Today’s quotable
Tuesday, Jan 12, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Dave Dahl at WTAX also interviewed Gov. Rauner yesterday today. The governor’s closing words…
You know, democracy is designed for give and take and compromise. I’m willing to compromise. I have compromised and I always will compromise.
But we’ve got to stay the course to grow the economy and get value for taxpayers. That I’ll never back down on.
OK, then find a way to grow the economy and get value for taxpayers which won’t be rejected out of hand by veto proof majorities in both chambers.
Click here to listen to the entire interview. Some fun stuff from the most fun Statehouse reporter.
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We’ve fallen behind…. Oklahoma?
Tuesday, Jan 12, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* HuffPo…
A new report on the state of the solar industry out Tuesday from the nonprofit Solar Foundation shows that the number of jobs in the United States in the solar industry outpaced those in the oil and gas industries for the first time ever.
As of November 2015 there were almost 209,000 people who worked in the solar industry, 90 percent of whom only work on solar-related projects, according to the report.
There were only about 185,000 people working in oil and gas in the United States in December 2015, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The oil industry has had a rough 18 months, as the price of oil slid from more than $100 a barrel in the spring of 2014 to just over $30 a barrel in recent weeks. The low price has caused layoffs in what had been a robust and growing shale oil extraction business.
* Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition press release…
With President Obama expected to use his final State of the Union speech on Tuesday to highlight progress in building a clean energy economy, a review of actions taken at the state-level shows Illinois, which once was a clean energy leader, is failing to keep pace in the competition for jobs and investments that these initiatives can deliver.
Members of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition called on Gov. Bruce Rauner to reverse this trend and to join other governors– including many Republicans– who have taken steps to implement the EPA’s Clean Power Plan (CPP), which gives states tools to create strategies to reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants.
Illinois stands out as one of the only states that have yet to announce its intentions on the CPP.
In addition, Oklahoma recently overtook Illinois as the nation’s fourth-largest wind power producer, which once led the nation in producing wind energy behind Texas, California and Iowa. Illinois installed no new wind capacity in 2014 or 2015, in part because of fractured state energy policies.
Members of the coalition support the Illinois Clean Jobs Bill (SB1485/HB2607) because it contains policy reforms that give businesses the kind of certainty and predictability they are seeking, legislation that represents the best path to meeting EPA goals because it also fix Illinois’ out-of-date energy policies, creating 32,000 jobs and saving consumers $1.6 billion on their electric bills.
Discuss.
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AFSCME backs Noland
Tuesday, Jan 12, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I’m told that the Illinois AFL-CIO went neutral in this congressional primary race today, which is good news for Raja considering this development…
Today the Noland for Congress campaign announced that AFSCME Council 31 has endorsed their campaign for Congress. AFSCME Council 31 is one of the largest unions in the state of Illinois. They represent over 100,000 active and retired members.
“At a time when public employees are constantly under appreciated and under attack I’ve been proud to stand up for the working men and women that keep our state running,” said Senator Mike Noland. “Bruce Rauner has made AFSCME and public employees his number one scapegoat. I’ve stood up against his turnaround agenda and when I go to Congress I will continue to stand up for policies that support working families.”
AFSCME Council 31 are the latest member of organized labor to endorse Noland’s campaign. They join the, American Postal Workers Union Local 3140’s executive board, Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois, Bricklayers Administrative District Council of Illinois, Sheet Metal Workers State Council, SMART Transportation Division (formerly United Transportation Union), Fox Valley Building Trades, Elgin Trades Council, IFT Local 1211 (Northwest Suburban Teachers Union), Operating Engineers Local 399, Painters District Council 14 & 30, and Teamsters Joint Council 25. Noland’s campaign has also announced that over 75 elected officials have endorsed his campaign including Senate President John J. Cullerton and former Senate President Emil Jones Jr.
* In other campaign news…
For the third consecutive quarter since entering the race, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Tammy Duckworth increased her fundraising haul and brought in thousands of new grassroots individual donors, raising $1.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. The campaign received over 20,800 individual contributions this quarter, the median amount of which was just $20. Duckworth announced her campaign for Senate at the end of March, and thus far has raised more than $4.7 million from contributions this cycle. The campaign has $3.65 million on hand.
“Tammy continues to articulate a vision for a state and country that looks after its people and grows from the middle out rather than the top down, and it’s clearly resonating,” Tammy for Illinois campaign manager Kaitlin Fahey said. “We’re very excited about the growth and durability of our grassroots fundraising network, which is essential to building a campaign that’s built to win. Once again we’re excited to demonstrate that our campaign will be powered by the everyday Illinoisans Tammy will serve in the U.S. Senate, as opposed to the Wall Street and corporate special interests that fund Senator Kirk’s campaigns.”
Some key highlights from the report, which will be filed with the Senate Office of Public Records and Federal Elections Commission in advance of the January 31st deadline:
The campaign received 20,856 individual contributions in the fourth quarter, and has received 55,504 individual contributions overall
Of those 4Q contributions, 94.7 percent were for $100 or less
The average individual contribution was $66, and the median individual contribution was $20
The Illinois Senate race is consistently ranked as the top race in the country, and Senator Kirk is routinely listed as the most vulnerable Senate incumbent. In the third quarter of 2015, Duckworth out-raised Kirk by $400,000, and outpaced the only primary opponent who had filed to that point by more than $1 million. Kirk has not publicly released his fourth quarter fundraising numbers.
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* Press release…
State Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) is ready to file new legislation to address the state’s mounting unfunded pension liability. In his first year as a legislator, Rep. Batinick proposed for a series of hearings on offering a lump sum buyout option to current and future annuitants nearing retirement, and spoke about the benefits of this initiative on Fox News Chicago and other local outlets. Now he is prepared to push out the legislation that could potentially net the state billions in long-term savings, while paying owed pensioners.
“Many of those nearing retirement may be attracted to having more control over their retirement assets,” Rep. Batinick said, “Yet unfortunately the State does not provide a versatile and competitive alternative to the current pension arrangement. Providing a lump sum payment in exchange for all or a portion of an annuity would provide a voluntary, constitutional approach to addressing the State’s pension obligations, while simultaneously providing participants the options and flexibility needed when planning for retirement.”
In their May ruling declaring the pension reform bill signed into law by then-Governor Pat Quinn in December 2013 unconstitutional, the Illinois Supreme Court laid a framework for the adjustment of benefits through a legal approach called “consideration,” which allows for the adjustment of benefits if both parties agree to the changes. Rep. Batinick’s proposal to offer annuitants a lump sum option would meet this requirement by making any proposed buyout program voluntary.
Underscoring the need for bipartisan action on pension reform, the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA), has calculated the total unfunded pension liabilities of the State retirement systems at $111.2 billion as of June 30, 2014, based upon the actuarial value of assets.
Rep. Batinick has filed the legislation and collected bipartisan support from Representatives Morrison, Jesiel, Sente, and Wehrli, all of whom oversee the Pensions Committee. Representatives Martwick, David Harris, Franks, McDermed, and Andersson have also added their support.
Thoughts?
*** UPDATE *** From Rep. Batinick…
Rich,
I’d like to address some of the comments in the thread. They are comments I have heard for months.
1. Why would a retiree take an accelerated payment?
A. There are federal tax consequences to taking a monthly annuity. Rolling some or all of your “net present value” into an IRA allows that money to grow tax free. You can also structure your income so that you still qualify for a property tax freeze. Two pensioners from the household may have large federal tax bills. This provides flexibility.
B. You can’t will a pension. Some people would like to pass on something to the next generation. You can will an IRA.
C. I’m sure some people would simply like to “take their money off the table”. Can you blame them when you look at how the state operates?
D. Many of the “net present values” are well over $1M. We are not talking about small sums.
E. Some people would just prefer to control their own finances.
2. How does the state save money? The accelerated benefit would be offered at a 25% discount to the state.
3. Can the state afford it? The bill limits the number of people each year by making it an election at retirement time. Only those retiring will be presented this option. This prevents a “rush to the door” while also focusing on the group that would help cash-flow the most. It’s more expensive for the state to not do the deal.
I discussed this plan with several state employees and CPA’s. The concept is sound and well-liked by both.
This has often been offered in the private sector. There it has always been an all or nothing deal. My bill offers a partial payout. This I believe is key. Many people would like to have the stability of a pension but maybe also some lump sum that they can will to the next generation or use for whatever they wish.
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* These guys are so hair-trigger thin-skinned…
The Illinois Republican Party today called on State Rep. Elaine Nekritz (D-Northbrook) to identify which specific reforms proposed by the Governor she would support as part of a bipartisan agreement to balance the state budget.
In a news report by the Illinois News Network, Rep. Nekritz said “the fix must include several things: reforms, cuts and revenues,” but in the same breath “criticized the governor and Democratic leaders for digging in their heels” — as if she is somehow independent from “Democratic leaders” and not a part of the impasse.
“In Northbrook Rep. Nekritz pretends to be independent from Mike Madigan, but in Springfield she’s one his top lieutenants,” ILGOP Executive Director Nick Klitzing said. “She can’t have it both ways, claiming she supports non-specific reforms while blaming the abstract ‘Democratic leaders’ for digging in their heels. She votes to elect Mike Madigan speaker, so unless and until she publicly identifies the specific reforms she could support, she is equally responsible for gridlock and decline as Mike Madigan. If Elaine Nekritz is truly independent, now’s her chance to stand up to her ‘Democratic leaders’ and publicly outline which of the reforms proposed by the governor she believes are ‘the levers that have to be pulled in order to get out of this.’”
As a reminder, Governor Rauner has asked legislators to support six reforms to help turnaround Illinois: legislative term limits, redistricting reform, local control of bargaining and bidding, workers’ compensation reform with causation, lawsuit reform and pension reform.
Here is what she actually said…
Democratic Representative Elaine Nekritz says the fix must include several things: reforms, cuts and revenues.
“Those are the levers that have to pulled in order to get out of this and it’s just not that hard if reasonable people will come together.”
Apparently, there’s no hope for reasonableness from the IL GOP.
Sheesh.
*** UPDATE *** From the state party…
Rich,
I am emailing to follow up to your post regarding the ILGOP press release.
We are also calling for “reason.” We are asking for legislators like Rep. Nekritz to tell the Governor and Republican House members what they would agree to rather than waiting for permission from Speaker Madigan. Rep. Nekritz is blaming Democratic leaders for not compromising, but then she’s not doing anything about it.
We are simply asking for someone - anyone - to have the courage to speak up and meet us in the middle with substantive reform ideas.
Thanks,
Nick
Yeah, that’s exactly what they’re doing. Encouraging her to meet in the middle.
Right.
Sorry, but one doesn’t “encourage” an elected state legislator to compromise by using a misanthropic rhetorical club.
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*** UPDATED x1 *** A sign of the times?
Tuesday, Jan 12, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the press room…
Reps. Demmer and Guzzardi have canceled their Thursday 10:00 a.m. press conference. The topic of the press conference was the “Future Caucus.”
Apparently, Illinois’ future ain’t ready for a caucus.
*** UPDATE *** The press release…
On Thursday, a dozen young legislators in the Illinois House will announce the launch of the Illinois Future Caucus.
The Future Caucus is a bipartisan group of young leaders who believe that cooperation, not conflict, should be the dominant political paradigm, and who are committed to working together to address the challenges facing the next generation of Illinoisans. Its founding co-chairs are Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) and Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon).
The group will work in conjunction with the Congressional Future Caucus and similar groups in eleven other states.
Also attending the press conference will be Steven Olikara, the founder of the Millennial Action Project, the group that coordinates the Future Caucuses around the country. Olikara is flying out from Washington, D.C. to lend his support to the new group.
WHAT: Press conference announcing the launch of the Illinois Future Caucus
WHO: Reps. Guzzardi and Demmer and colleagues from both parties and from around the state; Steven Olikara, founder, Millennial Action Project
WHERE: Blue Room at the Thompson Center
WHEN: Friday, January 15, 10:30 a.m.
Notice how the space time continuum is messed up in that release? They’re launching it on “Thursday” with a press conference on “Friday.”
Heh.
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Jan 12, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the twitters, with a hat tip to a commenter…
* The Question: Your new name for the Turnaround Agenda?
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Jail on lockdown after staff doesn’t show up
Tuesday, Jan 12, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* What the heck?…
The Cook County Jail is on lockdown.
The sheriff’s office reports 18 percent of the jail’s staff did not show up for their 7 a.m. shift Tuesday.
In order to keep corrections officers safe, all inmates must remain in their cells unless they have a health issue or courtroom visit scheduled.
…Adding… Tribune…
The 142 correctional officers gave reasons ranging from illness and family issues to the weather for not showing up for the 7 a.m.-to-3 p.m. shift, according to Cara Smith, a spokeswoman for the Cook County sheriff’s office.
Smith said jail officials attempt to “avoid lockdowns at all costs,” but they are not uncommon because of understaffed shifts. “I would say it happens maybe once a month, maybe more frequently,’’ she said.
On an average Tuesday first shift, about 83 of 794 workers take the day off, Smith said.
“They have lives and kids like the rest of us do,’’ Smith said. “Our staff have very difficult jobs working at the jail. It’s a delicate balance.”
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Unclear on the concept
Tuesday, Jan 12, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno…
“The corruption in the police department and potentially with City Hall has taken over and has significantly weakened the mayor, who I thought would have played a much bigger role in this,” she said. […]
“He’s frankly failed the people of this city and lost the confidence of the voters,” Radogno said.
When asked by a moderator to pretend Emanuel was calling her on the phone for advice, Radogno responded: “I would tell Rahm ‘You are whistling past the graveyard if you don’t get to your Democratic brethren and get them into the room to negotiate some real long-term solutions for the city and the state.’ “
OK, wait.
The mayor has been “significantly weakened” by scandal. He’s “lost the confidence of the voters” because he’s “failed the people.”
Yet, he’s still supposed to have some sort of outsized sway over his “Democratic brethren”? Keep in mind that Emanuel has never had the sort of influence over the General Assembly that Richard M. Daley had.
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Rauner lashes out at Fahner
Tuesday, Jan 12, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Greg Hinz…
Democrats and Republicans alike “know that the answer (to the state’s lagging economy) isn’t to just put in a massive tax hike,” Rauner said. “If they really thought that, they’d have done it” already, with Democrats employing the supermajorities they have in the House and Senate.
Rauner conceded that, though he’s “an optimist by nature,” the war over the budget and related reforms has been “tough.” But he summarily rejected the argument made by Chicago business leader Tyrone Fahner, head of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club, that the price of this war is too high, with the state’s unfunded liabilities growing an estimated $33 million a day and institutions like the University of Illinois suffering from disrupted funding.
Fahner “couldn’t be more wrong,” Rauner declared. “There’s not a single businessperson in the state who’s come to me and said, ‘Put in a massive tax hike and forget all of that other (structural reform) stuff.’ ”
* To refresh your memory, here’s what Fahner told Greg earlier this week…
But a few will speak for the record. One of those is Tyrone Fahner, a rock-ribbed Republican who once served as Illinois attorney general and now heads the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club, which represents the state’s biggest corporations.
“Not having a budget is harmful to the interests of the state,” says Fahner, echoing almost verbatim recent comments by Madigan. “What the state needs now is for the speaker and the governor to sit down and govern.”
But what about all of the changes in things like workers’ compensation and collective bargaining that Rauner is demanding as the price of a budget deal?
“He has a long term—three more years—to push (the rest of) his agenda,” Fahner says. “But things would be better if we had a budget.”
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A quick look ahead
Tuesday, Jan 12, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Finke…
Rauner said he will continue to press his “turnaround agenda” this year and plans to announce some new proposals shortly. They will include initiatives for education reform and purchasing reform, he said.
“Hopefully, they will be more quickly adopted, but we’ll see,” he said.
…Adding… He previewed some of his education reforms last fall…
Throughout the conversation, he expressed disappointment surrounding the need to address the Illinois fiscal crisis before turning to education agenda items such as opportunity scholarships, course choice access, lifting the charter school cap, and Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) for students with special needs. Rauner also predicted that the strength of the teachers unions throughout Illinois will set the stage for a political battle when these items emerge next year.
“I wish I was pounding right now on education bills in the legislature. I can’t do everything at once, I’m pretty good but I’m not that good,” he joked.
Hat tip to a commenter.
* Riopell…
Rauner suggested changes in how the state funds schools could be part of a budget deal. Previously, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs said that would have to be put off, but Democratic Senate President John Cullerton has said the effort should continue.
“If he says … let’s have the funding formula be part of our grand bargain now, that’s fine,” Rauner said. […]
Suburban mayors who fear their share of income taxes will be slashed to cover the state’s deficit in a final budget deal will have to keep watching.
“I don’t want to speculate about what the final budget numbers would look like,” Rauner said. “We’ve talked about certain reductions at certain levels from (the local share). My preference is not to have to do that.”
“As part of a grand bargain, I’m not going to sit here today and say what will or won’t be in any final (budget),” he said.
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Because… Madigan!
Tuesday, Jan 12, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Mark Fitton…
“Clearly, the biggest disappointment is our failure, so far, to get Speaker Madigan or the legislators that support him to really negotiate in good faith with us to get structural reforms,” Rauner said Monday. […]
Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook, said she thinks there are areas where Rauner and Democrats can come together, including on portions of the governor’s agenda.
But she said Rauner has to take a realistic look at the makeup of the Legislature..
“The governor has overreached given the fact there are Democratic supermajorities in the House and Senate, so to go for the nuclear option just isn’t possible.”
* Riopell…
Gov. Bruce Rauner is marking his anniversary in office Tuesday by echoing some of the themes that got him into office, saying both that he’s ready to compromise and criticizing what he called the “stunning failure” of state lawmakers as a historic budget stalemate drags through a seventh month.
“We aren’t doing our duty if we don’t come together and get bipartisan compromise and get a balanced budget. We’re failing,” Rauner said Monday. “The General Assembly, stunning failure.”
Rauner, a Republican, says he’s still optimistic Democrats including House Speaker Michael Madigan will advance some of the pro-business proposals in a package Rauner calls the Turnaround Agenda. He says it’s a necessary first step in passing a budget, but Democrats criticize the plan.
“That doesn’t feel like compromise to me,” state Rep. Elaine Nekritz, a Northbrook Democrat, said. “That feels like, ‘Do it my way, and everything will be fine.’” […]
“I don’t think either the Democrats or the Republicans are going to be able to hang this budget dilemma solely on the other,” [David Yepsen, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute] said.
* Dan Petrella…
“To me, the real responsibility for the failure to have bipartisan compromise really rests with the speaker and the legislators who are supporting him,” Rauner said.
While other Democratic leaders, including Senate President John Cullerton of Chicago, have been open to private discussions, they have been “unwilling in public to buck the speaker,” the governor said. […]
Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said Rauner bears the responsibility for the lack of a budget, noting the governor could have used his amendatory veto power to balance the Legislature’s approved budget, which had a $4 billion deficit. Instead, Rauner vetoed all but the portion funding elementary and secondary education.
As for the governor’s proposals not making it through the Legislature, “it’s a question of the governor not being able to persuade either the Legislature or . the voters of the state that this is critical to getting a budget in place,” Brown said.
* Chris Fusco…
“Many members of the General Assembly, in private, along with the mayor of Chicago, in private, agree that much of our agenda makes sense,” Rauner told the Chicago Sun-Times Monday, the day before the first anniversary of his taking his oath of office.
Later, he said, “Frankly, if the mayor and the [Senate] President [John Cullerton] were willing to do in public what they talk about in private, I think we’d have worked something out by now. But they are afraid to buck the speaker.”
When asked to name the names of other Democrats in his corner, Rauner sidestepped the question.
“There are many …” he said before pausing briefly. “Publicly?” he then asked.
The governor then continued: “There are, I’ll say, many in the Legislature — in private — and there are many business Democrats in Chicago who are very supportive of us. And they’re saying ‘Stay strong. Don’t back down.’ People know we need change.” […]
“The governor chose to commemorate his first year in office, but rather than celebrating what happened, the year will be remembered for what didn’t happen,” [Emanuel press secretary Kelley Quinn] said. “Illinois is one of only two states without a budget . . . $7 billion in bills that haven’t been paid and college students who are still waiting for their state aid money. With a record like that, it should come as no surprise that he wants to pass the blame to others.”
But…
* Finke…
“Big change doesn’t come quickly or easily. It’s OK. We’ll get there,” he said.
Rauner again blamed Madigan, the longtime House speaker, for being an impediment to passing the budget.
“I can’t tell you why the speaker is disproportionately focused on the next election,” Rauner said. “I’m a little bit baffled by it. He’s always put politics ahead of policy by about 10-1. All I can do is stay persistent.”
* AP…
Rauner also bemoaned the volume of insignificant bills passed by the Legislature, referring to the lawmaking body as a “do-nothing General Assembly.” He criticized them for focusing on bills that don’t deal with the state’s problems, including addressing the state’s $111 billion pension debt.
Lawmakers passed more than 500 bills last year, including one that Rauner signed into law making pumpkin pie the official state pie.
“Virtually none of them dealt with our problems,” Rauner said of the bills. “And I love pumpkin pie, and I’m glad, I’m glad it’s the state pie. I love it. But you know what? We have a pension crisis. They pass a pie bill. They don’t pass a pension bill. Come on.”
[Madigan spokesman Steve Brown] also took issue with Rauner’s comments, noting that some of the accomplishments the governor listed in a Sunday editorial in the (Springfield) State Journal-Register happened because of his collaboration with lawmakers.
Rauner’s op-ed is here. Brown is right on that point.
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The governor really wants you to read this
Tuesday, Jan 12, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Gov. Rauner told me yesterday that a recent article in Investor’s Business Daily entitled “Illinois Is The Sick Man Of America; Will Bruce Rauner Save It?” was far and away the best analysis of the impasse that he has ever seen. To Rauner, the author summed up the situation perfectly.
A sampling…
But in some bizarre inversion, Rauner is the one under pressure to fold and return to business-as-usual politics in Illinois. Even some of the governor’s own putative allies are turning up the heat. These include legacy Republicans such as former Gov. Jim Edgar, one of the key architects of the state’s current pension mess, and some weak-kneed business leaders.
But it’s mostly the usual suspects such as the unions and their allies. This includes the New York Times, which just ran a major hit piece on Rauner claiming he’s the front man for a cabal of wealthy financiers out to hurt the state’s citizens to further their own ideological interests.
The Times, however, couldn’t find room in its 3,000-word extravaganza to even mention Madigan or Cullerton, speaking volumes about its true agenda. Instead, it focuses on Rauner’s union reform proposals.
Make no mistake: The unions and public employees were the top beneficiaries of the Illinois train wreck. Illinois can’t be fixed without curtailing their clout. It’s a testament to how much power unions have in Illinois that it was considered a great victory for reform when exhibitors at McCormick Place no longer had to pay a union electrician to plug in their printers.
Go read the whole thing before commenting, please. Thanks.
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* AP…
Gov. Bruce Rauner said Monday he will outline a plan to get out from under court-ordered spending that’s plunging Illinois further into debt during a seven-month budget stalemate.
Even without a budget, the state has been required to continue spending on things such as Medicaid and services for people with disabilities because of federal consent decrees and court orders.
Rauner said in an interview with The Associated Press that getting out from under those will “be a big part of our plan going forward,” but he declined to offer specifics on his idea, which one analyst said would require court approval. […]
“He can’t simply say we’re not going to provide services people have a fundamental right to,” said Ed Yohnka, director of communications and public policy for the American Civil Liberties Union in Illinois. Not having a budget will only make it harder for Rauner to show the state is complying with funding requirements, Yohnka said. “If the governor has a magic wand he could wave today for the state to become complaint, we welcome him to use it. It doesn’t exist,” he said. “These are hard, persistent problems. You actually have to do it.”
* And Natasha Korecki at Politico points to recent court action…
Rauner made those remarks days after a court-appointed monitor told a federal judge the state failed to comply with a decree aimed to protect adults who suffer from developmental disabilities. In fact, the monitor, Ronnie Cohn, said the state’s system serving those adults reached a “crisis,” point, adding that without a state budget, those in the system face “unprecedented difficulties” including safety concerns. “Until such time as concrete steps are taken to enact a State budget and address the staffing crisis and resulting decrease in service quality as well as lack of development in the community, the Monitor finds noncompliance with this compliance standard.”
Read the report: http://bit.ly/1SfhapV
Last year, advocacy groups sought relief from a federal judge, saying the state — faced with billions of dollars in unpaid bills and no spending plan — stopped paying agencies that provided services to those with disabilities, putting providers at risk of closure. The judge ordered the state to pay for those covered under the Ligas consent decree.
‘Significantly worsened’ — “The current Monitor’s experience in Fiscal Year 2016 thus far is that the status of such resources has significantly worsened. In the current report, there is a finding of noncompliance in this area,” Cohn said in court papers.
Testimonials from Cohn’s report flag a severe staffing crisis due to low wages.
– “In my 40+years working in the disabilities field in Illinois, I have never encountered such a staff recruitment problem. I would characterize (it) as a desperate situation.”
– “The most obvious risk is when you truly need two people present and on duty, but you may have only one staff member.”
– “Providers are reporting double-digit vacancy and turnover rates; staffing programs at bare-minimum levels and focusing staff resources solely on the safety of individuals.”
– “The agency has a 20% vacancy rate in direct support positions and is taking steps to move people into larger residential settings due to the inability to staff smaller settings. The agency has closed residential intake despite a long waiting list.”
GROUPS POINT AT LAWMAKERS AND GOV OFFICE — “It’s shameful that the state expects that our most vulnerable can be cared for by our lowest paid workers. But for over a decade lawmakers and administrations have ignored the pleas of the community that they provide the resources necessary to recruit and retain a high quality workforce.” — statement from a coalition of disability organizations
* Related…
* Not-for-profits’ plea to state leaders: Think of the seniors, disabled: The message delivered Monday by several not-for-profit service agencies in Jacksonville to state leaders regarding the ongoing budget impasse was simple. “I don’t care what side of the aisle you are on, just get it done,” said Prairie Council on Aging executive director Nancy Thorsen. “I’m even willing to take some cuts. Just get it done so I know what I have to live with.”
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2020?
Tuesday, Jan 12, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AP…
The top Republican in the Illinois Senate says “it’s possible” the standoff over a state budget could last for several years if Democrats aren’t willing to compromise.
Sen. Christine Radogno spoke Monday before the City Club of Chicago.
She says if Illinois continues to spend money at current levels without raising taxes, the state’s backlog of unpaid bills could reach almost $25 billion in four years. That’s based on a report from Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s budget office.
Radogno says “While I hope it doesn’t happen, I think it’s possible.”
* Reboot…
Radogno said she couldn’t rule out the possibility that the state will continue to operate with an “autopilot” budget until June 30, 2020, when the bill backlog is projected to skyrocket to $25 billion.
Referring to a question about whether House Speaker Michael Madigan is willing to wait out Gov. Bruce Rauner until the end of his term in 2018, regardless of the consequences, Radogno said she thinks it’s possible because there’s no incentive for Madigan and Democrats to change the status quo.
“Madigan and his Democrat cronies are being rewarded with unprecedented amounts of cash from special interests — tens of millions,” she said. “And when they’re bundled together to individual legislators and campaign committees, it could end up being hundreds of millions of dollars cash to protect the status quo, which is failing the people of Illinois.”
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* I decided to use some of your questions from yesterday when I interviewed Gov. Bruce Rauner, although I kinda modified a few…
What is your single most significant accomplishment as governor?
In October of 2014, you said, “Pushing any specific labor regulation is not my priority at all.” What changed?
Do you have any specific data about what the return on investment would be for your Turnaround Agenda?
If you accept the fact that neither you nor Speaker Madigan are going to compromise your basic principles, do you think it’s time to try something different to break this stalemate?
Are you willing to go four years with no state budget if you don’t get want you want on your agenda?
* Before you listen to his answers, a warning. I took Oscar with me because he loves the grounds at the governor’s mansion, but he didn’t get a chance to run around before the interview. Stella, the Rauner family dog, wasn’t in town, either, so he was looking all over for her.
The bottom line is Oscar started barking toward the end of the interview. Loud. Insistently loud. The little guy really wanted to go outside and play. So, end of interview.
* Click here to listen.
*** UPDATE 1 *** We killed the audio link because too many people clicked it. Try clicking here instead.
* And here’s a photo of Oscar tearing up the turf, post interview…
Gov. Rauner sat for other interviews, and we’ll have more on them in a bit.
*** UPDATE 2 *** A reader put together a “rush” transcript…
Miller: I saw your op-ed in the SJ-R, but what do you think so far in one year has been your single most treasured accomplishment?
Rauner: I really have to say three: Having a “world record” education fundin’ for Illinois – most we’ve ever had despite no budget. That’s a big deal to me. Gettin’ innovative contracts with the 17 unions. That’s a big deal. And then saving over $700 million from the operating costs of the government.
Miller: Number one, though, all the Republicans voted against that bill and then you signed it – any regrets on that?
Rauner: None at all. We need education funding.
Miller: In October of 2014, you said to IRN “pushing any specific labor regulation is not my priority at all.” So what happened? What changed?
Rauner: Nothing has changed. Why do you say something has changed?
Miller: Well you have been pushing for different labor laws.
Rauner: You and a couple of the other guys don’t see the difference. I’m not sayin’ that communities can’t collectively bargain. I’m not sayin’ collective bargaining rights get stripped away. I’m not sayin’ that people can’t join unions. A lot of communities agree with you and others and they want to pay more taxes for prevailing wage. Terrific! They want to pay higher taxes to support collective bargaining in government. Terrific! I got no problem, I just don’t want one community telling another community how to do it. That’s not advocating some labor law.
Miller: Well it is.
Rauner: It’s not – it’s local control of government, not a labor law. That is democracy at work, getting the democracy to the level of the people. This is empowering the people of Illinois - that is what the agenda is about. 100%
Miller: One of the things that several of my commenters have been asking for months, including one of the top commenters I have on the blog, is do you have any –
::Oscar barks, making his presence known::
Miller: Oscar stop.
Miller: Do you have any specific data about what the return on investment would be on your Turnaround Agenda? For instance, what is the benefit to the state in dollars and cents for your agenda?
Rauner: We have quantified a lot of that stuff. We can send that to you. This is why I am frustrated when the Speaker says this is not related to the budget. For example, if we can get business regulatory change so I can recruit manufacturer’s here and more transportation companies here, and more businesses here, we can generate billions of new revenue without raising tax rates. That’s directly tied to the budget. And if we can get the pension reform I’m asking for and the local control of government costs, we can save billions for the taxpayers that’s directly related to the budget.
Miller: Billions?
Rauner: Billions.
Miller: Because the Illinois Policy Institute did a study on prevailing wage and they didn’t find much savings at all, you’re looking at ¾ of a point.
Rauner: I’d have to see the study. ¾ of what point?
Miller: ¾ of a percentage point on their property tax bills.
Rauner: That’s a lot of money.
Miller: When I took a look at their numbers it’s probably half that, so it’s less than half of a percentage point. That’s not billions of dollars.
Rauner: I didn’t say prevailing wage alone is billions per year, it’s a lot, it’s many, many hundreds of millions. All of those changes together - Local control is billions. Because local control on pensions, what gets collectively bargained, the prevailing wage, HUGE. Some agree with you. Fine! I’m not saying they can’t do what you want but why do the communities who agree with you tell the communities that agree with me how to run their communities? Where does that come off? That’s not what democracy is about.
Miller: Well there is some dispute over whether you can even do that at the local level.
Rauner: Well I don’t agree it’s disputable but let’s have the dispute – that’s fine.
Miller: It’s getting us nowhere because it’s not being accepted, there are veto-proof majorities in both the House and the Senate. You said recently to Dan Proft that we aren’t’ going to get a budget until Mike Madigan changes. And Mike Madigan is not a guy who changes very often. So if you accept the fact, I don’t know if you do or not, that neither you nor the speaker are going to compromise on what you call your “basic principles” –
::Oscar bark::
Miller: Oscar stop.
Miller: Do you think it’s time to try something different to break the log-jam?
Rauner: Well I am up for your suggestions. Let me dispute a couple of your assumptions. I have compromised and I will compromise. There are no one of my six bills that I say have to be the one that passes and any bill that does pass can be tweaked. There is nothin’ that is off the table for me in terms of what will happen. But what we can’t do – and I said this in the op-ed you read – a massive tax hike and nothing else? No. Failure. That’s a disaster for the state. That we can’t go there.. And the reason I am optimistic, the Speaker and I get along perfectly well, it’s not a personal thing. It’s always spun that we hate each other. Not true. The reason I am cautiously optimistic is that Mike has done things in the past that have really ticked off AFSCME or the teachers union or whoever and yes, do some of what I’m recommending do that? Yes, but he’s done it before. It’s not like it’s unheard of for him.
Miller: I agree with you. So I don’t disagree I just don’t see him doing it yet. Do you see him cutting a deal before the primary? Or before the General Election?
Rauner: I don’t know what timing he is going to choose. You know my buddies over in the Democratic caucus, some say that there’s a chance he’ll do it soon, others have said there is no way it’s happening before the primary. And more and more are sayin’ no way until after the general. At some point we got to lead.
Miller: How do you get there? You’ve faced complicated situations in business. You didn’t become who you were by just waiting everyone out.
::Oscar growing increasingly agitated::
Rauner: I haven’t played every card in my hand, I haven’t done everything I can do. I’m just going to keep doing what I can do to try and get a compromise.
Miller: Are you going to wait four years? Before we get a budget? Your entire term?
Rauner: Here’s the thing – I will not sign off on a tax hike that doesn’t have reforms in it.
::Oscar barking madly::
Miller: Oscar please!!
Miller: So, four years? Are you really willing to wait four years?
::Oscar continues barking as if to stop the interview all together::
Miller: Are you really willing to wait four years?
Rauner: I’m not waiting, I’m working my ass off 24/7.
Miller: Ok, are you willing to work your ass off and get nothing 24/7 for four years?
Rauner: We’ve already got a lot in the first year. I’m all about improvin’ the future for the people of Illinois.
Miller: (After a pause) Uh-huh.
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