* Greg Hinz…
A day after Gov. Bruce Rauner called on Springfield to come together, the same old Capitol infighting resumed, as Democrats ran a bill to restore some funding to state colleges and student scholarships, and the GOP governor promptly promised to veto it. […]
The Republican version would have appropriated $1.6 billion. The figure is higher because money would have been restored not only to community colleges, but also to state universities, such as the University of Illinois, Northern Illinois University and Southern Illinois University. Those institutions tend to be located in downstate areas often represented by Republicans.
The GOP version also included a controversial funding mechanism: It would have given Rauner extensive and unilateral authority to move money from one portion of the state budget to another, something Republicans say is fiscally responsible but Democrats argue he cannot be trusted to do.
“He’s just like (ex-Gov.) Rod Blagojevich: He wants all the power,” said Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan, suggesting that Rauner would use such power to “go after” working-class families and others.
Speaker Madigan repeated his pledge Wednesday to “work cooperatively” with Gov. Rauner. Apparently, that pledge doesn’t include comparing Rauner to an imprisoned former governor.
Oy.
- There is power in a union... - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:02 am:
Rauner believes this budget impasse is “@&$%’ing golden” and can’t be given away just for nothing.
- Stones - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:04 am:
What’s the end game here? What are the odds that we will go an entire fiscal year without a budget?
- The Captain - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:06 am:
This is the trust that the Governor has earned. Or not earned, actually.
- Cubs in '16 - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:07 am:
“What are the odds that we will go an entire fiscal year without a budget?”
1:1
- There is power in a union... - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:09 am:
The real question is what are the odds we will go the rest of the governor’s term without a budget?
- Try-4-Truth - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:10 am:
Gov. Rauner is saying, “I’ve been a jerk to you for over a year, Mr. Speaker, but now I want to play nice. So you better be nice to me or you are to blame for everything”.
Build trust Governor. It won’t be as hard as you think. It takes one action, and it builds from there. How about putting R votes on a budget with a temporary tax increase. Ask for workers comp changes in exchange. Maybe even some small tort reform. That’s a deal that can get done today.
It won’t be done, but I can dream.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:12 am:
Meh, Rauner says Madigan is corrupt, Brown says Rauner is Blago.
Doesn’t mean they can’t be friends.
- Austin Blvd - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:12 am:
If the shoe fits…
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:14 am:
I do feel that Rauner is running the Rod Blagojevich playbook of consolidating political power with his (Rauner’s) own Caucuses, that I completely agree, and the politics show that strategy playing out that way.
To the governing, what Illinois is facing with this Executive, Rauner, is unprecedented. I don’t feel, on the governmental, Rauner is Rod, insofar Rod’s end game may have been power grabs, but those grabs were also founded on financial gain for Rod, or those close to Rod, with Rod benefitting after… had Rod succeeded in his plan before he was impeached and removed.
Rauner? Yeah, there are hostages, but the hostages are for ideology. As “messed” up as this is, Rod’s ideology was what’s best for Rod, Rauner’s ideology is what he feels will make Illinois better in a warped way to go about too.
As I would never back the Blagojevich of the Republican Party, and I have numerous times compared Rauner to Rod, it’s obky in the raw political do I see this eerie “Blagojevich, 2.0″ and not in the governmental.
The scorched earth damage Rauner demands is for ideology and a belief that he himself touts; short term pain for big long term gain.
Blagojevich? Rod has this thing and…
It’s the raw political power grab, consolidating political muscle and using Rod’s blueprint that Rauner is the next level Rod, the governor Rod had hoped he could “be”.
- Worth It - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:14 am:
I think you mean 1:0 odds which normally would be snark but is pretty damn close to being true in this situation.
- RNUG - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:15 am:
== he’s just like … ==
Just now figuring that out? Or maybe just now willing to publically say it?
I believe I called Rauner the R version of Blago before the election. There were signs …
- northernwatersports - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:15 am:
So far, Rauner hasn’t technically done anything criminal…but he’s set the tone from the start, fired the first shots, and continued to behave in an untrustworthy manner. New to the role of Governing, I’m just disappointed that he hasn’t learned more quickly from the superstars that the immense existing power of the office (as it stands today) needs to be exercised in a trustworthy and respectful way. Attempting to justify an expansion of those powers with a bill to solve the problem just shows an arrogance and inability to measure the rewards, risks and authority of the Office.
When that trust was violated, he put himself in the Blago mold and hence, shall be treated in much the same manner…ultimately politically neutered and limited in his ability to lead.
As to Stones @ 9:04….end game remains the constitutionally required budget (for ‘16 and ‘17), just taking different paths to completion. Odds on no budget for ‘16…slim. My money’s on the GA getting mostly what they want (fiscally and politically).
- Phenomynous - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:15 am:
If the Speaker doesn’t believe a compromise will help him, then he isn’t going to do it. Why play nice with the guy who has done a better job organizing boots on the ground for the dem party than anyone in recent history?
This has never been about policy for Madigan. He wants one thing.
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:16 am:
Yeah. I wish. This guy is so much worse than Blago. It would’ve been so hard to imagine that a year ago, but here we are.
- Dee Lay - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:18 am:
I’m hoping this is part of some GoodCop/Bad Cop routine with Cullerton/MJM….
- Relocated - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:20 am:
Rauner is duplicating the most destructive of Blagos traits, creating his own reality. He’s elimiated the possibility of realistic compromise.
- working stiff - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:21 am:
” but Democrats argue he cannot be trusted to do”
shouldn’t be an argument. he’s proven that he can’t be trusted.
- Elo Kiddies - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:21 am:
Rod had many traits that were not criminal. One was believing that holding the office of governor meant he got to set the agenda. Being governor guarantees one nothing more than a seat at the table. Rod never understood that. Rauner still has time to shoe that he does.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:22 am:
Does this mean Madigan and Brown are going to endorse and support Rauner for reelection, like they did with Blago in ‘06?
- Henry Francis - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:26 am:
Is what Brown said false? Not really.
Did it need to be said? Now? Not really
Rauner is making it so easy for Madigan to dispel the image of him that Rauner is promoting ad naseum. Why won’t Madigan use that opportunity? Instead he does things like this which make it easy for people to buy what Rauner is selling.
- jim - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:27 am:
Couldn’t disagree more. Rauner is saying that, as governor, he should have something to say about how Madigan runs the state. Is that so unreasonable?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:27 am:
I’m going to wait for an ” - Anonymous - ” to agree with Brown before mocking…
===One was believing that holding the office of governor meant he got to set the agenda.===
That is true. Governors, Presidents, the Executives of their governments set the agenda.
The rub?
Can you pass your agenda. Can you get 60, can you get 30, what will you give, what must you take?
The agenda, like the budget, belongs to the Executive. The budget IS the agenda, weighed and measured and prioritized.
Governing is passing your agenda, and the budget lays out what that agenda is worth.
With respect.
- There is power in a union... - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:31 am:
But what if having no budget IS the agenda?
- Downstate - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:32 am:
Didn’t Madigan have a role in Blago’s first campaign for governor?
- AC - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:34 am:
The comparison works until it doesn’t. No one serious is accusing Rauner of raiding public funds for his personal benefit. Rauner is a true believer, he can claim he isn’t an ideologue, but his myopic focus on unions suggests otherwise. Both the bad Elvis impersonator and the bad working class guy impersonator use similar theatrics. Their methods can be compared, but even Blago wouldn’t have held put this long for anything, of course Blago didn’t have the attention span for a conflict like this. In some ways, comparing Rauner to Blago diminishes the situation, given the decimation to social services that occurred under Rauner.
- Anon221 - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:34 am:
OW- “…Rauner’s ideology is what he feels will make Illinois better…”
****
I honestly believe Rauner doesn’t care one whit what happens to Illinois. It’s his TA first, second, and always. Whether this actually benefits Illinois, high debatable using the tactics he is employing. However, if successfully, there will be benefits, but only to the “chosen” of team Rauner & Co. LLC. The poison pill of the sweep fund bill only reinforces this strategy.
- Robert the Bruce - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:34 am:
The namecalling from Rauner’s side has been worse.
At least Brown explained that it was the hunger for power that Rauner shares with Blago, rather than calling the governor corrupt.
- anon - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:35 am:
Smart people say that the governor should focus on the budget first, without holding it hostage for the turnaround agenda. In exchange for the budget with revenue, the governor should get the pledge from the dems to negotiate on work comp and property tax reform. Then introduce bills that republicans will actually vote for. In other words, introduce these bills without the union busting components. We all know that the votes just arent there if you try to undermine collective bargaining. Get the best reforms you can, pass them, sign them, and show the people that you can lead, and show legislators from both sides of the aisle that you can be trusted.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:35 am:
===But what if having no budget IS the agenda?===
The agenda is to end collective bargaining and end prevailing wage.
The poison pills of these two musts in Rauner Legislation tells me so.
Rauner has yet to see a budget as an agenda.
The Turnaround Agenda is the Rauner Agenda, the budget, ironically, a governor’s true agenda, is now a hostage.
Warped, huh?
- Angry Chicagoan - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:35 am:
Well, pretty much every Democrat had a role in his first campaign, once he’d squeaked by Paul Vallas in the primary (boy, what a tragic turning point that was). Nobody really saw him as being the narcissistic loon he turned out to be.
- Robert the Bruce - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:40 am:
==Rauner is making it so easy for Madigan to dispel the image of him that Rauner is promoting ad naseum. Why won’t Madigan use that opportunity?==
Good point. The reverse is true too. Rauner could do more to make himself seem like the reasonable one.
I don’t think either man cares.
- Pelonski - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:41 am:
There are definitely some similarities. Probably the biggest are dishonesty and a complete lack of understanding about the democratic process.
- Lincoln Lad - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:41 am:
I would think MJM would want to stay away from Blago comparisons and discussions, but what do I know. It doesn’t help the party across the state IMO. Just the opposite.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:42 am:
Willy. “you talkin’ to me? “You talking to Me? You MUST be talkin to me ’cause……….”
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:44 am:
== Nobody really saw him as being the narcissistic loon he turned out to be.==
…until they did…and then stepped up to support and vote for him again in 2006
- Politix - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:49 am:
So the governor says he wants to work in a respectful manner-after a solid year of insults, lies and destruction-and people expect an overnight change in attitude? That’s not how it works.
- Nick Danger - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:49 am:
..just like Blago… Nothing could be further from the truth but then that is not what’s important to Mr. Brown and Madigan. In fact, it’s a goofy comparison to make. I get that tying Rauner to a disgraced convicted federal prison inmate gets media attention and throws some smoke for awhile. But in the end, it’s Madigan who with varying accomplices from many fronts, is most culpable for the State of Illinois’ fiscal calamity. Rauner is an ideologue no doubt. Does it serve a strategic purpose to compare the two? Maybe a short-lived one.
- Team Sleep - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:50 am:
Blago was an assistant state’s attorney, then a State Rep and then a Congressman. He was enmeshed in “public service” well before he became Governor. He also never did anything as State Rep or Congressman to show that he understood what being a Governor really meant. My old boss (who was/is a Congressman) told me stories about how Blago would miss most delegation meetings/breakfasts and would miss plenty of votes BEFORE running for Governor. Blago took a complete disinterest in doing anything, and his legislative team refused to work with Republicans or anyone he disliked. As far as I can tell, Governor Rauner is not quite that hardline. He also actually attends local events and attempts to interact with the community. So while the personality quirks may be about the same, the way in which both men approached the job could not be more different.
- Skeptic - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:52 am:
“So far, Rauner hasn’t technically done anything criminal” True, but he has done things that ultimately turned out to be illegal, e.g., withholding fair share payments.
- Ahoy! - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:53 am:
As much as I can’t stand Madigan and truly believe we would all be better off if he did not have a stranglehold on this state, I can not blame Madigan for this. If Governor Rauner wants to call him a criminal in his press conferences, you can’t blame Madigan for responding in-kind.
In the end, they both need to tone it down, get a bushel of apples and talk through their problems.
- Team Sleep - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:54 am:
Something else to keep in mind: Rauner has actually kept some Dems in high level positions and liaison spots. He may not work well with Madigan on a personal level, but keeping some of those staffers around and empowering them to deal with Dem legislators and Congressional offices helps. Again, that is something Blago never did or even cared to do.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:55 am:
Wasn’t here for Blago. Did he deliberately set out to hurt the elderly and young people (college funding)?
- Anonin' - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:55 am:
The cash shuffle hustle proposed by The SuperStars is wilder than Blagoof/Filan gambits. GOPies were horrified….now they want everyone to think this is all on the square.Guessin’ the remark has nothing to do with Nice SuperStar idea
- Georg Sande - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:55 am:
Steve Brown made a disparaging comment about someone who is confronting his boss? Oh.
- justacitizen - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:55 am:
My take is that more IL citizens (not insiders) think Rauner is “winning” this war, so Madigan upping the rhetoric with worse than Blago talk from his spokesperson.
- walker - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:56 am:
Bad statement by Brown for two reasons:
Madigan was happy to give Quinn lump sum budget authorities and fund shifts. This might be a requested power grab for unusual circumstances, but let’s not get all huffy and righteous about it.
Brown knows full well that “Blago” brings images of corruption with it. He should never descend to Goldberg levels.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 9:57 am:
===He also actually attends local events and attempts to interact with the community.===
You mean like the utterly ridiculous tweets from last Friday through the weekend after LSSI made their announcement and Rauner is just all smiles, lovin’ people, shakin’ hands… ugh.
Remember, Rod loved himself a camera to deflect whatever goofy thing he did, was doing, using people as props. Rauner in tweets will use props as props.
Rauner will attend events, no media availability.
Those all… This are ALL the political, not the governmental.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:01 am:
I want the students to get their financial aid money, but passing legislation without specific funding seems to be a meaningless gesture.
C’mon legislators, get it done right.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:01 am:
- justacitizen -
Rauner’s last polling doesn’t have too many happy people with Rauner too, so… there’s that.
- Team Sleep - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:02 am:
Thank you, Willy. I get that. But how often did Blago actually do community events? Rod just held press conferences and photo ops. If the Governor goes to the Springfield City Tournament or the Sangamon County Tournament, those are community events. And yes, there are photo ops. I have never met a politician or elected official who refused to do a photo op if the time allowed.
- AC - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:04 am:
==Governor Rauner is not quite that hardline. He also actually attends local events and attempts to interact with the community.==
If only Rauner hang out more at Saputo’s and ate more apples instead of eating horseshoes and drinking microbrews, we’d have a budget deal. /s
- The Dude Abides - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:04 am:
So someone thinks that it’s not constructive to the negotiating process for a Madigan spokesman to compare Rauner to Blago? Rauner has been ripping on Madigan publicly since he’s been Governor, even referring to him as corrupt. Has Hinz ever been critical of how Rauner regularly insults Madigan in public? If he has I stand corrected. I think Blago’s first year in office was actually better than Rauner’s. I don’t believe any Governor in Illinois history has had a worse year than Rauner.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:06 am:
- Team Sleep -
Staging is staging.
Theatre in the Round, Auditorium, Stadium, “man on the street”, Reality TV…
Staging is staging. LSSI was bad, let’s go get us some Tweeters and Pictures and remind people I helped a business get recognition.
Staging. Pick your venue.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:13 am:
Rauner has actually kept some Dems in high level positions and liaison spots.
This is true. When the Blago administration came to power, it was assumed that anyone over a certain administrative level was “the enemy” and needed to be disposed of, or marginalized at least. Even if they were apolitical professionals. In this, Gov. Rauner has at least an appearance of valuing performance over politics moreso than Blago.
- jerry 101 - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:15 am:
Raunerovich?
Seems about right.
- Juice - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:16 am:
Brown is completely off base here. Rod held legislation hostage unless rich people gave him money.
Rauner is holding money for poor people hostage unless he gets legislation that is going to allow rich people to make more money.
See, completely different. And one is probably worse than the other.
- A guy - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:28 am:
So silly. He didn’t do it without permission from the boss. Maybe it’s just a “last shot” before some real work gets done here. There’s been more progress in the last week than the whole last year. We’ll see.
I hope the Gov treats it as a ball, low and outside, doesn’t swing, and waits for a better pitch.
- Arthur Andersen - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:34 am:
Let’s go back to walker’s point. If it was okay to let Quinn have the fund swaps, why not let Rauner have them?
Anonin’ suggests Rauner was asking for more power over the funds than Blago/Filan had. How does that compare with what was given to Quinn?
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:36 am:
–There’s been more progress in the last week than the whole last year.–
Wha’ happen?
- Anon221 - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:39 am:
Current list of funds, and amounts that could be swept if a broom is given to the Governor. Yesterday Red eft asked about whether is was better to donate directly to a charity , rather than through the income tax checkoff. Find your favorite and see what you think-
http://ledger.illinoiscomptroller.com/Ledger/?LinkServID=64633888-5056-932D-88B51EA83A2F5419
- Whatever - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:40 am:
In Brown’s defense, he could hardly compare Rauner with a formerly-imprisoned former governor. Ryan actually got things done.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:43 am:
===There’s been more progress in the last week than the whole last year. We’ll see.===
Based on What????
- AA - and - walker - make good points. The Lump Sum budget was panned, first by Republicans because, you guessed it, it’s not a budget, then later at NRI as a deflection of sums of money and Quinn having discretion over spending that the Democrats gave Quinn to begin with.
I cant see any reason either side would want this repeated, by any governor ever again, right?
- A guy - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:44 am:
===Wha’ happen?===
All those chats with Cullerton and his staff just a mirage to you?
- anon - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:44 am:
Difference between Rauner and Blago: Mike Madigan co-chaired Blago’s reelect. Mike Madigan did not support Rauner’s campaign.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:47 am:
–All those chats with Cullerton and his staff just a mirage to you?–
LOL. You’re a cheap date.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:47 am:
===All those chats with Cullerton and his staff just a mirage to you?===
… and the misspeak, and the walk back, and the confusion…
It wasn’t progress to present your alleged partner in agreement with something you say, then late at night cower to “My bad”
Let’s see this Bill get passed it’s messy rollout before we claim any victory…
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:49 am:
===Let’s see this Bill get passed it’s messy rollout before we claim any victory…===
Ugh, phone…
“Let’s see this Bill get past it’s messy rollout before we claim any victory…”
- Dan S - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:50 am:
The difference is Madigan got Blago elected twice.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:55 am:
===Madigan got Blago elected twice===
LOL
C’mon. Rod got himself elected, along with tens of millions of dollars and plenty of independent votes, driven to the Democratic Party by an unpopular GOP president. He won by ten points in 2006.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:08 am:
===Raunerovich?===
Blagauner?
- A guy - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:14 am:
===LOL. You’re a cheap date.===
Brilliant. You’re a real problem solver. Ugh.
- A guy - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:16 am:
===It wasn’t progress to present your alleged partner in agreement with something you say, then late at night cower to “My bad”===
What can I tell you pal. Progress looks funny here. Always has.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:22 am:
When you work for the ==Velvet Hammer==, every governor looks like a nail.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:36 am:
===What can I tell you pal. Progress looks funny here. Always has.===
No, “not always has”
Honest brokerings and rollouts are the norm, usually.
Progress lookin’ funny isn’t the norm.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:03 pm:
==What can I tell you pal.==
Last week a couple of my comments suggested hearing what Cullerton and Rauner had agreed to after ==weeks negotiating== before appraising their plan.
Another poster, not @Oswego Willy, replied ==Don’t be so daft== and sneered at the idea they could have agreed on any points.
Sometimes it is better allowing events to show who is informed and who is ==daft== than arguing.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:07 pm:
- FKA -
Thank you for not including me, I think(?)
lol
- VanillaMan - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:22 pm:
I’m not surprised by the comparison at all. Blagojevich, beneath all that hair and corruption, was a charming politician.
- Groundhog Day - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:26 pm:
And pardon my tinfoil hat, but I am not so sure Rauner is not profiting from downgraded credit ratings and eventual outsourcing to for profit service providers. Blago was more ham-handed in his grabs for wealth, but that does not mean Rauner is not simply more deft at fleecing the public.
- TD - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:27 pm:
He may not be wrong, but that doesn’t mean it is helpful. That being said, the Gov truly started the war of words and actions against Madigan and the budget. The Gov needs to display a friendly tone for more than a week or two before he can expect reciprocity.
- Anon221 - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:39 pm:
Groundhog Day- I share your aluminum hat wear suspicion. Problem is, it could take years and tons of money to prove it.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:42 pm:
@Oswego Willy -
I wanted to be clear it wasn’t you. We are ==f&*in’ golden==, and have always been polite.
We agree on more than u’d guess, but the disagreements are more interesting discussion.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:49 pm:
===We are ==f&*in’ golden==, and have always been polite.===
As I feel the same exact way.
I knew you’d see my ribbing as it was intended.
===We agree on more than u’d guess, but the disagreements are more interesting discussion.===
You are so right, bud. Agree with that above.
- Formery Known As... - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:53 pm:
@OW - and the last sentence at 12:03 was not meant as a backhanded ==hint== to you or @A guy.
Maybe a PSA or reminder to FKA that sometimes it is better to ==speak softly and carry a big stick==. idk.
- A guy - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:54 pm:
Atta boy.
- Formerpol - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 1:29 pm:
So the moratorium on personal insults lasted less than 24 hours! Thanks, Madigan, for all you have done for/to the State of Illinois.
- Just saying... - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 2:24 pm:
Rauner is worse than Blago. Rauner is the buyer of pols…Rod was the seller…
- IL17 - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 2:36 pm:
Gov Brucie is single handedly, willfully, purposefully CREATED this funding crisis.
We need to STOP referring to a budget impasse. There is NO IMPASSE. There is ONE PERSON stopping allocated payments to IL Citizens.
The $ are coming in or can be obtained (Gov has sufficient authority already) to be making payments.
The ‘budget impasse’ term needs to be called out as false any time it is heard. ONE person is creating a “@&$%’ing golden” crisis.
- Jake From Elwood - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 2:46 pm:
Bill would not agree with this comment.
Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job.
- Sue - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 3:32 pm:
Why does everyone assume Rauner is the person doing the slow walk. Anyone with any understanding of Illinois politics understands MM is paving the way for Lisa Madigan’s 2018 run for the G. It is not in MM or Lisa’a interest
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 3:41 pm:
===Anyone with any understanding of Illinois politics understands MM is paving the way for Lisa Madigan’s 2018 run for the G. It is not in MM or Lisa’a interest===
Is that you John Kass?
Lisa been running for Governor for 15 years…
….
… allegedly.
Ugh.