* Tribune…
Rauner’s team said Tuesday that the governor will use the budget speech to call on lawmakers to send him another stand-alone bill that spends even more on schools and early childhood education.
“No matter how this session unfolds, send that education bill to my desk — clean, no games — and I’ll sign it immediately,” Rauner plans to say.
That request signals a continuation of the political positioning that’s dominated the last year. But as Rauner and Democrats continue to bicker, social service groups and colleges and universities remain caught in the middle.
* Here’s a preview of his remarks on this topic…
We must make the education of our children our top priority. The one thing I won’t back down on – the one thing that’s non-negotiable for me – is increasing education funding.
That is why Leader Durkin and Leader Radogno will be introducing a standalone appropriations bill for early childhood education and our K-12 schools.
No matter how this session unfolds send that education bill to my desk – CLEAN – NO GAMES – and I’ll sign it immediately…
Our budget for early childhood education increases state support by $75 million, a nearly 25 percent increase…
The $393 million this budget proposes investing in early childhood education is the most in state history – and will allow us to make giant strides towards ensuring every child in Illinois enters Kindergarten with a chance to succeed.
Our budget also proposes fully funding the General State Aid foundation level for the first time in seven years.
This will mark the most state money we’ve ever invested in our school funding formula and eliminate the need for any proration – a practice that has forced teachers, administrators and school boards to make cuts that negatively impact our kids.
We must fully fund this foundation level as a first step toward reforming our school funding formula.
I understand that the formula we currently use to fund our schools does not adequately meet the needs of all our children. Efforts to reform the funding formula in the past didn’t work because they pitted communities against each other…
To achieve formula changes, we must increase state support for education so that no community sees state funding taken away during the transition. I pledge to work with you on this issue to find a bipartisan way forward. But much like our larger discussion about the budget and reforms in the days ahead, nothing should delay the General Assembly from funding early childhood education and K-12 schools for the coming fiscal year.
I restate my request — send me that appropriations bill right away – CLEAN – NO GAMES – to give our schoolchildren and parents the security of knowing that education is our shared priority.
Subscribers have more context.
* But right on cue…
With Gov. Bruce Rauner set to deliver a new budget plan to lawmakers Wednesday, several suburban school leaders appeared in Springfield to urge state officials not to cut their funding.
Their testimony before a House committee Tuesday echoes a debate over how Illinois pays for schools that has raged for decades, with lawmakers trying to find a way to send more money to downstate and Chicago schools that often have less property wealth and spend less per student than in the suburbs.
Democratic Illinois Senate President John Cullerton has sought to make school funding changes a priority in the state’s ongoing budget battle.
Schaumburg Elementary District 54 Superintendent Andrew DuRoss argued the state should spend more on education, enough to help schools that have less money without taking state resources away from suburban schools that have the means to spend more.
- burbanite - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:02 am:
Of course that education loses prioritization once they graduate high school, then every person for themself.
- thunderspirit - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:02 am:
The irony of demanding an education bill that’s “CLEAN” with “NO GAMES” from this Governor is rich indeed.
- A Jack - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:08 am:
No, Governor. Fix funding first.
- Union Dues - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:09 am:
Didnt he say before, in vetoing other bulls, that we dont have the money for new spending ?
- Omay - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:10 am:
How about negotiations CLEAN with NO GAMES?
- RNUG - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:10 am:
Maybe Rauner should try submitting bills without poison pills …
- Thoughts Matter - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:11 am:
Governor - what’s the reasoning for passing/signing this one vs. vetoing MAP grants. How we paying for K12 again?
- Henry Francis - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:12 am:
That’s nice. How is he going to pay for it?
- RNUG - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:12 am:
I’d send him a clean bill that included a tax hike to pay for the increased spending … just to see what he would do with it.
- CharlieKratos - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:13 am:
Every time Rauner says “CLEAN - NO GAMES” it reminds me of every poison pill be insists on including and it makes me that much more furious. What a grass bowl.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:13 am:
Also, if they do a clean bill, will the brick be lifted? There’s a little matter of trust …
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:16 am:
Sham Cullerton, and the RAUNER he controls. /s
The gov will do anything to distract from his horrendous management practices.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:20 am:
The governor should just take the podium, recite “Jabberwocky,” and call it a day.
“Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.”
You have to admit, in the context of the new status quo engineered over the past 12 months, the above makes a lot of sense.
- Stones - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:23 am:
How about proposing an entire balanced budget - clean, no games that includes revenues and cuts but meets pension obligations as ruled on by the ILSC?
- Conn Smythe - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:26 am:
Clean - no games line is a mistake. Basically validates the premise that he’s been dealing in bad faith the whole time.
- Mason born - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:26 am:
Wordslinger
You know that’s not fair. Try sayin that passage while dropping all the g’s!!!
- hot chocolate - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:28 am:
I want a clean K-12 bill, no games. I also want you Republicans in the House to vote NO on the bill and then I’ll sign it and then brag about it right before your election. #winning!
- Thoughts Matter - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:29 am:
Point 2 - increasing k12 spending isn’t all that helpful for children whose lives have been extremely negatively touched by the decimation of social services.
- Mason born - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:29 am:
On a serious note as others have mentioned if the map bill must be vetoed for lack of funds how is this different?
- illini97 - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:31 am:
So, where does this funding come from? I’ve heard my representative tell me (parroting the Governor’s position) that MAP grants can’t be funded because there’s no money to cover it.
Educate me and the rest of Illinois on why this is different.
End the poison pills and games, Governor. Propose a budget already.
- Nick Name - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:33 am:
Watch what he does, not what he says, especially if the budget address is as full of empty platitudes as the State of the State address was.
- Earnest - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:38 am:
Here is another business skill Rauner is demonstrating: the ability to say something like that with a straight face.
My hope is that nothing passes unless it all passes, budget-wise. I was going to hope for real numbers, but a statement like that already tells me the answer there.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:39 am:
Rauner- “That is why Leader Durkin and Leader Radogno will be introducing a standalone appropriations bill for early childhood education and our K-12 schools.”
****
How “poisonous” will this bill be??? And, how cowardly to make this a stand alone bill. He has no intention of having a balanced budget for FY 16 or FY 17. He will continue to be content with consent decrees (out of my hands- victim) and piecemeal continuing appropriation bills using the Chaos-Crisis Method. The State of Illinois is paying a rich man a $1 a year to have a hobby, and to buy a few legislators as an “investment”.
- jerry 101 - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:39 am:
Wow. What a jerk. That whole “– CLEAN – NO GAMES – ” bullpucky really just makes him sound like such a horse’s backside.
- Langhorne - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:42 am:
K-12 funding CLEAN – NO GAMES – and I’ll sign it immediately…
After that rauner suggests Dartmouth, devry, or being born rich. Other than that, tough noogies
- Tequila Mockingbird - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:43 am:
The problem has always been the structure of funding K-12 schools in Illinois. Reliance on local property taxes with a weak general state aid “equalizer”. Of course shaumburg doesn’t want to give up thier wealth to poorer districts. We have schools trying to give kids the education they need with $7000 or less per student per year, and wealthy suburban districts with over $20k per student per year and money to burn.
- Independent retired lawyer, journalist - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:53 am:
That he includes NO GAMES is itself an insult, and sets a tone of conflict, not compromise. His interest in conflagration with the General Assembly rather than collaboration limits his ability to get what he wants. Is he so self-absorbed that he doesn’t see that?
- Wishful Thinking - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:55 am:
Dare to dream, Governor. Try this: deal with FY16 including the revenue to pay for this FY’s education budget increase before anyone sends you FY17 bills of any kind. You’re acting like a child who makes a mess, refuses to clean it up, and just moves to another place to play with your toys forcing all the adults to clean up after you. P.S. if you aren’t proposing revenue to pay for your increased educational funding proposals, please explain how your “reforms” will cover that increase. SHOW YOUR WORK. No fuzzy math will be accepted. P.S.S. Don’t forget that students need more than a classroom to learn.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:56 am:
–Educate me and the rest of Illinois on why this is different.–
Through the magic of transparent hypocrisy.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:05 am:
Just a point of clarity- Signing the legislation for a funding level does not actually make it reality. The money has to be there as well.
What about higher ed? Are we simply going to shut down some of our universities? How does that help the economy?
I understand he is playing chicken with Madigan, but can someone be the adult?
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:09 am:
JS Mill- “Just a point of clarity- Signing the legislation for a funding level does not actually make it reality. The money has to be there as well.”
****
True. But, the “clean” bill may come with a broom.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:16 am:
Yes, increase K-12 funding and help ensure all high school grads are college ready.
Then what?
- burbanite - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:19 am:
Deja Vu
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:20 am:
47th- Cradle to Career. After that you’re on your own. http://www.theounce.org/media/statement-ILSOS-2016
It’s really too bad that some programs can only focus on their mission, and not see life beyond age 18.
- Chucktownian - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:26 am:
Hundreds of EIU students and staff are demonstrating in Springfield today for a “clean bill” for higher education and MAP grants. How about signing that too, no games? And, yes, that would be just as properly funded as the K-12 stuff you’ve already signed and just asked for again.
And you’d save 200 jobs in Charleston with the stroke of a pen. That’s probably more than your public-private business development agency will create this entire year for a lower cost.
- Mouthy - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:28 am:
Sure, send a clean bill then you’ll have two years worth of hostages left behind. Are the Democrats gonna be that dumb?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:31 am:
–Then what?–
Go away to school in a state that supports and values public higher education, of course.
Iowa City, Madison, Ann Arbor, East Lansing, West Lafayette and Bloomington, IN are already crawling with Illinois’ best and brightest. It’s not like they’re on the other side of the moon.
The status quo created over the last 12 months certainly will help neighboring states support their public higher education systems, with Illinois money following Illinois students.
- Jack Kemp - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:32 am:
Only in the comments section of the Capitol Fax will you find a barrage of Democrats screaming bloody murder at a proposed *increase* in education funding. Good lord. If the Governor came out today and announced that he was going to hike taxes and increase funding for social services across the board, and drop all the reforms, you people would complain that he didn’t take a knee and beg you pretty-please first.
- Triple fat - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:33 am:
I’d send him a clean bill fully funding public schools but telling the Charter schools there’s no funding for them… Maybe their rich Private Equity doners will start actually helping them.
- Get a Job!! - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:37 am:
So it is possible that K-12 could end up with an FY17 budget before anyone else gets an FY16 budget. Only in Illinois.
- northsider (the original) - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:42 am:
The basic problem is that the Governor never took 8th grade civics. He considers the legislative process a ‘game’, not a constitutionally guaranteed procedure.
- BeenThereB4 - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:54 am:
25 percent increase in spending without any increase in revenue. This is the kind of spending that has gotten us where we are financially.
This governor is no different than the gutless politicians that created the Pension mess.
Yes K-12 education is a worthy cause. It just isn’t worthy enough to Governor Rauner to propose funding to support this 25 percent increase in spending.
I guess he’ll just have to take it from the Pension systems, by skipping another payment because we don’t have the money. Sound familiar.
- Mason born - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:59 am:
Jack Kemp 10:32
You do realize that there is no funding for this right? The state is on track for a 10 billion bill backlog services the state contracted for and failed to pay. Isn’t it reasonable to expect government to live within it’s means? I do believe Candidate Rauner said something to that effect maybe he can call the Governor? If the governor wants to hike spending maybe he can tell us all how he will pay for it? Please show your math.
As for the bill it should be clean with no games. Just the amount to be spent and the revenue to cover it say a 393 million dollar tax hike?
- RNUG - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 11:17 am:
Maybe the GA should pass a bill to eliminate all corporate tax breaks and direct all that revenue to increasing school funding. Give Rauner a choice between protecting the 1.4% and schools. If he veto’ed the bill, that would make for some powerful ads in the fall election cycle.
- sal-says - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 11:26 am:
Raunner wants to incr $ for K-12, but starve & destroy higher ed. Oh, that’s right. Everybody should make min wage!
- Grass Bowl - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 11:33 am:
Does anyone know if any of the Chicago TV stations will be showing the speech live?
- sal-says - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 11:34 am:
== Is he so self-absorbed that he doesn’t see that? ==
Raunner Truth #1: He doesn’t care.
- anon - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 12:02 pm:
For the remainder of the Rauner administration, Democrats will henceforth demand that he submit proposals that are CLEAN, NO GAMES.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 12:25 pm:
For the record, which side of his mouth was he using when he said it?
- WhoKnew - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 12:26 pm:
Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 12:25 pm was me!!
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 12:37 pm:
How are going to pay for it Gov?
- RNUG - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 12:43 pm:
== For the record, which side of his mouth was he using when he said it? ==
Both
- CharlieKratos - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 12:44 pm:
1) Rauner admits that poison pills are “playing games”
2) Rauner only wants a workforce educated to the point that they can be a cheap workforce
- Sports - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 12:45 pm:
Proposing a record increase in early childhood funding in the middle of all this? So now Ounce of Prevention becomes a political football, I bet they love that.
- Politix - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 12:50 pm:
I wish I could’ve heard what Madigan said to him when they shook hands at the end. Mike laughed, gov didn’t.
- Mama - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 6:37 pm:
++- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:16 am: “Yes, increase K-12 funding and help ensure all high school grads are college ready.” “Then what?”
After you leave high school, you are Sh@t out luck. Hopefully, the military will still pay for college in exchange for active duty.