of those services have been absorbed by stronger and healthier agencies. That can’t go on forever, and that’s a consideration that I would truly urge our Democratic friends to engage in a discussion to get funding going again.”
****
Earlier in that same interview, she was discussing schools and said ,”…can’t have a program when in helping one group you cut the knees off another….(need to be) careful about unintended consequences…”
She can’t seem to be able to ( or want to) see that is exactly what the Governor’s refusal to use the amendatory veto and the Executive Order on spending freezes did to these social service agencies that the State had/has CONTRACTS with!
@Demoralized: Stop it already with your commentary about him not wanting to decimate unions because you are full of it.”
You are correct Demoralized. I stand corrected. Mr. Rauner in fact “decimated” and “destroyed” all 17 of those unions he reached contractual agreements with. He flattened them and steamrollered over all 17.
There was a lot of talk yesterday about jobs that are leaving Illinois. Let’s say, just for giggles, that at least 3000 people have lost/will lose their jobs because of the non 2016 budget. Let’s say they averaged 1200 hours per year (PT and FT staffers), and they make, on average $12.00 per hour gross. Do the math- $54,000,000 in lost wages that would be re-circulated in in State and Local economies. Any “bidnesses” lining up to replace those???
You know that if a law passed by the GA, let’s say for the decimatin’ collective bargainin’ and endin’ prevailin’ wage, those are Anti-Labor and Rauner, personally, himself, in speech after speech, in bill after bill add language doing both.
Seriously, are you not honest with all us or yourself.
Next thing you’ll say is Illinois Labor has no great friend than a Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Louis, OW is correct about the insurance issue. Most of those 17 unions who have reached agreement with the gov can accept a reduction in state health care coverage because they can get it through their union. In addition, those workers don’t need to worry about salary issues in their agreements as long as Illinois has the prevailing wage law. They get the prevailing wage, which is higher than salaries in the agreements.
The Turnaround Agenda will decimate unions and were not part of any existing contractual agreement that Rauner has reached agreements and none of the 17 unions support Rauner’s turnaround agenda in any way shape or form.
Even though it has been proven time and again that Rauner’s turnaround agenda doesn’t save taxpayers anything and actually damages Illinois economy, the Governor places the State of Illinois and its citizens in peril to pursue this ALEC self-serving ideology.
The Gov. is correct in the fact that Illinois Public workers are paid so much more than other states…
Next you will say that IL public workers are better than any other state public workers…
I don’t see that… essentially we are all the same… Unions and the past Governors giving in to everything, is the reason IL is in such debt. It is time to clean up the Unions and in such a way that it isn’t all about money because that is all I hear my AFSCME Meetings money money money…. live within your means … the state needs to as well.
- MOON - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:09 pm:
Nothing new.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:10 pm:
– We must cast aside partisanship and ideology.–
Gov. Rauner should listen to this guy.
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:12 pm:
Those who believed in fairies clapped their hands.
- Huh? - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:13 pm:
You work for me, so do it my way.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:13 pm:
Laughable
- IllinoisBoi - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:13 pm:
“You must cast your partisanship and ideology aside in favor of mine.”
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:13 pm:
AFSCME Stuff made me cuss like a sailor at lunch. I’d like to point out that, IF it is true that we are the highest paid workforce, that would be only true because we are also the smallest workforce in the nation. Man, he made me so mad. I know this is petty but I can’t stand hearing him drop “g”s. Why does he do that. I think I’ll download a written copy of the speech. At least I will see the g’s.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:13 pm:
Only problem is, he’s supposed to work for us.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:14 pm:
So when is your beer reconciliation Rich?
- chi - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:14 pm:
-We must cast aside partisanship and ideology.-
His words are literally meaningless.
- Relocated - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:15 pm:
He ducked the issue. But the budget address is looming.
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:15 pm:
==At least I will see the g’s.==
It’s still folksy. There’s a ’cause
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:17 pm:
“Do the Doable” …
Sounds familiar.
The poison pills of collective bargaining and prevailing wage will sink the former GOP.
Between, in this speech, taking on all unions in one shape or another, and the ultimatums and doubling down, how can you have “doing the doable” and “hang in there”?
Whaa?
Do the doable, but the Agenda is still on the table, including the destroying of all Unions.
I don’t get it.
I’d like to understand, but in paragraphs, contradictory in scope and goals.
GOP GA, you are also under attack, yiu might just not know it.
- illinoised - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:17 pm:
2016 will be 2015 redux.
- Agency Volunteer - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:18 pm:
Same Old Turnaround Sh…tuff!
- The Captain - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:18 pm:
He proposed/advocated for a number of issues I don’t support or have the opposite position so that may be clouding my judgement but I don’t think anything in his speech made him more likely to have success with his agenda and if anything it may have been counterproductive. It may not have been as bad as his disastrous pension press conference day but overall it still felt like a net negative for me. Then again, I acknowledge my own bias.
I also think that Leader Radogno’s comments will play well to their base but would not be well received by the general public. If I was working in a Democratic press shop I’d be doing what I could to megaphone those and make sure they reach a broader audience.
- A Jack - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:18 pm:
If the Governor wants to move Illinois up the technology scale, it will take the effort of a lot of people that the Governor just called overpaid and unreasonable.
- CharlieKratos - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:18 pm:
When you’re so understaffed that overtime becomes mandatory and the SOP, then of course you’ll look like you’re getting paid more. You’re being forced to sell your health and your quality family time, but at least you get respect and appreciation from your employer… oh, wait…
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:18 pm:
I was surprised to hear that Liberal Massachusetts has workers comp rates 1/2 as expensive as Illinois.
It does not seem like the Massachusetts state government would be operating in the extreme.
- Will Caskey - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:19 pm:
THAT’s how Rauner speaks?
My god I never picked up on it before. Had my head too buried in Chicago Forward to notice the gov race.
That guy is monstrously awful.
- Spliff - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:19 pm:
Today it was no longer “Because Madigan!”, he instead reverted back to “Because Unions!”
Someone give this guy a shovel and see if he can work for an honest days pay!
- Frenchie Mendoza - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:19 pm:
Radogno’s insistence that most of the social service agencies would close anyway is mind boggling.
- Super Gus 123 - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:20 pm:
I wouldn’t say that was the state of the state address. It was more like I have been in office one year and haven’t accomplished my campaign platform..,.
- Cassiopeia - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:20 pm:
His criticisms of ridiculous AFSCME grievance stories are valid which is something the union will have a hard time questioning, but they will since they have a tin ear regarding reality.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:20 pm:
Riddle me this;
How will this get a structured roll call on a veto-free budget?
Nothing I heard is getting closer to 60 in the House
- Betsy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:21 pm:
Hey, I think I saw Mike Noland at the State of the State. Doesn’t he know today is his Trib edit board debate?
Oops, wrong thread.
- Lt. Guv. - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:22 pm:
A total tool.
- thunderspirit - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:23 pm:
== Radogno’s insistence that most of the social service agencies would close anyway is mind boggling. ==
As is Durkin’s follow-up that if the Democrats want a tax increase, they have the ability to do it.
- okgo - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:23 pm:
His problem with his list of 10 - there are a good five that can be done non-controversially by Madigan and Cullerton.
“We did 5, that’s good compromise!”
- JB - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:23 pm:
A bunch spin. Shared governance means nothing to this man. If I were the Republican leaders I would be livid. I know people who voted for this man but will not be voting Republican in future elections if this the man does not bring the democratic process to the table
- Lt. Guv. - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:23 pm:
Rich, at least get him for a beer with a heavy ABV.
- Overpaid and unreasonable - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:23 pm:
A Jack @ 1:18:
Bam! You hit the nail on the head and thanks for the nickname. I love how he first says most state workers are great and hard working. Then he proceeds to tell us we are overpaid and the worst at everything in the entire country. Way to boost morale Gov!
- He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:24 pm:
This state won’t see a budget for 3 more years.
- Mama - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:24 pm:
++- A Jack - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:18 pm:
If the Governor wants to move Illinois up the technology scale, it will take the effort of a lot of people that the Governor just called overpaid and unreasonable. ++
He will contract out all technology to a private firm so he will have total control over all data in IL.
- Lt. Guv. - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:25 pm:
Overpaid. . . he’s a tool.
- Mama - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:27 pm:
Rauner: My way or the highway - - same BS as the past year. Nothing will get done, and more people will be hurt. He simply does not care.
- Independent retired lawyer, journalist - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:29 pm:
Oh, and by the way, aren’t union members part of the group called Taxpayers? Or does he consider them unworthy of inclusion?
- Dee Lay - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:29 pm:
Empty Words from an Empty Suit.
- U-Turn Agenda Victim - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:30 pm:
His contrived folksy speakin’ style does not sound believable comin’ from a fancy pants right wing Winnetka billionaire.
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:30 pm:
==I also think that Leader Radogno’s comments will play well to their base but would not be well received by the general public==
Right, like her claim that the LSSI closures causing pain for her own constituents are “worth it.”
Somebody should get a SOTS react from the churches in her district.
- Demise - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:30 pm:
Didn’t listen because I can’t stand the dropped g. But read the text. In a vacuum the text wasn’t bad. However, in context of how he has behaved and the current stand off, most of what requires legislation is impossible. By the way, all the gs were present in the text, though there was a ’cause.
- cdog - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:32 pm:
“barely a made a dent in bill backlog.”
Missed the context but it was either the expired tax rate, or previous administration(s).
That statement really popped out and seemed a little lacking of reality. Is that a superstar’s miss or Rauner’s?
Sounds like the “honeymoon” has been booked……not sure if it’s really going to happen…
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:33 pm:
Everything the governor said about economic development was spot-on and this new P3 organization can’t come fast enough.
- Betsy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:33 pm:
Instead of the recall bill, can the governor be identified as a nonessential employee? Somebody please explain the end game here. Does he still hold presidential aspirations? Scott Walker did and that didn’t turn out so well.
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:34 pm:
===His criticisms of ridiculous AFSCME grievance stories are valid which is something the union will have a hard time questioning, but they will since they have a tin ear regarding reality.===
Absolutely agree. And if he had come out against the union for their stupid rules, I would have been behind him 100%. But he didn’t. He wants to destroy the union. So I am against him 100%
To the address: How can you not acknowledge the lack of a budget?
- Flynn's mom - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:35 pm:
A waste of breath from thr g dropper.
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:35 pm:
==this new P3 organization can’t come fast enough.==
because we don’t have enough failures of our own, we need to import some from other states.
- Georg Sande - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:35 pm:
Such open minded people here!
- Just me - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:35 pm:
If Govrnor Rsuner worked for Bruce he’d be fired
- Flynn's mom - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:36 pm:
oops….I dropped my e, I meant the g dropper.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:36 pm:
Some Easter eggs in there, like the new cabinet position and the filing of incorporation. Most interesting will be the reaction to statements like Radogno’s and Durkin’s. Dunkin this afternoon should be a gem! /s
- Politix - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:36 pm:
“His criticisms of ridiculous AFSCME grievance stories are valid which is something the union will have a hard time questioning, but they will since they have a tin ear regarding reality.”
This is barely comprehensible, but I think what you’re trying to say is that the stories are true, in which case, I’d like to know where you get your information. You know, to verify for the tin ears.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:37 pm:
I heard him say he wanted to work together with the General Assembly with mutual respect, as befitting a co-equal branch of government.
So he made some nice noises. We’ll see if action follows. I’m not going to hold my breath. I don’t see how this speech got us any closer to a budget agreement. Hopefully, though, we’re no further apart afterward.
- Father Ted - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:37 pm:
I was surprised by Radogno’s remarks regarding social service agencies closing. I’m more than fair usually and give speakers the benefit of the doubt, but that was callous to the point of being beyond belief.
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:38 pm:
Bruce Rauner: Not Worth What We’re Paying Him
- @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:38 pm:
The beatings will continue until morale improves.
– MrJM
- skeptical - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:38 pm:
Try as he might, he is not very good a faking sincerity.
- Junior - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:39 pm:
Alright, now the guy is just trolling this board…..
- Saluki - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:39 pm:
Irrelevant.
- skeptical - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:39 pm:
“at”
- Visitor - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:39 pm:
The one big thing of substance that could have a major effect was his possible deal with Cullerton regarding pensions. If the pension clause is not going to be removed from the Constitution, then this is the only possible thing which could survive the Illinois Supreme Court.
- RetiredStateEmployee - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:40 pm:
He’s selling magic beans at best. I will comment on the technology proposal since I have been involved with that for over 35 years. This has been a problem for decades. There is seldom enough money to create a system, let alone upgrading as technology changes. There are still systems I created 30 years ago being used today.
In just one area, accounting applications, this has been identified as a problem for a long time. I was in a meeting with the comptrollers office when Roland Burris was the Comptroller. Not a new problem but an incredibly complex issue to get all of the state agencies requirements in one system. Gov. Quinn also had this as an initiative. There has never been enough money or human resources to pull this off. There is also very little training money to keep the staff educated in new technologies.
It will be difficult if not impossible to attract talented people that would be able to pull this off when in the same breath the gov tells the existing staff you make too much and your pension is in jeopardy.
So the bottom line is it takes money to develop and maintain state of the art computer systems. Doesn’t look like that’s part of the plan so it won’t happen.
- Earnest - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:41 pm:
It seems clear that nothing will move forward unless the House and Senate Republicans take the lead. It’s a tall order against Rauner’s $$, but they can help him accomplish parts of his agenda and get him out of that all-or-nothing mode.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:41 pm:
–Right, like her claim that the LSSI closures causing pain for her own constituents are “worth it.”–
As a true believer, Sen. Radogno should have the courage of her convictions: self-toss herself out of work, take some food off the table of a senior loved one, throw a beloved college student in her life out of school, etc….
So worth it.
Look at what’s happened to the Republican Party in this state. It’s a crying shame.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:41 pm:
To all the whining about Dems and all this Legislative power;
@moniquegarcia - Asked why Democrats didn’t use supermajority to override Gov. Rauner veto of budget, Madigan says “we don’t have a working supermajority.”
No working majority equals Ken Dunkin.
K?
There are 70, not 71
- Flynn's mom - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:41 pm:
Shame on you Radogno. I hope you or your family never need the vital services that have been so arrogantly cut. And shme on you for being a puppet and not expressing the beliefs of your constituents.
- Handle Bar Mustache - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:42 pm:
What a phony
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:42 pm:
===The one big thing of substance that could have a major effect was his possible deal with Cullerton regarding pensions. If the pension clause is not going to be removed from the Constitution, then this is the only possible thing which could survive the Illinois Supreme Court.===
I’d lay odds on it being DOA at the court. So, we could actually have a budget. Or we could spend the next year fighting about a supposed billion dollar savings that won’t ever come to fruition even if all the lawmakers agree.
- RetiredStateEmployee - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:42 pm:
When did “special interests” become a republican code word for unions? The “special interests” that run this country’s governments are the rich, people and companies.
- Gruntled University Employee - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:45 pm:
crazybleedingheart,
Please do not feed the anonymous trolls.
- Buzzie - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:45 pm:
Radogno’s constituents must be proud.
- CharlieKratos - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:50 pm:
Rauner plan:
Year 1: Blame Madigan for everything
Year 2: Stop blaming Madigan, start blaming everything on unions. Madigan will be so relieved, he’ll pile on to help destroy the unions
Year 3: Continue destroying the unions and the middle class leeches
Year 4: Work on re-election
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:52 pm:
–It seems clear that nothing will move forward unless the House and Senate Republicans take the lead.–
House Republicans are the ball game. Now is the time for the best of them to get in the game.
Rep. David Harris — you’re up. You know what needs to be done.
So get on with it, already.
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:52 pm:
Good point, Gruntled. Thanks.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:53 pm:
-Visitor-
It won’t pass the constitutional test as it is currently being presented. Rather than repeat myself, just Google my previous comments here on Cap Fax.
- JB - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:54 pm:
Not all of Radogno’s constituents are proud! How did she ever land a “leadership” position?
- Ahoy! - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:54 pm:
It’s a good speech and I don’t really see anything I disagree with. However, speeches are speeches and actions are actions. He needs to tone down the rhetoric, take today’s speeches tone and stop the over-top-antics. Rauner has created a lot of self inflicted wounds and he needs to stop this.
Also, Madigan needs to start having some serious negotiations and stop being the affliction on our state.
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:55 pm:
If I were Patti Bellock’s constituent, I’d love to hear whether she, too, considers the human services cuts to be “worth it.”
- Middle Class Taxpayer - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:56 pm:
You AFSCME guys on this board are the worst. At this point, I’m for firing all of you and replacing you with H-1Bs and using overseas call centers and paper pushers.
You’d think no one else was middle class except you entitled buffons who think the answer is the always attack my paycheck and my children’s future.
Governor Rauner, fire them all.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:56 pm:
It wasn’t the worst speech. It wasn’t the best speech. On the flipside, listening to Speaker Madigan is almost as bad as listening to golf announcers talk about a putter choice.
- Junior - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:56 pm:
The guv continues the program of painting the Dems as the old guard standing in the way of progress. He knows there will be sound bites on the news (and that average voters might notice), so he gave them some about compromise. We’ll see how it plays to Average Joe.
- Mouthy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:57 pm:
The beatings will continue until morale improves.
– MrJM
Can’t top that..
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:58 pm:
===Governor Rauner, fire them all.===
If you’re just going to be a Troll, it’s “Fire Madigan”
Please keep up, lol
- Mouthy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:59 pm:
- Middle Class Taxpayer - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:56 pm:
You AFSCME guys on this board are the worst. At this point, I’m for firing all of you and replacing you with H-1Bs and using overseas call centers and paper pushers.
You’d think no one else was middle class except you entitled buffons who think the answer is the always attack my paycheck and my children’s future.
Governor Rauner, fire them all and let them eat cake..
There, fixed it..
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:00 pm:
===He knows there will be sound bites on the news (and that average voters might notice), so he gave them some about compromise. We’ll see how it plays to Average Joe.===
So…
You approve of the sound bites and no governing by Rauner?
Got it. Thanks.
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:00 pm:
“- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:33 pm:
Everything the governor said about economic development was spot-on and this new P3 organization can’t come fast enough.” Funny how the Raunerbot drop-ins usually prefer to be “anonymous.” Cmon guys, at least come up with a handle boys and girls.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:02 pm:
It always goes back to Autonomous Caucuses being good…
Rauner owning the GOP Caucuses isn’t helping.
“Simple”
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:02 pm:
-It will be difficult if not impossible to attract talented people that would be able to pull this off when in the same breath the gov tells the existing staff you make too much and your pension is in jeopardy.-
Bingo
- Mama - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:02 pm:
“Create a Cabinet on Children and Youth so we can better align our health and human services with our cradle to career education.”
Does anyone know what this means?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:02 pm:
–The guv continues the program of painting the Dems as the old guard standing in the way of progress. He knows there will be sound bites on the news (and that average voters might notice), so he gave them some about compromise. We’ll see how it plays to Average Joe.–
Because the personal, self-aggrandizing spin is all that matters.
The actual gig is just an annoying distraction, and the real people tuned up — by their government — just meaningless statistics.
The Rauner/Emanuel school of governance.
- Ryan - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:03 pm:
I didn’t get to listen, was he dropping G’s left and right?
- Mama - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:04 pm:
“Support programs that create more quality school choice options for low income children stuck in failing schools.”
How is those low income kids suppose to get to the quality schools outside of their area?
- Mama - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:07 pm:
It doesn’t matter what is in the speech today. Rauner isn’t going to do a darn thing until he gets his Turnaround Agenda (destroy IL unions).
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:07 pm:
==- Mama - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:02 pm:
“Create a Cabinet on Children and Youth so we can better align our health and human services with our cradle to career education.”
Does anyone know what this means?==
Social services run like charter schools and diploma mills.
- Junior - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:08 pm:
Willy - there’s governing, and then there’s politics. They only partially overlap, and they’re both important.
Not sure my post said anything about what I approve of. It was about what I think he’s doing. Just an opinion.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:10 pm:
The governor will not be recalled or the “I” word.
- Junior -
So you approve of the politics or no?
Pretty straight-forward. Sounds like you do.
- Huh? - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:10 pm:
“Ground Hog Day” starring Bruce Rauner as Governor 1.4%, the bombastic, single minded, union busting hero of the uber wealthy.
- cdog - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:13 pm:
On The Matter Of Missing G’s
Governor Rauner must use a teleprompter and/or a written script.
Are the g’s missing from these written documents?
Or, does Governor Rauner completely disregard the fact that there are g’s in front of him?
I suspect the later, as that his is usual procedure– to disregard things that are right in front of him.
(I did hear one g pronounced correctly. It was right after all the Thank you’s at the beginning. I found that very odd and inconsistent with his image. Very curious). /s
- All the king's men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:13 pm:
I think my IQ dropped from 150 to 140 while listening to that. Sounded a little forced and desperate overall.
- Old Shepherd - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:14 pm:
Something tells me that Republican Senate candidates can expect to see Radogno’s comments used against them this fall.
- Williamson Sylvester Stuckey - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:14 pm:
Gee, I dunno Willy. Looking around here… It sure seems to me like the growing theme is “Fire Rauner!” rather than “Fire Madigan.”
You might want to tell your own camp that “we’re not on your lawn lol.”
- Taxman - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:16 pm:
Middle class…we are taxpayers you dumb sh… Why don’t you move to Kansas.
- Mama - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:17 pm:
“#6: testing for student growth, #7 : school choice, #8 new schools for “disconnected youth”, #9 : consolidate councils and taskforces”
The only item on this list that we don’t already have in place is school choice.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:17 pm:
- Williamson Sylvester Stuckey -
Where o where is the Rauner budget?
Where o where are the monies for social services?
Where o where are the MAP monies?
I guess you dont care that Rauner is inept as his duties?
That’s on you.
- DuPage Don - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:18 pm:
Remind me again what it is that public employee unions actually produce? It’s not like the UAW or the International Textile Garment and Leather Workers Federation where those employees actually produce a product and whose workplace environment are at issue for their safety. AFSCME leadeairship needs to get a grip on reality!
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:19 pm:
-Everything the governor said about economic development was spot-on and this new P3 organization can’t come fast enough.-
Too fast is the problem. DCEO can’t tie their own shoelaces. How are they going to produce a viable economic development corp? Magic beans thinking if there ever was. Oh wait….actually I take that back. It’s probably already up and running in shadow form run by corporations who want some of that state money. No need for transparency anymore. No need to be hampered by “work rules”. From here on out just good ole American corporate cronyism. I’m sure consultants are lined up around the block.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:19 pm:
I’ve never called for Rauner to be fired, recalled, or “I”,
…I’ve asked Rauner to BE the governor… Do the doable. Period.
Please learn.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:20 pm:
He is a governor incapable of speaking in a bipartisan compromising way. He once again demonstrates a complete inability to build a bridge to any support beyond his own yes-men and yes-ladies. He is a marvel to listen to without being offended by his callous disrespect towards anyone unsold on his ideas beforehand. Bruce Rauner is the worst salesman I ever heard give a presentation. His communication skills are nearly non-existent.
What kind of governor doesn’t understand that the purpose of the job and the purpose of the speech is to build consensus? Rauner may tell us that he wants consensus, but the words and language he chose, say otherwise.
Governors cannot build consensus by tearing others apart. They cannot build any compromise by inaccurately describing opposing views held by the MAJORITY of the audience present.
At every opportunity to present an issue in a way that could be considered gubernatorial and as honest and unbiased as needed - Bruce Rauner failed. He feels a need to take a shot, make a dig, prove a point that he is right and everyone else is wrong, during the most important annual speech he gives. What is wrong with this man?
Talk to him!
- All the king's men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:20 pm:
Mama, I think no child left behind took care of choice.
- Junior - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:21 pm:
Willy - there’s a stand-off going on, with each side trying to convince Average Joe the their side is the good guy. He chose to put some conciliatory bites in the speech today for that reason. Seems like a better play for him than saying “my way or the highway.”
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:22 pm:
Rauner is not going to be recalled, although impeachment talk would not be surprised if we are still without a budget into 2017.
P3 has been discussed for nearly three years now. Andy Manar got the ball rolling and Rauner is continuing it. It is neither new nor a surprise.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:23 pm:
===Remind me again what it is that public employee unions actually produce? It’s not like the UAW or the International Textile Garment and Leather Workers Federation where those employees actually produce a product and whose workplace environment are at issue for their safety. AFSCME leadeairship needs to get a grip on reality!===
You are utterly clueless in an embarrassing way.
The missions of state agencies are to serve the citizens of the state in capacities, many times, private entities just can’t… and usually one main reason is its unprofitable because nothing if tangible value is gained except for a healthy citizenry, and another reason is nothing tangible is actually made.
Do yourself a solid. Learn why government does what it dies here by the agencies’ missions.
Get back to us. Ugh.
- All the king's men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:26 pm:
Calm down VanillaMan, it’s not worth blowing a gasket over. But that said, I think it’s pretty obvious the only person he was trying to build a bridge to in the room is the Senate president cullerton. He very clearly avoided any mention of madigan.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:26 pm:
- Junior -
So you approve of the politics or no?
Pretty straight-forward. Sounds like you do.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:26 pm:
Excuse me, Mr. Gambini, did you say yout? What is a yout?
- Junior - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:27 pm:
Willy - asked and answered.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:27 pm:
creating more upper management structures while he cuts lower management and outside funded services and claims “shareholder” value. he’s operating to line the pockets of insiders and hurting the poor. He could have phoned in his short nonsense by saying big players count and the poor can head for welfare.
- working stiff - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:27 pm:
==it will take the effort of a lot of people that the Governor just called overpaid and unreasonable. ==
i work hard at being overpaid and unreasonable
- jt - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:28 pm:
I agree with term limits. For Rauner it should be 1 year.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:28 pm:
- Junior -
You agree with Rauner. Got it.
- NATTY BOY - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:29 pm:
That speech was the most accurate, important and believable speech in the history of Middle-Earth- Sauron
- Mouthy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:30 pm:
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:23 pm:
You type a lot faster than I do..
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:30 pm:
=How is those low income kids suppose to get to the quality schools outside of their area?=
Ahhh…and there is the rub! That is why things like vouchers are such a canard. They more like a wealthy tax break because only those with some wealth have the means for transportation. The poor will struggle to move their children great distances.
=actually produce=
Welp, they are not in factories making low cost electronics I’ll give you that. But, they might be inspecting those “factories” that produce things making sure that the workplace is safe.
So there is that.
- Mama - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:30 pm:
++- Father Ted - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 1:37 pm:
I was surprised by Radogno’s remarks regarding social service agencies closing. I’m more than fair usually and give speakers the benefit of the doubt, but that was callous to the point of being beyond belief.++
I agree she was very callous about social service agencies closing. Our new Tea Party Republicans simply don’t care about the people of IL.
- relocated - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:32 pm:
Illinois is blessed with womder teachers, once they are fired, stripped of their pensions, and rehired at minimum wage by private contractors all will be fine.
- Almost the Weekend - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:33 pm:
Dropping the G’s was brutal. But I thought it was very tame..compared to what he has been saying in the press.
Thought he was spot on with AFSCME, he needs to be careful to not categorize all state workers under AFSCME.
Be interesting to see how Raunerton’s pension bill works without Madigan.
Let’s see if the pension bill and worker’s comp can be achieved. Rauner sounded reasonable on that issue as well.
- All the king's men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:33 pm:
I have no problem with term limits, I mean the biggest argument against them is the loss of institutional experience and knowledge. That’s an easy fix. I would take either term limits or redistricting. Do one right and the other becomes less necessary.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:33 pm:
–You AFSCME guys on this board are the worst. At this point, I’m for firing all of you and replacing you with H-1Bs and using overseas call centers and paper pushers.
You’d think no one else was middle class except you entitled buffons who think the answer is the always attack my paycheck and my children’s future.
Governor Rauner, fire them all.–
Does anybody want to work for the State of Illinois now? No? Anybody?
Collapse of the State workforce is already in progress. If folks were thinking about waiting for retirement, I’m sure they are putting their papers in today. I’m also sure that people are job hunting right now. Being dead last in number of State workers per capita is going become deadly to the functioning of government. If the impasse goes on much longer a lot of local folks are going to get cut. But hey, Rauner doesn’t care
- Cubs in '16 - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:35 pm:
“Remind me again what it is that public employee unions actually produce? It’s not like the UAW or the International Textile Garment and Leather Workers Federation where those employees actually produce a product and whose workplace environment are at issue for their safety. AFSCME leadeairship needs to get a grip on reality!”
Well, my job involves helping citizens with disabilities gain employment skills so they can be self-sufficient. Many of them rely on state and/or federal benefits when they seek services. Tax consumers become tax payers so there’s that.
With regard to workplace environment, if you’ve ever dealt with a furious person with mental illness and a history of violence, as we often do, you might not be so quick to judge. As Willy suggested, educate yourself.
- burbanite - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:35 pm:
MTP 1:56, Bruce?
- Let'sMovetoNorthDakota - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:36 pm:
So have Madigan/Cullerton offered to compromise even one inch on turnaround agenda items?
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:37 pm:
Why should Madigan/Cullerton compromise on turnaround agenda items, when the people of Illinois have not elected the turnaround agenda, nor do they seem to support it?
- Curmudgeon - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:37 pm:
Retired State Employee:
I fully agree with both of your comments, having seen much of the same over the last 40 years. However, I do wonder about the apparent removal of Info System functions/entities from various agencies into a consolidated mass.
I’ve seen various consolidation schemes rolled out by CMS over they decades and ultimately they have not worked out well, though the financial systems issue probably is the exception.
As to the comments about overpaid, etc. employees, I’m enough of a cynic to expect the proposed answer will be to contract it all out under the new “relaxed” procurement rules …
- East Central Illinois - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:39 pm:
- All the king’s men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:26 pm:
“Calm down VanillaMan, it’s not worth blowing a gasket over. But that said, I think it’s pretty obvious the only person he was trying to build a bridge to in the room is the Senate president cullerton. He very clearly avoided any mention of madigan.”
Are you serious?? Have you not been payin’ any attention to what Rauner’s lack of governin’ is doing to this state? People are losing jobs, services are being cut to the people that need them the most, universities and community colleges are losing millions of dollars, students that might have attended those educational places are thinking twice of being able to attend any higher ed facility. And you have the nerve to say “don’t blow a gasket”? What, are you and Radogno reading from the same sheet of music?
- Qui Tam - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:41 pm:
Still campaigning’…
- nonn - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:42 pm:
What I took away from the SOTS is that Illinois should look like the love child of Massachusetts and Texas!
- sal-says - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:44 pm:
Whoa. The SuperStarts are having a day.
First DITS. Department of Information & Technology Services.
Then, Cabinet on Children and Youth pronounced ‘kackee’? Nice.
Appalling both by raunner and radogno. Each should be (but won’t be) ashamed, embarrassed and disgraced. Way to keep going, leaders-in-name-only.
- From the 'Dale to HP - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:45 pm:
An awful speech in part because, the Governor has almost nothing that could be called an accomplishment.
We’re a year in and he’s gotten little done. So what does the governor do today? The same. As if now it will work.
And then waiting until the last few minutes to bring up the budget? I’m not sure he understands what his job is.
- Crispy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:46 pm:
OW @ 1:17: =I don’t get it.=
Look up “malignant narcissism”–might be the explanation everyone’s been looking for.
All snark aside, I almost don’t blame Rauner anymore for his pronouncements, as I’ve come to suspect he literally has no conscience, and therefore can’t be held accountable for exhibiting something he was born lacking. Radogno and Durkin, though–what’s their excuse? They know better.
Middle-class taxpayer, did you seriously just attempt to insult state workers by calling them “buffons”? Lol; that’s hilarious.
- Skeptic - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:46 pm:
“He once again demonstrates a complete inability to build a bridge..” I’m reminded of one of Thompson’s SoS speeches where the motif was something like “…and what about that Democrats? Republicans?” It was clear he was poking the Dems, but equally clear that there was blame on both sides. More of that, please.
- sal-says - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:46 pm:
== Cmon guys, at least come up with a handle boys and girls. ==
Something original, you know, like: brucie1, brucie2, brucie…
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:46 pm:
Nothin’ saves money like announcin’ 3 new government entities.
- Rhino Slider - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:48 pm:
That was a good question. What has Madigan offered as a proposal/counter-proposal to Rauner? (I’m not being political, I just don’t follow this close enough that I might have missed it.)
I thought Cullerton had an interesting counteroffer with the school financing proposal.
- sal-says - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:53 pm:
== - DuPage Don - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:18 pm:
Remind me again what it is that public employee unions actually produce? ==
Apparently you don’t understand ’services’; that’s on you.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:54 pm:
Could someone post Radogno’s remarks regarding social services? I missed them.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:54 pm:
It’s great to see the willingness of folks on this thread (most of them that is) to find common ground with anything the Governor talked about today. The Governor has made some mistakes in the past year, no doubt about it. But we have to acknowledge that he alone is not to blame for the dysfunction we see in this State. The problems we face are decades in the making. There is a common ground to be found on so many of the issues he talked about today. The Governor has compromised his position to meet people halfway on a host of issues in the last year. I haven’t seen the Democrats do very much compromising of their views. Illinois was in dire financial straits long before the tax increase expired last year.
- Check, please - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 2:57 pm:
The man is so confused he probably buys his Stag in bottles instead of cans.
- Check, please - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:01 pm:
==The Governor has made some mistakes in the past year, no doubt about it. But we have to acknowledge that he alone is not to blame for the dysfunction we see in this State.==
Absolutely true. Also, absolutely irrelevant. The question is, is the state better off today than when he took office? From the sound of the speech, even Rauner doesn’t think so. We are worse off. And there is no end in sight.
Not much to brag about after a year in office.
- Rabid - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:01 pm:
Disapointed that it will take till 2025 for reform thought I heard tax’s a couple of times but it was Texas
- L.A. - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:01 pm:
-The Governor has compromised his position to meet people halfway on a host of issues in the last year.-
A host of issues? Implies more than one. Name three.
- Earnest - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:01 pm:
>>There is a common ground to be found on so many of the issues he talked about today.
Yes! But he is all or nothing when it comes to the anti-union stuff. He could have gotten a long ways through the common ground this past year and made positive changes for Illinois. I can’t believe his supporters aren’t angry at him for that.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:02 pm:
===But we have to acknowledge that he alone is not to blame for the dysfunction we see in this State.===
This year, FY2016, there is no budget. Governors own budgets. Rauner is decimating social services single-handedly.
===The problems we face are decades in the making.===
The reason LSSI laid off 750 people this year is because of Bruce Rauner. This year. Now. Rauber Adminstration won’t fund his own agencies.
You must be ” - Anonymous -” beccause inane thinking like this is hopelessly embarrassing.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:02 pm:
Anonymous…..anonymous…..(gently smacks cheek) anonymous wake up! Wow…you were having the most bizarre fever dream just now. You were saying something about Rauner wanting to compromise and how posters weren’t trying to find common ground….man…you need to lay off three day old sushi. I know it’s on sale but you got a bad one.
- Overpaid and unreasonable - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:03 pm:
“The Governor has made some mistakes in the past year, no doubt about it. ”
Some mistakes? Propose a balanced budget please sir. The constitution requires it.
“But we have to acknowledge that he alone is not to blame for the dysfunction we see in this State.”
Tired, tired argument. It needs to be said again and again until it gets through to some of you: propose a balanced budget.
There is most definitely common ground to be found on all of the issues. The Governor has yet to prove that he can be relied upon to live up to any end of a compromise.
- Keyrock - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:04 pm:
Anonymous 2:54: your real name wouldn’t happen to be Lance, would it?
- 35 and Out - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:06 pm:
I lobbied Leader Radogno years ago, on issues relating to mental health and adult guardianship. At the time, she was in leadership, but not The Leader. She told me about her Oak Park roots and her professional connection to human services, and I believed that her interest (then) was sincere. She spoke kindly of my agency, and voted our way on our request. George Ryan was the Governor then.
She would do well to reach out to a current Oak Parker, Mr.Lavin at AgeOptions. The social services cuts impacting the aging network may well result in new combinations and new economies, as she now suggests, and Mr. Lavin could speak to that point. But I would assume he could remind her of the human costs borne by many among us that require the assistance that our state has provided. Trading the well being of people in need, today, for economies in scale, later. Sigh. That’s a harsh bargain.
The fact that Leader Radogno could be persuaded to run counter to her own history is another example of the Governor’s all-or-nothing approach. I see what side she is on today, but I also hope she still knows who she is. She could be a voice of reason, if she chose to.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:06 pm:
Honeybear- It was during her post SOTS interview with Jak. Basically from my post on another thread)- Radogno’s statements following the SOTS on social services shows her true colors- many (small social service providers) were failing anyway and were absorbed into better, stronger agencies.
***
It’s seems to be one of the Quotes of the Day - and week, and year, and campaigns to come;)
- Name Withheld - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:07 pm:
Anonymous - respectfully, the man came into office calling everyone corrupt, including the judges on the Illinois Supreme Court. He’s lack of command of details has led to situations like “Rich works for Madigan” and his gross misrepresentation of the agreement with Cullerton. He lays blame for an unbalanced budget at Madigan’s feet while conveniently ignoring his own unbalanced budget. His vilification of state employees as overpaid while his own ’super-stars’ rake in higher salaries than anything paid under Quinn, including one who needed a pension sweetener to make his salary comparable with others who previously held the position. And he allows institutions like LSSI to wither and die on the vine without owning one shred of the blame for the situation.
He is so removed from the suffering and pain he has allowed to occur, and in fact treats that same suffering as a bargaining chip and leverage in negotiations. So yeah - I have little difficulty seeing why Democrats, with some singular exceptions, aren’t lining up to support him.
- Frenchie Mendoza - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:09 pm:
Dunkin is absolutely out of his mind.
The sleeping bag, backpack, “showering in Madigan’s private shower” schtick — it’s bonkers.
Who takes this guy seriously?
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:11 pm:
Dunkin- starts at about 11 minutes in-
http://livestream.com/blueroomstream/events/4739735
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:12 pm:
I thought the Governor gave a great speech. But I admit to being a tad prejudiced here.
The Governor should abandon all those ideas and enact the first budget the legislature votes on, whether it is 4, 5, 6, 8 or 10 billion in the red.
Illinois from the comments in this thread deserves all that this government represents that its voters elected. Cut nothing. Reform even less than nothing.
We deserve it.
Blaming Rauner for decades of this nonsense for his single year in office is worse than disengenuous. More status quo is not the answer and labeling those of us here who recognize this basic fact as trolls solves nothing.
This is our dysfunctional government. We voted for it. And soon we will pay the harsh consequences for our action. And it make us all even crabbier than we are now.
- sal-says - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:13 pm:
But we have to acknowledge that he alone is not to blame for the dysfunction we see in this State. == The problems we face are decades in the making. There is a common ground to be found on so many of the issues he talked about today. The Governor has compromised his position to meet people halfway on a host of issues in the last year. ==
A joke post,right? ‘compromised…on a host of issues in the last year’. LOL. Like what exactly?
- Frenchie Mendoza - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:13 pm:
re: Dunkin’s presser
His anti-Madigan comments are almost — almost — worse than Rauner’s. It’s astonishing to watch this guy.
- Earnest - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:14 pm:
>>Radogno’s statements following the SOTS on social services shows her true colors- many (small social service providers) were failing anyway and were absorbed into better, stronger agencies.
Keep in mind, she’s not commenting on what has happened. She was talking about making this happen back in the spring. This is what she intended to happen. And no disagreement from her caucus makes them complicit. It’s time to accept some shame and make it right.
- All the king's men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:14 pm:
I think workin for the state sounds like a good deal currently since I am told my generation would have to work until I am 70 to 75 before I would be eligible to retire otherwise.
- btowntruth - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:14 pm:
I just read the speech text.
He trashed AFSCME and told state workers that they make too much right after saying most state workers were great and deserved to be highly paid.
To the 41% of union voters who voted for Rauner:
You sure showed Pat Quinn didn’t you?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:14 pm:
Honeybear said:
“Too fast is the problem. DCEO can’t tie their own shoelaces. How are they going to produce a viable economic development corp? Magic beans thinking if there ever was…”
Actually, I would hope that existing DCEO personnel had no input whatsoever on the new P3. I sincerely hope that Jim Shultz and like 2 or 3 other people designed the entire thing themselves without any input from the old guard.
Non ED-people don’t seem to understand that the reason why DCEO was such an utter failure over the past decade is because of the personnel.
Economic Development is a professional discipline. Quinn and Blago stuffed DCEO with loyal political creatures who knew absolutely nothing about actually doing economic development. And our state’s ability to attract businesses suffered considerably as a result.
The main reason why P3s are more effective in other states is because they are run like meritocracies.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:16 pm:
Frenchie - considering the fact that “continuous session” in Madigan speak means “whenever I feel like it”, I care what Dunkin has to say. And his get up and shtick are a lot funnier than anyone else’s attempts at humor or at least trying. People in Springfield and D.C. take themselves WAY too seriously. A little humor is okay every now and then.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:16 pm:
Frenchie- new stuff (kit, et.al.). Did he just come from Wal-Mart???
- Commonsense in Illinois - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:17 pm:
Making democrats from republicans each and every day…
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:17 pm:
Dunkin and his “red” kit. Was that intended, or only what was available off the shelf???
- Earnest - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:17 pm:
>Blaming Rauner for decades of this nonsense for his single year in office is worse than disengenuous. More status quo is not the answer and labeling those of us here who recognize this basic fact as trolls solves nothing.
Louis, there are fewer chinks in your armor than among the House and Senate Republicans in terms of supporting Rauner. Give me this: aren’t you frustrated that he has passed on making progress on so many of his items because it is all-or-nothing on the anti-union stuff before he’ll do anything else?
- burbanite - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:18 pm:
Anon 2:54, Why should I compromise my views for any one? Especially someone who is costing me money? That is right, the Gov’s insistence on acquiescence to his anti union agenda are costing all of us money. I hope someone fact checks the numbers in the speech. Any one catch his addressing Rich’s alleged wrong numbers in the speech, I missed that part.
- Wensicia - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:20 pm:
Radogno is driving the bus Rauner’s throwing social services under.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:20 pm:
===The Governor should abandon all those ideas and enact the first budget the legislature votes on…===
Thank you - Louis G Atsaves -
Thank you.
You admit Rauber is inept abd can’t do his constitutional duty as prescribed in Article VIII, Section 2 (a)
Thank you for admitting Rauner is clueless, can’t do his job, unable to understand government, willing to have another branch of government decide his fiscal priorities.
Thank you - Louis G Atsaves -
You’ve come around. You now agree, Rauner is unable to be a governor.
Tell me; How can I help you go around him?
- All the king's men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:21 pm:
I will agree with willy. A governor needs to govern regardless of Whether others like it at least do something useful for the good of the state.
- Nick Name - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:22 pm:
It’s as if Rauner has some weird belief that AFSCME members are pining away for a liberator to free them from the dreaded iron boot of AFSCME leadership.
- sal-says - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:23 pm:
== Blaming Rauner for decades of this nonsense for his single year in office is worse than disengenuous. ==
‘worse than disengenuous (sp)’ ??
Expected, but Agreed, Louis: ‘worse’ because it’s true. One year; but i’ts only on raunner. Sorry to have fix this for you.
- Jay Dee - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:24 pm:
Didn’t watch it. There aren’t any headlines stating the Governor is ditching his TA pre-conditions to the budget, so I didn’t miss anything.
- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:27 pm:
Louis, I strongly suspect more than half the people here (if not more) have a vested interest in Madigan winning (i.e., beyond that of taxpayer).
Anonymous, Sandra Day O’Connor effectively said the same thing about Illinois. Indeed, any system where lawyers are allowed to contribute to the judges who hear their cases and where judges have to win the favor of people like Joe Barrios is not honest.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:28 pm:
Commenters,
- Louis G Atsaves - agrees with us. Rauner is not capable. Stop this. What we all should be doing is asking - Louis G Atsaves - how we can help him go around Gov. Rauner.
======The Governor should abandon all those ideas and enact the first budget the legislature votes on…===
What can I do? I told you, admit Rauner can’t do his job, I’d be the first to help you go around Rauner.
What are your orders - Louis G Atsaves-, how do we just go around the governor?
- sal-says - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:28 pm:
== People in Springfield and D.C. take themselves WAY too seriously. A little humor is okay every now and then. ==
Yeah. Especially when social services orgs are going under; people being served lose their lifelines; more IL workers lose their jobs and the State’s backlog of bills are going up astronomically…. Yeah; right on.
- Curmudgeon - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:29 pm:
== Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:14 pm: “Economic Development is a professional discipline. Quinn and Blago stuffed DCEO with loyal political creatures who knew absolutely nothing about actually doing economic development.”
Actually, that started while “Big Jim” was still the Governor and increased under “Little Jim,” especially after he laid off almost all the ED staff and then refilled their positions over the next several years.
- X-prof - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:30 pm:
Glad to see this study highlighted; it’s the same study that many of us have been quoting here. IL has above average personal income, there is no fundamental reason it should be in debt.
=== In Illinois, the lowest-earning 20 percent paid 13.2 percent of their income in total state and local taxes, but the top 1 percent paid just 4.6 percent. That’s a 9.6 percentage-point difference. ===
This is a key point. The top 1 percent enjoy 1/4 of all personal income in IL; we can’t afford to tax that much income at less than half the average rate. The top 10% take 1/2 of all personal income, and still pay well below the average rate. Even a partial repair of this disparity would end our fiscal problems immediately.
A progressive income tax would be great, but we don’t need it to make serious change for the better. We can reduce, but not eliminate, the disparity in tax rates for the rich and poor if state and local government rely more on the flat income tax and less on regressive sales and property taxes. Close some corporate loopholes, make some judicious cuts, add reasonable labor reforms, and we can end the fiscal crisis with something left over for strategic investments for the future. This is the true Turnaround Agenda.
It seems the Dem leadership is either too timid or not interested in this sort of revenue reform. The relative success of Sanders’ campaign, with a much more radical vision, suggest that this rather modest policy change should be a winner with the electorate. Add Rauner’s submarining approval ratings and his callous treatment of social services for more momentum, and the Dems have a rare opportunity for political gain that they would be foolish to pass up.
So, Cullerton, stop messing around with bogus pension reform ideas and get with it. Speaker Madigan, your move. Let’s see some proactive leadership.
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:32 pm:
“What I took away from the SOTS is that Illinois should look like the love child of Massachusetts and Texas!”
And when Rauner is finished, IL will probably actually end up inheriting the tax and business environment of Mass. (which I know isn’t all that bad, but it’s called Taxachusetts for a reason) combined with the social and regulatory safety net of Texas.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:32 pm:
Sal - so then none of us should ever joke on this site. And when we see a Rep or Senator laughing or even smiling at the Capitol we should sternly remind them to be more serious.
Don’t be so smug.
- X-prof - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:33 pm:
Ooof. That was supposed to be under Hinz on taxation, revenues.
- AC - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:33 pm:
==To the 41% of union voters who voted for Rauner: You sure showed Pat Quinn didn’t you?==
I tried. Phone banks, door to door and the like. A lot of people did. Too many argued tgatthings were bad (they were right) but they didn’t yet understand how much worse things would get. I don’t think anyone yet knows how bad it ultimately will get, but we will.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:33 pm:
LCD - nuh uh! Rauner’s supporters are robots and everyone else is genuine. DUH!
- Twice baked - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:35 pm:
Funny how the Governor did not mention his demands of AFSCME yet addressed what is wrong with it. It ALMOST made him appear to be reasonable to people who do not closely follow politics, and will cut into sympathy for union members. I have to admit it was sly of him to portray this as what the struggle is about.
Radon I-Minority Leader with all the compassion of a cactus. I hope her religious constituents caught that.
- ANother prof - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:40 pm:
Is this guy living in the same state I’m in? I mean, I live in Illinois.
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:42 pm:
How is Ken Dunkin going to be able to camp out at the Capitol when it’s the last week of the Australian Open?
- Curmudgeon - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:43 pm:
Gee, here it is nearly four o’clock and Rich isn’t back yet. How many Stags you think that adds up to?
Sure hope Bruce didn’t order a State Police cruiser to stand by outside the gates with a breathalyzer … Just sayin’.
- AC - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:43 pm:
==Rauner’s supporters are robots and everyone else is genuine.==
That would explain a few things. /s
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:44 pm:
@Louis G Atsaves- surprised to learn you support the governor what with all of the “g’s” you use and all.
- sal-says - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:46 pm:
== - Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:32 pm:
Sal - so then none of us should ever joke on this site. ==
Pointing out the context; sorry if it offended you.
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:47 pm:
===Not all of Radogno’s constituents are proud! How did she ever land a “leadership” position?===
Have you seen the competition?
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:49 pm:
Anonymous 3:14 that’s really rich. From what I understand there is no old guard left. Schultz is the only one with an MBA and even then Schultz is just there to do dog and pony shows all over the state. He didn’t even want the job according to an article from Effingham. Rauner had to ask him like six times. His LinkedIn had his venture capital business for the longest time and didn’t even mention his state service. But regardless your comment proves my point. No from what I understand there isn’t a bit of business experience in the leadership of DCEO. Yeah, how could a state economic development corp have problems designed by 2-3 people? s/
- Daniel Plainview - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:52 pm:
- @Louis G Atsaves- surprised to learn you support the governor what with all of the “g’s” you use and all. -
Louis is mainly concerned with the 125 “Gs” Rauner is dropping into his annual household income.
- working stiff - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:54 pm:
“i work hard at being overpaid and unreasonable
”
joking aside, this IT guy works his tail off keeping things running.
- Chicago 20 - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:55 pm:
SOS
Softer tones, same entrenched mindset.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:58 pm:
Sal - not offended at all, and sorry if I came across as a jerk. However, a little bit a humor is needed in this line of work. It has to be.
- present - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 4:04 pm:
Amalia, after the speech a bunch of spsa positions came up on the work4il website. You nailed it!
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 4:09 pm:
I suppose this counts as a meeting of the BIGs, as they were all 5 in the same room for an hour! /s
- Suburbanon - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 4:09 pm:
I sure do miss the good old days of Big Jim Thompson. If I remember correctly, he once set foot on the floor of the House to persuade a Southern Illinois Democrat to cast the the deciding vote on the White Sox deal. By comparison, all Rauner can do is get an irrelevant Chicago Democrat for a Statehouse sleepover and a box of Dunkin doughnuts.
- Beaner - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 4:10 pm:
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 3:32 pm:
This comment seems probably sound, unfortunately.
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 4:10 pm:
So much for waiting the Gov out. So much for he’s under so much pressure he’ll have to cave.
Mr. Speaker, you are not ‘winning’. He’s as stubborn as you are. Everybody is losing.
Next act is funding races to try and sway the GA mix to a more favorable balance to him and his friends. That’s what he is waiting for.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 4:12 pm:
–Louis, I strongly suspect more than half the people here (if not more) have a vested interest in Madigan winning (i.e., beyond that of taxpayer).–
What would “winning” look like? How would it manifest itself?
I’d like to determine whether or not I have a “vested interest.” Unlike Louis, of course.
You know, there are actual, real people being tuned up due to the governor’s refusal to negotiate a budget without pre-conditions. Core functions have been abandoned. The state’s fiscal condition is much worse now than it was one year ago.
Your silly focus on personality conflicts and “winning” is childish and shallow. As childish and shallow as the governor’s own “economic and fiscal rationale” he released to justify this sabotage.
But go ahead — bring on more meaningless catch phrases like “structural reform” and “hang in there.”
It’s all you’ve got, after all these months.
- Union Man - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 4:15 pm:
Waste of Time! Could have got more out of a nap!!
- sal-says - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 4:16 pm:
== However, a little bit a humor is needed in this line of work. It has to be. ==
Agreed. With the state the State is in what’s left?
- sal-says - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 4:19 pm:
== Mr. Speaker, you are not ‘winning’. He’s as stubborn as you are. Everybody is losing.
Next act is funding races to try and sway the GA mix to a more favorable balance to him and his friends. That’s what he is waiting for. ==
Yes, as I’ve suggested before here, raunner will eventually and unfortunately win. Then again, what would you have The Speaker do? Cave now or go down for the middle class, workers, and Unions without a fight?
- Robert the 1st - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 4:21 pm:
=what would you have The Speaker do? Cave now or go down for the middle class, workers, and Unions without a fight?=
This is the only place you can find people who see Mike Madigan as some sort of hero. You guys are great.
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 4:38 pm:
Press coverage makes Rauner look conciliatory and like he’s the grown up. No surprise. There is no end in sight.
- Robert the Bruce - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 4:40 pm:
==what would you have The Speaker do? Cave now or go down for the middle class, workers, and Unions without a fight? ==
(I’m no relation to Robert the 1st, by the way)
I’m not optimistic he’ll do this, but I’d have The Speaker agree to the Raunerton pension compromise and some workers comp reform in exchange for a budget deal so that social services stop closing.
In so doing, he’d know that the pension compromise would be overturned by the courts anyway, but at least we would have a budget and needed services would re-open.
- Cathartt Representative - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 4:42 pm:
I only heard 6 people clapping. I assumed they were the Tribune Editorial Board
- Dome Gnome - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 4:47 pm:
If Dunkin’s soap brand is Lifebuoy, I’d like to suggest a place for him to stick it.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 4:50 pm:
@ Dupage Don The state could probably get by without leather for a while, but it would be pretty difficult to run the state without a Dept of Revenue. Get a clue.
- L.A. - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 4:57 pm:
-I’m not optimistic he’ll do this, but I’d have The Speaker agree to the Raunerton pension compromise and some workers comp reform in exchange for a budget deal so that social services stop closing.-
This will not get a budget deal. Rauner says it’s his entire Turnaround Agenda or nothing. Pension reform and work comp will not cut it.
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 5:01 pm:
-Robert the Bruce-
Agree. Though I think some pension reform does have a chance under the Cullerton plan. I also believe he will seek Union acceptance as he did last time.
- DuPage - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 5:09 pm:
Rauner’s SOS speech was a waste of everyone’s time. Time we will never get back. Reinforced his worthless T-Agenda. Nothing new.
- Tired of games - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 5:09 pm:
Well, more posturing from all involved. This game of chicken our state leaders play (and badly - see Dunkin) is hurting us all. I am waiting to hear how Rich’s meeting with gov. went. Does he really understand the pain he has inflicted on this state?
- Mama - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 5:11 pm:
Dunkin should not be allowed to run as a Democrat.
- Robert the Bruce - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 5:21 pm:
L.A., you may be right, but Speaker Madigan’s “you’ll get nothing and like it” stance from the last 9 months hasn’t enabled social services to re-open.
Don’t read that as blaming Madigan. This is Rauner’s fault.
But if it was just up to Cullerton, I bet we’d have a budget by now.
- Cook County Commoner - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 5:22 pm:
All the kings men @ 3:21pm:
“I think working for the state sounds like a good deal currently since I am told my generation would have to work until I am 70 to 75 before I would be eligible to retire otherwise.”
You’ve probably hit the core of the battle. Competitive global labor markets have decreased private sector opportunity for all but the skilled and decently educated.
Opting for the public sector may be a sound decision, but I suggest reaching for a fed job. At least there you’re closer to the currency printing press.
What we’re seeing now in Illinois and several other states is the unwinding of the decrease in private sector unionism and the taxable consumption it created and the explosion of public sector unionism. Most of the participants here appear to be part of the latter.
I cannot criticize their vitriol against an obviously anti-public sector union governor, which is distinct from being anti-private sector union. Two very different things.
In any event, if you want the middle class and retirement before you’re senile, the public sector, preferably federal, is the place to work with the highest percentage of reaching your goal.
The only issue is how long will a deteriorating private sector bear the increasing cost of the public sector. The disparities are becoming more stark each passing year, especially in Illinois.
Like I said at the top, go for a fed job.
- Mama - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 5:38 pm:
=actually produce=
State workers also make sure your breathe clear air and drink pure water. They make sure an abused child has a safe place to stay & someone to care for them. They administer test for drivers licenses, etc., etc., etc…
- oldman - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 5:47 pm:
Rauner is approaching Sarah Palin’s record for dropping g’s in one speech. Sad.
- Crispy Critter - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 6:02 pm:
The constitution says the governor is supposed to present a balanced budget.
The 3rd Edition (1987) of a state publication entitled 1970 Illinois Constitution Annotated for Legislators explains on page 78: “In Illinois the executive branch is primarily responsible for preparing a comprehensive budget proposal, which by law is required to be sent to the General Assembly by the first Wednesday in March of each year.”
Why is he not being held in contempt or something for not doing his constitutional duty?
- btowntruth - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 6:23 pm:
AC:
I tried too.Did the same things you did.
They were “tired of Chicago running the state” was one of the reasons that I heard.
Seriously.
Because as we all know Rauner has no ties to Chicago or Cook County……..none….not a bit…no sir…..
Snark.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 6:27 pm:
When talking about vision and goals, lots of lofty sounding verbiage, most of which I can even agree with. When talking about facts, someone needs to do a bunch of fact checking.
A few things stood out to me. By my admittedly imperfect counting, I think he totaled up over $3B in estimated savings but he never talked about the up-front cost to achieve the savings. He talked about new school funding but didn’t say where it would come from. So we don’t have a clue if the new spending will be more or less than the projected savings.
I continued to hear the code words “local control” in a lot of what was said. In other words, still going to strip everything possible from the unions but do it one government entity at a time. A lot of that local control was aimed at property taxes and school districts; maybe that’s where he’s going to find the money for expanding classroom spending.
Finally, he talks about Illinois workers needing to be better paid and he talks about how the State workers are good, but then he immediately attacks the State workers with featherbedding examples and another attack on the pensions. Not th best way to motivate the people you are going to need to implement your policies and changes.
Rich got to the bottom line in his post speech summary: ignore what Rauner says and keep an eye on what he does. I would add: Rauner also hasn’t given up on trying to destroy the unions.
- DuPage Dave - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 6:30 pm:
Today Rauner demonstrated- again- why he is a complete and utter disappointment. I never vote for his “run government like a business” type candidates, but when they get elected, I at least
hope they have a clue about how to run government in some way, shape or form. Not Rauner, though.
- Wensicia - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 6:31 pm:
Bottom line, Rauner can’t or won’t walk the talk.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 6:33 pm:
All,
Until I see the language, it’s my opinion the proposed Rauner / Cullerton pension reform isn’t going to be found legal. What’s been described is a coerced choice, not a voluntary choice. Contract modification via consideration requires a voluntary choice to be valid.
- Omega Man - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 7:52 pm:
Once again we learn that Bruce “Destroy All Unions” Rauner cares not the slightest bit for the people of Illinois who elected him.
He knows he won’t get a second term. He doesn’t even want one.
He’s on a mission to de-unionize Illinois and force it to go bankrupt so he and his billionaire buddies can carve us up like a Thanksgiving Turkey!
- RNUG - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 8:00 pm:
-Mama-
He can try to contract it out but it probably won’t be successful. After the RSEA meeting today, I was listening to stories about recent outsourcing efforts on different computer programs being changed; the contractors didn’t have a clue about the old programs and had to contact the retirees who wrote them. Plus I heard rip off horror stories about the body shop operations keeping over 2/3’s of the fees being paid. They’re going to need the old timers to help … and a lot of them aren’t in the mood because they’ve already been hit by health insurance changes and will be hit worse by the changes that are coming if Rauner’s version of the AFSCME contract is rammed through. It may well be a (banned word).
- Ryan - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:06 pm:
Why does he drop all the g’s in his speech pattern!! It is maddening!!! Crushin. Breakin. Waitin. Reducin.
I don’t think I can ever listen to him speak again. I know you have all talked about it but I am ashamed to say I never listened to him long enough to hear it. Embarrassing or is it embarrassin.
- Louis G Atsaves - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:15 pm:
@Earnest: “Give me this: aren’t you frustrated that he has passed on making progress on so many of his items because it is all-or-nothing on the anti-union stuff before he’ll do anything else?”
I would normally agree with you Earnest on the above statement if we both ignore the 17 union contracts and agreements reached with public sector unions not named AFSCME. All or nothing? Decimate all unions? Destroy all unions?
Rauner’s actions belie all of those statements.
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:18 pm:
RNUG, 100 percent agree on the pension proposal.
Again, we need to see the bill, but I think the salary freeze “choice” violates Federal tax law.
On your 8:00 post, I never liked using body shop contractors. After a couple years of phase-out, we eliminated them completely at my last agency and enjoyed a six-figure savings.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:19 pm:
Oh - Louis G Atsaves -, lol
Are all those “17″ have the same health insurance agreements?
You are being disingenuous at best.
You admitted Rauner is inept and the General Assembly needs to go around him, how can I help?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:22 pm:
- Louis G Atsaves -
Decimatin’ collective bargaining and eliminatin’ prevailin’ wage, even after agreein’ is still destroyin’ unions, just killin’ ‘em.
I dropped my “g”s to help ya.
- Louis G Atsaves - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:25 pm:
@Willy: “Thank you - Louis G Atsaves - Thank you. You admit Rauber is inept abd can’t do his constitutional duty as prescribed in Article VIII, Section 2 (a).”
Silly Willy! You read far too much into my comments little grasshopper. Rauner did in fact perform his constitutional duty and presented a detailed budget to the legislature in March, 2015, and they in turn fumbled the ball.
Now, let the legislature enact a budget. Show that Rookie Governor how things REALLY get done in Springfield! Who cares if it is $4, 5, 6, 8, or 20 billion in the red. It’s government! Spend it even if you don’t have it! I agree. Status Quo rocks!
If I sound like I’m on medial weed with the above, can you imagine how you sound with your constant “Rauner is a failure” routine which began all of 2.5 seconds after he was first sworn into office?
- blue dog dem - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:32 pm:
DcEO has done enough harm. Dont privitize. Eliminate. Put displaced workers somewhere else. I do have.one compassionate bone in my body.
- All the king's men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:36 pm:
Let’s be realistic, Rauner is doing less than he could, but there is no guarantee that the house and Senate would have worked with him anyway. So what is the difference?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:36 pm:
===Now, let the legislature enact a budget. Show that Rookie Governor how things REALLY get done in Springfield!===
I know it paid you that Bruce Rauner is inept. I get it. I do. Like Diana Rauner culpable in destrying the social services net, but if you admit Rauner can’t get a budget, why is he governor? Seriously, why be governor except to destroy unions and decimate social services?
===Who cares if it is $4, 5, 6, 8, or 20 billion in the red. It’s government!===
If Rauner ever produced a balanced budget, you’d have a swell point, Rauner, inept as he was, had an unbalanced “blueprint”, requiring revenue. I know it’s pathetic, I feel for you, I really doz
===Spend it even if you don’t have it! I agree.===
I know you do. I indeed KNOW it. Rauner’s own budget blueprint required revenue, lol
===Status Quo rocks!===
You should say that to LSSI, their new Rauner status quo is ending 750 jobs. Bruce Rauber did that. Diana Rauner vouched for it.
Oh, I didn’t forget…
===Rauner did in fact perform his constitutional duty and presented a detailed budget to the legislature in March, 2015, and they in turn fumbled the ball.===
Rauner was billions off in needed revenue, failing to meet his constitutional duties.
Rauner lacks.
It’s true. I’ll help you, you admitted Rauner can’t do the job with a budget, let’s work around him, I’m ready…
===“Rauner is a failure” routine which began all of 2.5 seconds after he was first sworn into office?===
I actually gave Bruce Rauner three things to do to be successful for his first year, remember? I do.
FY2015 Fix
FY2016 Budget
Labor Peace
If you’d like I’ll point it out to you… lol
I’m not the problem, Rauber being feeble isn’t helpin’ your cause.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:37 pm:
“I know it pains you”
My apologies.
- So Blue Democrat - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:40 pm:
It is quite obvious that the Republican Party has started a new War on Poverty by attempting to destroy individuals needing critical services.
- All the king's men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:46 pm:
Okay, that’s just nuts
- All the king's men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:49 pm:
The vast majority of Republicans, want or have nothing to do with Rauner and the spineless can kissers in the house and senate.
- PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:51 pm:
At least he wore a gdmned tie.
- All the king's men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 10:54 pm:
Yeah at least there is that
- All the king's men - Wednesday, Jan 27, 16 @ 11:06 pm:
I got a new catch phrase for everyone.
Fiscal Conservative. That means that, at the end of the day you are going to stop spending when you run out of money. You don’t go into debt or if your in debt then you need to adjust spending to prioritize paying off debt. Ya’ll should try it some time
- Louis G Atsaves - Thursday, Jan 28, 16 @ 7:16 am:
@Silly Willy: “Are all those “17″ have the same health insurance agreements? You are being disingenuous at best.”
It just kills you to admit that Rauner reached agreements with 17 public sector unions in Illinois, doesn’t it? Destroys your whole “decimating” unions argument.
Silly Willy.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 28, 16 @ 7:25 am:
- Louis G Atsaves -
Counselor, do they have the health insurance issue?
So… they don’t. Got it . Thanks.
Are all “17″ ratified? Hmm.
Now that you agreed Bruce Rauner is inept, how do we work around him to fund state government.
- Louis G Arsaves -, how can I help?
- Demoralized - Thursday, Jan 28, 16 @ 7:29 am:
Louis:
Are you really still making the silly argument that Rauner isn’t out to destroy unions? What a load of malarkey. He freaking said it OUT LOUD? Stop it already with your commentary about him not wanting to decimate unions because you are full of it. Rauner disagrees with you too. Either comment honestly or don’t comment at all.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 28, 16 @ 7:30 am:
- Louis G Atsaves -
Why do you ignore the endin’ prevailin’ wage and decimatin’ collective bargainin’?
Willfully ignorant or blissfully unaware?
When has it ever been a Republican principle that people make too much money, and wages need to go down?
Raunerite Ideals are not Republican Principles.
- Blue dog dem - Thursday, Jan 28, 16 @ 7:49 am:
I am in the shop this morning. After reminding each of my employees individually yesterday on were they could read up on the SOS, today’s feeddback. Zero for seventeen. That’s 17 union households that don’t take the time to find out what affects their lives. I shudder to think how many actually voted in 2014. Union membership nationwide at 11%. Wonder were its going to be ten years from now, with or without the help of the RAUN Man!
- Folksy - Thursday, Jan 28, 16 @ 7:49 am:
Dropping g’s is a rich dude’s way of proving he’s just plain folks.Oldest trick in the book and some people still fall for it.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 28, 16 @ 7:59 am:
Sorry - Demoralized -
I hadn’t seen your comment when I was typing my own follow-up.
Well said.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Jan 28, 16 @ 8:08 am:
Radogno’s comments on social services from her interview with Jak on Illinois Legislators following the SOTS. Transcript starts at 12:39 in:
Jak- “Is the cost of pushing this agenda worth it in the long run?”
Radogno- “ Well, I believe it is, because the fact of the matter is we were on a path to many of those agencies to have to make cutbacks and closures anyway, and if we simply capitulate to what the Democrats want, and that is no change in the status quo, just raise taxes to fund it, we’ll be right back where we were. And, I want to point out that many of these are small agencies that have closed, many of those services have been absorbed by stronger and healthier agencies. That can’t go on forever, and that’s a consideration that I would truly urge our Democratic friends to engage in a discussion to get funding going again.”
****
Earlier in that same interview, she was discussing schools and said ,”…can’t have a program when in helping one group you cut the knees off another….(need to be) careful about unintended consequences…”
She can’t seem to be able to ( or want to) see that is exactly what the Governor’s refusal to use the amendatory veto and the Executive Order on spending freezes did to these social service agencies that the State had/has CONTRACTS with!
- Anon221 - Thursday, Jan 28, 16 @ 8:09 am:
The link to the interview with Jak- http://wuis.org/post/listen-gov-rauner-delivers-state-state-address-reaction-and-analysis
- Louis G Atsaves - Thursday, Jan 28, 16 @ 8:09 am:
@Demoralized: Stop it already with your commentary about him not wanting to decimate unions because you are full of it.”
You are correct Demoralized. I stand corrected. Mr. Rauner in fact “decimated” and “destroyed” all 17 of those unions he reached contractual agreements with. He flattened them and steamrollered over all 17.
Oh, wait . . .
- Anon221 - Thursday, Jan 28, 16 @ 8:14 am:
There was a lot of talk yesterday about jobs that are leaving Illinois. Let’s say, just for giggles, that at least 3000 people have lost/will lose their jobs because of the non 2016 budget. Let’s say they averaged 1200 hours per year (PT and FT staffers), and they make, on average $12.00 per hour gross. Do the math- $54,000,000 in lost wages that would be re-circulated in in State and Local economies. Any “bidnesses” lining up to replace those???
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 28, 16 @ 8:17 am:
- Louis G Atsaves -
You know that if a law passed by the GA, let’s say for the decimatin’ collective bargainin’ and endin’ prevailin’ wage, those are Anti-Labor and Rauner, personally, himself, in speech after speech, in bill after bill add language doing both.
Seriously, are you not honest with all us or yourself.
Next thing you’ll say is Illinois Labor has no great friend than a Gov. Bruce Rauner.
You are that delusional.
- Red Tiger - Thursday, Jan 28, 16 @ 8:22 am:
Louis, OW is correct about the insurance issue. Most of those 17 unions who have reached agreement with the gov can accept a reduction in state health care coverage because they can get it through their union. In addition, those workers don’t need to worry about salary issues in their agreements as long as Illinois has the prevailing wage law. They get the prevailing wage, which is higher than salaries in the agreements.
- Chicago 20 - Thursday, Jan 28, 16 @ 8:38 am:
Oh wait…
The Turnaround Agenda will decimate unions and were not part of any existing contractual agreement that Rauner has reached agreements and none of the 17 unions support Rauner’s turnaround agenda in any way shape or form.
Even though it has been proven time and again that Rauner’s turnaround agenda doesn’t save taxpayers anything and actually damages Illinois economy, the Governor places the State of Illinois and its citizens in peril to pursue this ALEC self-serving ideology.
- Allen D - Thursday, Jan 28, 16 @ 9:16 am:
The Gov. is correct in the fact that Illinois Public workers are paid so much more than other states…
Next you will say that IL public workers are better than any other state public workers…
I don’t see that… essentially we are all the same… Unions and the past Governors giving in to everything, is the reason IL is in such debt. It is time to clean up the Unions and in such a way that it isn’t all about money because that is all I hear my AFSCME Meetings money money money…. live within your means … the state needs to as well.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jan 28, 16 @ 10:32 am:
Louis, current law requires the governor to recognize the collective bargaining rights of state employee unions.
But the governor has made it quite clear that he wishes to roll back and eliminate those rights.
If recognizing both of those truths at the same time truly confuses you, my apologies. Your days must be a struggle.
But if you’re doing a bit, it’s really not razzle-dazzle clever.
You’re probably just confusing the governor’s many supporters who back him precisely for his efforts to gut unions.