75 Comments - burbanite - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 5:21 pm: How can Claypool just start deducting 7% from their pay? - @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 5:22 pm: “the hard-liners in the CTU” What percentage of CTU members qualify as the dreaded “hard-liners”? 40%? 70%? More than 90%? Seriously — what does that phrase mean in this context? – MrJM - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 5:23 pm: President Cullerton on Bruce Rauner, the Governor of Illinois… ===“I thought we’d already addressed this. The law doesn’t allow him to do that. So it’s not going to happen.”=== It’s not that Rauner can’t givern, it’s that Bruce Rauner doesn’t know how to govern. Rauner is inept at the job, I just didn’t realize Rauner’s lacking was so dangerously comical. The damage that is a Rauner Administration includes not knowing much. Pathetic. - burbanite - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 5:25 pm: and just to say again what I have said before: http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150530/ISSUE01/305309996/city-halls-new-no-2-knows-how-to-cut-spending - Archiesmom - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 5:27 pm: I seldom agree with Karen Lewis; today, I do. This governor has no filter between his brain and his mouth. He’s out of control. - Anon2U - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 5:27 pm: “The law doesn’t allow him to do that. So it’s not going to happen.” So President Cullerton, what IS going to happen? If your not going to go with the governors idea, what’s yours? - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 5:33 pm: - Anon2U - I bet Cullerton won’t talk about taking over CPS… Should I be more worried Rauner didn’t know he coukd t take over CPS, or that Rauner was told he couldn’t do it once before. Rauner is dangerously lacking in fundamentals. - Last Bull Moose - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 5:38 pm: The best state legislative response is to ignore it. Chicago has sufficient wealth within its boundaries to solve its financial problems. Chicago politicians must figure out how to move enough of it from private pockets to the public purse. - Anon2U - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 5:41 pm: OW, Cullerton just pointing out that we are not doing what Rauner wants doesn’t save CPS from imploding. what is he, or Madigan doing as a separate but equal branch of government, doing to prevent CPS from the same implosion? - Xavier Woods - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 5:43 pm: “Rauner is dangerously lacking in fundamentals. ” OW, isn’t this what you get when you elect someone with absolutely no prior government experience? I thought running government like a business was supposed to be a good idea? /snark - Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 5:44 pm: Anon2U, if you ask that question on Google you might find legislation, speeches, press releases, etc. - There is power in a union... - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 5:47 pm: “What percentage of CTU members qualify as the dreaded “hard-liners”? 40%? 70%? More than 90%? Seriously — what does that phrase mean in this context?” Agreed. 88% voted authorize a strike. Those aren’t hardliners. Those are main liners. - And I Approved This Message - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 5:53 pm: How much worse can this get before it gets better? I think it’s possible that we have now pushed that envelope beyond its limits. Bruce Rauner and the Geniuses He Controls have now officially decided to ruin the State of Illinois. The destruction of the Social Service network was the Carpet Bombing Now they are coming in for the kill. “Bruce doesn’t have a social agenda.” - Inmate - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 5:57 pm: Each passing day Rauner makes Blago look just a little bit smarter. - sal-says - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 6:07 pm: == Do they think a strike will somehow restore trust — or will it simply make them feel good to stick their thumb into the administration’s eye? Either way, the hard-liners in the CTU appear to be on a suicide mission to bring the system to its knees. == ABSOLUTELY !!! They reject an offer that was ‘not bad’? WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE THINKING? Looks like they went from ’suspect’ to ‘totally nuts’. They had a contract ‘win’ and threw it AWAY? - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 6:07 pm: Say, isn’t CPS about to visit Wall Street to sell $800 million in new re-fi GO bonds? Cue Governor Rauner’s criticism, just in time to jack up the interest rate. Who’s side is he on? It’s like he’s trying to ensure we pay more juice. Why would he do such a thing, repeatedly? - Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 6:08 pm: CPS is bankrupt.. no teacher deal means no $780 million in CPS Borrowing .. Daley left the CPS schools to die after his mismanagement.. - Anon221 - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 6:08 pm: During the procurement pressed, Rauner just couldn’t help himself-dropped Easter eggs all throughout his remarks on the TA and CPS. It took him until halfway through to remember to start droppin’ g’s. Munger stayed on topic, Rauner was lovin’ the blame game. - sal-says - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 6:09 pm: == Why would he do such a thing, repeatedly? == WIN! At ANY and ALL costs. The nature of the beast. - Pyrman - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 6:29 pm: Our Governor has become Trump!! - Chicago 20 - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 6:51 pm: so·ci·o·path ˈsōsēōˌpaTH/ noun a person with a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme antisocial attitudes and behavior and a lack of conscience. - Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 6:55 pm: For a year now, it looked like the RAUN Man was in over his head. Like some, I thought his game plan was to divide Cullerton from MJM. I then speculated it was private sector unions versus public sector unions. The Booze Brothers conspiracy. Heck, this guy is a billionaire, he has to be brilliant. He had to have a winning strategy. Is this it? Will he be perceived to be the knight in shining armor if he finally brings Chicago(and its historic political machine) to its knees? I don’t necessarily like the term ‘hostages’(around our office, we refer to things as negotiating chips), but my goodness, 400,000 kids not in school. Do you know how vunerable politicians of all parties will be if prep football or basketball season is missed? And I am not being snarky. CPS probably can’t do a GO deal without the $480 mil infusion from the state. Disclosure would go crazy operating without that. Somebody tell me I am nuts.again. - jw - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 6:57 pm: does our gov, have a severe drinking problem that could explain the pain not only does he not care he cant feel it - foster brooks - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 7:12 pm: end tif districts, the biggest scam in illinois - Anonymiss - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 7:17 pm: Looks like the Governor is celebrating Groundhog Day full out this year. - Just saying... - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 7:20 pm: Dunkin is going to need all that $$$ and more with remarks like these form his pal the guv. - Norseman - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 7:20 pm: Someone forgot to give Rauner his script. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 7:23 pm: Since running this state like a business, which he claimed needed to be done to clean up all the nasty government stuff, how successful is he? How many of us are better off? How many of us feel better about our new “business” state? This is a nightmare. - Jack Stephens - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 7:24 pm: The teachers have no business striking. On the other hand it is time to recall Bruce. He IS that incompetent. His arrogance makes it worse. - Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 7:27 pm: @Jack Stephens I believe that requires 5 signatures from the house/senate republicans. If those people were sane enough to not let Bruce Rauner destroy the state, we wouldn’t need their signatures, which we will never get. - G'Kar - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 7:51 pm: To the CTU, was the phasing out of CPS picking up the 7% pension contribution? It sounded like the rest of the contract was pretty decent deal. If that is the sticking block, why wouldn’t the CPS try to lengthen the phase in time. Say 2%-2%-3%? Is a strike worth this? Or am I missing something. (And to fully disclose, I am a proud IFT member and have been a local president in the past). - somalia - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 8:03 pm: Rauner reminds me of the guy in the boat cheering when Doctor Leo Marvin’s house is burning at the end of “What About Bob?”. Except in the real world Rauner is the guy in the boat cheering while Illinois burns. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 8:20 pm: CPS is not bankrupt. Ugh. To the Post, The thought process of Rauner; to what he wants, to what can be done, or should be done, there’s such a real disconnect. Add to the fact that Rauner can’t speak without notes or someone holding his hand, and when he does speak without knowing, at least they, the Administration, tries to walk those back now… What is going on with Gov. Rauner? Not this… “everything”. Not this quote… his narrative. What shoukd trouble thise watching most is two things; Rauner’s lack of recalling conversations, or making up conversations up as he goes… Rauner’s lack of governmental knowledge. We know he knew nothing going in. He’s showing he’s learning nothing as he goes. Rauner never fails, maybe selling off businesses never got to that point of know what they did? It’s rhetorical, I know, given Rauner’s background, and it’s true Rauner wasn’t about building businesses, but governing and Illinois can’t be a bust-out scheme for anyone, and learning to be a goid governor includes learning the law, and what the law says. Competence and trust is all you have as a Governor. It’s been a year, patterns are now more visible. This is bigger than pretending this is a misspeak. It’s a lacking of fundamental skills to be the Governor. It’s getting more obvious, and President Cullerton seems more than willing to call the Governor out. Why? Fundamentals ate just that, fundamentals. Knowing the law isn’t politics or spin. It’s a fundamental. Quotes like this today…weaken a governor. Someone help him from himself. For Rauner, for all of us. - Whatever - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 8:24 pm: ==Say, isn’t CPS about to visit Wall Street to sell $800 million in new re-fi GO bonds? Cue Governor Rauner’s criticism, just in time to jack up the interest rate. Who’s side is he on? It’s like he’s trying to ensure we pay more juice. Why would he do such a thing, repeatedly?== When I take off my tinfoil hat, I sometimes imagine he’s doing these things to panic potential investors away from bidding on IL and CPS bonds, driving down the price for his friends. Then, when his turnaround agenda saves the state (or, to be more cynical, when he gives up on it and starts governing, because he knows the agenda has not economic value), the price of the bonds goes up and his friends make a killing. Or, to be really cynical, he’s buying the bonds, too. That’s what vulture capitalists do. - ArchPundit - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 8:42 pm: What evidence is there that a state takeover by Bruce Rauner will improve anything? The Illinois Budget? Flint? What? - PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 8:45 pm: Turn around. - Union Leader - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 8:45 pm: This should sum it all up… https://youtu.be/0kc143SgLQY - TD - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 8:52 pm: The Governor becomes more blago-esque every day with his outrageous and obtuse statements. The man isn’t fit to guard a tulip truck. And Claypool apparently isn’t any better. Why aren’t we talking about the Wall St. firms and Daley admin and the damage that they did to the City’s finances? - Union Leader - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 8:57 pm: Want an infusion of money? Get rid of the TIF districts and put the money back into the schools. - Theonlysolution - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 9:03 pm: Billionaire Bruce showing his true colors. Guys like him and Trump just think it’s OK to file bankruptcy and run out on their obligations. Forget the human impact on others. Tear up any contracts with buisnesses too! Anything to protect their massive wealth they have derived from being a Welch. Do your homework on how the flat tax of IL has made Bruce filthy rich. - Maximus - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 9:04 pm: CPS is bankrupt. At this very moment they are trying to take out a loan of $875 million dollars just to cover operating costs. Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, they are insolvent and need serious assistance. Waiting only makes it worse. - DuPage Dave - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 9:14 pm: So Rauner and his buddies get the guy in charge of the sporting goods store into a poker game and the next thing you know, Rauner’s kid is driving the sporting goods guy’s SUV to school…. I think I’ve seen this movie before… - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 9:30 pm: Here’s a Rauner quote from the Sun-Times article: “We can get a deal done. We are going to get a deal done with AFSCME that’s good for taxpayers and fair. … We would get a deal done with the teacher’s union” Really? He wants a deal with AFSCME? I thought he is pushing for impasse. He declared impasse, said he didn’t, then went to the labor board to obtain it and now this? Perhaps I’m misunderstanding, but that happens when one tries to read too much into things, especially coming from someone like Rauner. - Anon2U - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 9:34 pm: Maximus, You are correct. Many in this anti-Rauner, pro-union echo chamber fail to see the reality that CPS and our state is in. All to quick to point out who will “own” this. Refuse to see Madigan and Cullerton as culpable and quash any discussion of much needed reforms. Whistling past the graveyard. - JS Mill - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 9:38 pm: =Someone help him from himself. For Rauner, for all of us. = Not sure that is possible. Sorry.Genuinely. Instead of a governor we get Alexander Haig. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 9:38 pm: CPS is not bankrupt. “Can CPS declare bankruptcy, today?” Say it all you want, they are not. To Governors… Rauner owns. Governors own. Comes with the gig. Rauner doesn’t want to help, that’s a choice of the governor. Set preconditions, that’s on a governor too. Same as it ever was. - cannon649 - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 9:46 pm: Where is Rahm ? CPS liabilities far exceed it assets - generally one would considered that a bankrupt state. This has been the case for many years. Egos really need to be aside - not with these players. - Theonlysolution - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 9:54 pm: End the insane unfairness in the tax structure that favors the rich over the poor. How much is enough brother? 56 million? Rauner is living proof that greed is infinite. - Theonlysolution - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 9:58 pm: Everyone in Illinois should read this report by the economic policy institute that show that IL taxes are comparable and in many cases less than the surrounding states. http://illinoisepi.org/countrysidenonprofit/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ILEPI-on-State-Taxes-A-Comparative-Evaluation-FINAL.pdf - keikobad - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 10:00 pm: It is correct to say that “CPS is not bankrupt.” However, it is insolvent. The doors are still open because it’s borrowing long-term to pay short-term obligations. I assume the cuts announced Tuesday were necessary to seal the bond deal expected Wednesday. (I’m guessing Rauner would rather it fail, explaining his bankruptcy talk.) CPS is hoping to issue nearly a billion in long-term, high-yield debt. So either we’re looking at eventual bankruptcy, or a windfall for the (likely–typical muni buyers avoid credit risks like CPS) hedge funds investing in these bonds. So, without bankruptcy, we’ll have to raise taxes to pay hedge funds–yay? - Plutocrat03 - Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 11:29 pm: So are you planning to borrow money with no intention of paying it back? - Anom - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 12:15 am: Dear God man, what is the issue with Rauner? There is a disconnect between the brain and the mouth, but given the number of times Rauner has put his foot in his mouth, an intelligent person would have began to manage that disconnect. So it points to other issues with Mr. Rauner. Is that ruddy complexion due to some excessive drinking, causing the mental lapse? Even Blago, given his limited intellect wouldn’t make these types of mistakes. - Anon2U - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 6:27 am: Legally OW you are correct. Financially they meet the definition of bankrupt however. They are insolvent. They are over leveraged. They incur debt to pay current operations. Should the law be changed to allow them bankruptcy protection? YES! - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 6:37 am: ===Legally OW you are correct.=== No, I’m just correct. - GetOverIt - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 7:06 am: =They incur debt to pay current operations.= OW you’re right. Anon2U if you were right the majority of Americans in this country would be at the bankruptcy court - take a moment, breathe. - Rutherford B. Hayes - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 7:10 am: 2000 teacher “retirements” without replacements will make CPS’ large class sizes even larger and potentially unmanageable for a single teacher. Class size at CPS will be a campaign issue for MRE and north side Alderman. If 2000 teachers are replaced later by a different Mayor or School Board, then CPS’ savings are destroyed and the pension debt gets larger. Either way, this type of cut will end badly. - Rutherford B. Hayes - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 7:29 am: This may (or may not) help resolve the whole is CPS BK or not BK debate? http://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/bankruptcy/bankruptcy-basics/chapter-9-bankruptcy-basics Section 109(c) of the Bankruptcy Codes sets forth four additional eligibility requirements for chapter 9: 1. the municipality must be specifically authorized to be a debtor by state law or by a governmental officer or organization empowered by State law to authorize the municipality to be a debtor; 2. the municipality must be insolvent, as defined in 11 U.S.C. § 101(32)(C); 3. the municipality must desire to effect a plan to adjust its debts; and 4. the municipality must either: a. obtain the agreement of creditors holding at least a majority in amount of the claims of each class that the debtor intends to impair under a plan in a case under chapter 9; b. negotiate in good faith with creditors and fail to obtain the agreement of creditors holding at least a majority in amount of the claims of each class that the debtor intends to impair under a plan; c. be unable to negotiate with creditors because such negotiation is impracticable; or d. reasonably believe that a creditor may attempt to obtain a preference. - GetOverIt - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 7:33 am: Hayes…helpful and cps would fail on quite a few elements, notably its lack of authority to be deemed a debtor by law and the insolvency test - there’s money out there by way of higher taxes. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 7:35 am: CPS and Chicago can’t go Bankrupt. Maybe President Cullerton needs to remind everyone what he reminded Mr. Rauner; It’s not happening. It’s that 60/30 thingy again… - Earnest - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 7:45 am: >This is bigger than pretending this is a misspeak. It’s a lacking of fundamental skills to be the Governor. I waver back and forth between this thought and the thought that the destruction is planful. Probably both are true. From his business experience, what he knows is destruction, not building a good service or a good product or building a good workforce. It is a scary thought to think, even if he tries to change course and begin building something positive for the state, he’s got an incredibly long learning curve, if he’s even up to that task. - Frenchie Mendoza - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 8:10 am: No, I’m just correct. — Never mind your obsessively incorrect use of semicolons. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 8:17 am: - Frenchie Mendoza - Well; You; Have; Me; There; I’ll try to work on it. - There is power in a union... - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 8:19 am: ;) - There is power in a union... - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 8:22 am: My above post is the only real use I have for the semicolon. /s (Sorry for the double post but the rest of the previous comment was eaten by the grammar police.) /total snark - TD - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 8:28 am: Anon2U and Maximus, I’ve got this crazy feeling that you’ve never sent a kid through CPS or know any hard-working teachers and therefore can propose illegal, nonsensical, cold-blooded solutions like bankruptcy. You should work for the Trib or Sun-Times editorial boards. - JS Mill - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 8:30 am: =CPS and Chicago can’t go Bankrupt.= That is simply the law and it isn’t nor should it change, so people need to get straight with that and move on. CTU hurt themselves here and, unsurprisingly, I don’t hear Karen Lewis taking any responsibility for what transpired with the delegates. Maybe she simply does not have the juice to get the agreement approved. That said, she is the union president and she owns it. Instead Karen Lewis turned and fired on CPS. It will further erode any public support, no matter what the rhetoric or how responsible CPS leadership (past and present) is for the mess they are in. From all indications CPS bargained in good faith. Typically the understanding is that the bargaining team speaks for the union and can get approval for the agreements they forge. That is how the process works. The onus should be on CTU leadership to get a contract not attack CPS. But that is based solely on an outsider perspective, with the assumption that everyone was bargaining in good faith. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 8:41 am: It would be swell if someone among the sycophantic Frat Boys would summon the Testicular Virility to give the governor a crash-course primer on the powers and responsibilities of his office. Past time that he learned. Also, maybe a quick rundown on the status quo: the comptroller reported yesterday that by June 30 the state’s unpaid bills will have increased by as much as nearly $8 billion since Rauner took office, from $4.3 billion to $12 billion. The state’s exploding debt and abandonment of core responsibilities did not make the governor’s Top Ten priorities in his SOS speech. With his track record of destruction in just one year, Rauner now thinks he’s the guy to take over the Chicago Public Schools? It’s like being stuck watching a bad standup comic, every day. - LizPhairTax - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 8:44 am: There was a video that went around recently of a guy trying to squat 800 lbs. He had no chance. That’s Rauner. His enablers just keep loading the bar. - Maximus - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 9:00 am: -TD- The intention is not to be nonsensical or cold-blooded and I apologize if it came off that way. At what point do the financials get so bad that bankruptcy is considered? The financials are bad enough that layoffs are expected and loans are being taken out (again) and even that wont solve the problem. Instead of dragging out the pain and worry and problems let’s come up with a solution. The problem is I don’t think anyone can craft a real solution that doesn’t involve bankruptcy. Maybe I am wrong. - bestday - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 9:05 am: Chicago teachers contribute $1500 a year to get $$60,000 a year pension ..LOL What Illinois ,Chicago taxpayers get this sweetheart deal ? - out of touch - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 9:09 am: My hope is that those in the media do not portray Rauner’s proclamation of “takin’ over CPS” and Cullerton’s response “is not going to happen” as a personal dispute; it should be portrayed as a Governor either a)being completely ignorant of his legal purview or b)thinking that the law doesn’t apply to him. Please don’t focus on Rauner vs Cullerton. This is a legal issue, not a personal issue. Regarding CTU, they should be very judicious moving forward. So far, public sentiment has been against Rauner’s anti-union agenda. But when your leader goes from proclaiming a “serious offer” to threats of strike within a couple of days, your credibility declines. CTU may win a battle that costs the war. - Carhartt Representative - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 9:14 am: =The onus should be on CTU leadership to get a contract not attack CPS. But that is based solely on an outsider perspective, with the assumption that everyone was bargaining in good faith.= So you believe that the way bargaining should work is that one side stalls for 15 months and then when they finally make an offer that has some pluses, the other side should ignore the minuses and immediately accept the first offer? This country could save a lot of money on lawyers if all negotiations went that way. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 9:19 am: –Instead of dragging out the pain and worry and problems let’s come up with a solution. The problem is I don’t think anyone can craft a real solution that doesn’t involve bankruptcy. – Is that your conclusion after your exhaustive analysis of CPS expenditures and Chicago taxpayers’ ability to support schools? A combination of cuts and revenues is not possible? In a city with a growing economic and property base (revenue) with a declining student population (expenditures)? Or are you just parroting the “bankruptcy solution” pushed by the governor for every problem, a thinly masked effort to abuse the bankruptcy courts in order to clip collective bargaining rights? - The Doctors Blue Box - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 10:26 am: Luckily, there was a “poison pill” in the last contract that says something to the effect that pension contributions from CPS would no longer be viable when the contract expired. So, CPS has the legal authority. I do find it amusing that the union/Karen is so shocked and angered — they KNEW they were operating on a deficit of $500million when the school year started and were warned that layoffs could come as soon as November, but CPS put that off until…NOW. Well, time to pay the Pied-Piper, Union. Stop acting surprised. - JS Mill - Wednesday, Feb 3, 16 @ 10:55 am: =So you believe that the way bargaining should work is that one side stalls for 15 months and then when they finally make an offer that has some pluses, the other side should ignore the minuses and immediately accept the first offer? This country could save a lot of money on lawyers if all negotiations went that way.= That is not what I said. Please re-read if you have doubts or consult a dictionary if need be. If you think this was the first offer with “some pluses” you have not been paying attention, clearly. Again, reread. I was admittedly making certain assumptions. Based on experience in the bargaining room in education. If both parties have an agreement (not just an offer) and feel good enough to take it to their respective constituents, then they need to get behind it and support it or work until they have something they think their people will support (both sides). If not, then it is just a show. 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