Send in Sandack to help calm the masses! I’m sure they will understand that they no longer have a job because Edgar county cant easily cut union benefits.
Sorry to hear this, Illinois college towns. But at least your municipal government might not have to pay prevailing wage for construction projects they’ll never have the revenue to fund now. So, there’s that.
Do this, and do this big, before the primaries. Make those who are unwilling to confront this governor’s method of holding and executing hostages, pay for their silence and support.
I do not remember any other governor so willing to make our government fail so completely. He thinks he is winning. It is time to shut him down.
This development is music to the Rauner administration’s ears. The crisis grows and with it the leverage they think they will have to force the Turnaround Agenda. The governor honestly believes that the “toll” unions take on the state is far worse than the massive pain, suffering, mental and financial anguish being caused to thousands of Illinoisans - growing by the day.
It’s an incredible display of callous, made all the more obscene by his daily Twitter posting of smiling just-folks pictures as if everything is A-OK.
BTW — stuff like this will obviously — obviously! — send lawmakers in feeding frenzy to pass the ‘Turnaround Agenda’. They’ll be climbing over the tables, rushing the doors to get to their green buttons and say, “Yes!”
“Yep. You’re right, Rauner. Let’s pass this thing!”
I’m sure the governor is outraged and mad as he#@ about this. He plays the part of the victim so well. I’m really trying to see where opportunity arises from a crisis like this.
Don’t worry folks. GTCR has some for profit colleges available to buy any State University that fails. The ‘Winning’ proclamation kind of makes sense if you see it as a sales building opportunity. Private equity has destroyed so many private sector businesses that their only room for continuing their schemes is in the public sector.
Talked to a pretty influential Republican last night who of course is afraid to come out. But he said Rauner is the most sinister and vengeful person he has ever met. Gave me a situation that has occured that I promised not to repeat. Basically Rauner destroyed the lives of two people that crossed his path. This within the last three weeks.
We are gathered here today to bear witness to the life and tragic death of our dear friend, Chicago State University. CSU died from severe neglect and a lack of funding from the State.
“Rich, is this enough of a crisis to get Rauner and Madigan to work together to solve the funding problems for higher ed & other hostages?”
Mama, this assumes Rauner sees it as a BAD crisis. As other commenters have mentioned, this could very well be his plan. You don’t fix what isn’t broken.
“Remember Charleston… You do… You do, it use to be where that school was that Rauner shut down.. ‘Charleston!’… yeah, Eastern… that city… it’s not a city anymore, been through there?…”
Yep.
Elections. Have. Consequences.
- Turnt Up Illinois - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:52 am:
Every casualty of the turnaround agenda shall henceforth be considered ‘turnt’. Yes, a variation on the word turned. Some call these casualties others call this the product of a sound agenda. The state is gettin turnt! So cool, #superstars.
Mr/Ms Triple Fat
Good call on the private college buyout , but most of them are on life support right
it is a good thing the $$tars are takin’ day off(’ccordin’ to Politico) so they don’t have to take questions about this bungle.
sparky,
Would love to see that situation hit the local news, but I’m sure your GOP friend is afraid to bring it up. Never take sides against the FAMILY.
My husband and I have three kids. We have been paying College Illinois since 2001 and will be paying College Illinois until 2025, according to our contracts. When all three were enrolled, we were paying more for our kids’ college education than we were for our house payment. A few years ago, we had the scare that the fund would go belly up and our sacrifice would be for nothing. Now, our real concern is whether there will be universities left in Illinois for them to attend, and whether the system that remains will by one of quality.
What a lesson for us, and for our kids, about the value of planning ahead and saving for life’s big challenges.
I’m not gonna use the R word because that might not be appropriate, but when you look in totality at the specific populations being affected by this manufactured crisis, it calls for some pause.
===It’s like GOP voters don’t understand they’re voting against their own interests.===
If I may, respectfully…
“It’s like GOP voters don’t understand they’re voting against their own interests and unknowingly voting Raunerite.”
With respect.
There’s a huge difference between Raunerite and Republican. Voters need to realize that Rauner owning the brand GOP, doesn’t mean it IS the GOP they think they know.
This sure will help those unemployment numbers. I have a lot of respect for Anthony Young, I believe CSU was trying to make a turnaround and now they are being forced into failure when they should have been experiencing a rebirth.
“There’s a huge difference between Raunerite and Republican. Voters need to realize that Rauner owning the brand GOP, doesn’t mean it IS the GOP they think they know.”
You’ve said this a few times and I think you might want to take a second look. Jeanne Ives’ legislation - that’s Raunerite stuff? Radogno and “starve the beast”? Sandack’s attack dog style has always been the same and fits in perfectly with what comes out of the gov’s mouth and his pr shop. No. A lot of what IL Republicans are saying and doing right now are straight from the GOP Nat’l playbook. And funny how that they aren’t supporting Trump, another successful billionaire businessman. Now, one would think IL GOP would be thrilled to work with another one of those. What - is he too insulting? Is he too brash? Too INEXPERIENCED?
“Why can’t we just go back to pretending everything is fiscally fine?”
Exhibit A of the “Reality Converter Raunerite v2.26.2016″
Takes viewers on a fantasy ‘lookback’ to circa 1950-2014 view of Illinois when Universities, Museums and Social Services were routinely gutted through financial calamities foisted upon them by a series of callus Governors.
Give. Me. A. Break.
Illinois has been in trouble for years, that’s not in dispute. HOWEVER the last Gov had pushed through a much needed revenue boost that was resulting in a large reduction of unpaid bills, full funding of the pension payments and funding of valuable social and education needs of the citizens of the State.
Gov Clueless begged for the tax increase to sunset, then proceeded to savage the finances of the state by refusing to provide a balanced budget and insisting the courts by mandate force payments to ANYONE.
Rauner is willfully destroying the state, one agency and mandate at a time.
Take off your fantasy googles and take a look at reality.
How much farther does this have to go before Republicans from college towns say it’s time to break ranks.
Gutting unions is worth gutting the major economic engine in your districts? How is that good for anyone? Constituents head home, unpaid or uneducated. The service industries and partner organizations wither away.
But, hey, it’ll be worth it if we don’t have to pay prevailing wage to build that new fire station.
Huh?
College town Republicans. This is a watershed moment. Are you going along with this or standing up for your district? Voters are watching.
Sad state of affairs, but hasn’t this university been an absolute mess financially for over a decade with misappropriations of funds throughout, without Rauner being invloved? A terrible way to go about it, for the employees that work so hard, but it desperately needs a flush and reboot in the right direction. Too bad you just can’t blow on it to get it to start the right way, like an old Nintendo.
No, he’s the Gov and the result of his poor decisions have directly resulted in the state museum closing (first time that has EVER happened in the state in it’s history), higher education institutions being near collapse, social services closing their doors.
Sorry Raunerite…this is all on your personal Hero Gov Bruce “Workin’ hard at Hardly Workin’” Rauner.
Even when the ILGOP had majorities in both chambers here, Jeanne Ives would have been “far right”, pointing out that a majority party ILGOP knew “Jeanne Ives” are part of the formula but not its complete compound.
As for your other points, I point to the “Yellow” votes by members and the NVs. Thise are my Davi b graces that out front and center that $20 million in holding a Caucus hostage worked in usurping the GOP GA.
If they all agreed with Raunerites, there would be no need to make sure members didn’t go off the reservation, the Raunerite reservation.
‘Tween us, if March 15th is does anything, it may remind the Raunerite members that … elections have consequences… especially when they, on the floor, vote against their better selves.
There are Republicans here in Illinois, Rauner just hijacked the brand.. and the switches in the GA for now. We’ll see how 2016 goes, be it March and November.
No, Raunerites don’t define the ILGOP, Raunerites just hijacked the good the ILGOP once had to justify the ruin Raunerites now require.
SarahA29 I forgot about my college illinois semesters, ugh another problem. But as I recall you can use it on out of state or private schools, you just get the equivalent of I think U of I’s semester tuition. So that money will be leaving the state…
If you were the governor — by far, the most powerful elected position in the state, by design — and these things were happening, and you didn’t want them to happen, wouldn’t you do something about it?
The most generous explanation you can give to the governor’s actions to date is that he truly believes that if his One True Way is not adopted immediately then the End is Nigh, and higher education and social services in Illinois are not worth the bother. Just prepare for The Rapture.
But I don’t buy it. The governor might be a zealot, but he’s not a lunatic. He must know that the insistence on The One True Way, to the exclusion of everything else, is simply not possible in a representative democracy. And the state will continue as a going concern, regardless.
I believe in the “squeeze the beast” strategy. Go full-Darwin on higher ed and social services, then do business later at a much reduced level with those that survive.
That’s the goal. It’s incredibly diabolical to disguise pre-meditated hits as hostage situations.
illini97 - “How much farther does this have to go before Republicans from college towns say it’s time to break ranks.”
*****
For some of them, the excuse will be March 15, for others Nov. 8, and then…. well, I’m sure there will be an excuse of some kind. The thing is, NOT to excuse them on their votes.
OW, Raunerites like Madigan’s primary opponent are doing a pretty decent job of hiding their links to Rauner, at least from the average voters. People are going to vote for them without realizing who they’re voting for. Once they get elected, it will be too late and Rauner will point to their election as another example of his mandate.
The GOP, the REAL GOP, should have shut this down long ago. I just hope it’s not too late for them to do anything about it. They need a real leader, but McCann isn’t it and nobody seems to be listening to Edgar. How bad will this get before someone with “gravitas” AND huevos steps up?
@Burbanite– Not quite. College Illinois pays out the average of the state university tuitions. So if the cheaper ones shutter, you might get a higher return. /s
“Apparently the 2016 state fair is more of a priority than higher ed and homeless kids”
The holding of the state fair is mandated under the constitution of the State of Illinois. If you don’t want a state fair, change the constitution.
While I’m sad at the plight of the state of Illinois, it is important to remember that the State Fair is NOT paid out of GRF, but rather the State Fair Fund.
Again, if you don’t want the fair talk to your legislator and have it removed from the State Constitution. It’s not optional.
The “hiding”? I agree. But the incumbents can’t hide their votes, and can’t hide the Raunerite monies.
Republicans don’t need to beat all of them, but Dunkin by the Denocrats, and if McCann wins, that would be huge.
Keep it simple.
Also, I agree with your hindsight, but like Brady and Dillard both losing, one in 2010, the other in 2014, Republicans need to learn and move on… to March 15th.
=== The holding of the state fair is mandated under the constitution of the State of Illinois. ===
You have a cite on that? I’ve never come across the state fair clause.
- Filmmaker Professor - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 12:35 pm:
Don’t think this won’t hit Champaign-Urbana too. The doors of the U of I won’t close, but many heads are gonna roll who won’t be buying stuff in CU anymore.
If your college Illinois is based on the average tuition of state universities but no more exsist wouldn’t that make the average 0.00 thus losing what you invested. More funds to sweep……
-There’s a huge difference between Raunerite and Republican. Voters need to realize that Rauner owning the brand GOP, doesn’t mean it IS the GOP they think they know.-
Just as you have no sympathy for Labor when 4 in 10 union households voted for Rauner, I respectfully have little sympathy for Republicans after the total Raunerite takeover of the ILGOP. How ironic that both sides of this have lost partial or total control of their brands. Our prayers to a Loving God for both Labor and for a reasonable and compassionate ILGOP. What strange times OW, what strange times. As you have said to me many times about Labor, I say back to you about the ILGOP, I don’t hold you personally responsible, If anything I have always found you to be the “voice that crieth out in the wilderness”.
===I respectfully have little sympathy for Republicans after the total Raunerite takeover of the ILGOP.===
With respect, the Raunerite takeover of the ILGOP and GOP GA is hurting AFSCME more than it’s hurting me. That’s harsh, but it’s true. Hopefully March 15th helps.
The 8 “GOP” Cowards that turned their backs on you, that’s what happened to Labor when Raunerites took over, and that should be your battle too, as Labor now sees McCann as a huge race to bring back the ILGOP, and I know that Labor needs Republicans too.
I have zero sympathy for me too. I’ve “eaten” it, I’ve “owned” it.
It’s on me. It’s on me and I have no sympathy that “I” and those like-minded didn’t do enough, and I own that too.
It’s up to Republicans to heed to call of Edgar. I am. But leaders need to emerge, and I’m not one of them.
I appreciate your kind words and the harsh truth of your comment, but understand, Labor needs Republicans too, if anything to defeat Raunerites and irradiate them from the guise of legitimacy.
You keep plugging - Honeybear -, we’te all in the same boat.
Divestment of public higher education is widespread. Many states are heading for zero funding. It is the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) at work. Rauner and his kind in the Republican Party want higher ed privatized and not as accessible. The pharaohs want a less educated herd. Not all Republicans share ALEC’s agenda, though it’s certainly bad when virtually all Republican members are in lockstep with Rauner. I hope Republican members and voters listen to Jim Edgar.
OW, you’re on top of things. Maybe you could pen an “Open Letter” to the ILGOP. Something that would spell out where they came from, where they’re going, and the potential consequences of being accomplices to the destruction of education and social services in Illinois.
What I know is I’m not a leader in Illinois Republican politics. That’s the absolute truth. It’s Republicans, like me, who are looking for a much heavier weighted voice to emerge and say “enough”, so I can find my place.
It would be one thing to be in a position that someone could be a voice and refuse to do so, but I don’t find myself with that dilemma. I’m not a Lead, or a Supporting Actor. I’m in the chorus, and my solos only support what’s going on in the play, I’m not in the plot of the play.
My hope is after March 15th I can hear voices calling me to rally.
I hope.
Your very kind words are flattering, but I know my maximum is here, discussing the issues and trying sometimes to be thoughtful enough that what I say can make some sense. That’s not false humility, that’s knowing who I am, and how I fit, and that’s still pretty cool for me.
2) I’d like to think thoughtful candidates running in the Primary are making their cases, and Labor, Republicans, and Social Service advocates and benefactors understand who is with them, and who is not.
They all are burning daylight.
- thechampaignlife - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 2:07 pm:
To paraphrase the New Yorker:
“Yes, Illinois got destroyed. But for a beautiful moment in time we created a lot of value for shareholders.”
The Grad School Hub website ranks the CSU graduate programs #50 in the USA (out of about 800 grad schools in the country). CSU is the only Illinois public university on the top 50 list, and it’s an impressive roster (Dartmouth is #31, for example). http://www.gradschoolhub.com/best/graduate-schools-in-america-2016/
How Ironic, fair enough. We all make mistakes. The problem is that there are a lot of things in statute not being funded. This was an issue even before there was an impasse. The fair is a political choice being excused by a red herring argument.
@IllinoisBoi, interesting information. If that is true, top ranked graduate program in the state, I think the other state universities deserve to be closed.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:15 am:
@RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate. - Ron Sandack, 9/28/15
Remember, this is NOT accidental by Raunerites.
Rep. Ron Sandack told me so.
- Annonin' - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:16 am:
The $uper$tars must be feelin’ really proud today. It is is hard to wreck higher ed in a state like IL this quickly.
- How Ironic - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:19 am:
I hope Sandoval, Randango, Dunkin and Rauner comfort these folks with calls to “hang in there” and ’short term pain’ etc.
For all the goofs and raunerites saying “xxxx of years of democrats have done xxxx” I say baloney.
While the State certainly has had it’s financial difficulties for years it has NEVER been deliberately run off the road.
Like it or not Quinn would have kept the states institutions of higher learning running, paid the MAP grants, and left the museum running.
I don’t even have to mention all of the social services.
Rauner and his claim of ‘not needing the tax revenue’ was utter baloney.
He is literally destroying the state, gleefully I might add.
He and his administration are a total and unmitigated disaster that will take decades, if not lifetimes to recover from.
- How Ironic - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:19 am:
Sorry, auto correct on Sandoval. Meant Sandack. Apologies to Sandoval.
- Abe the Babe - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:22 am:
Send in Sandack to help calm the masses! I’m sure they will understand that they no longer have a job because Edgar county cant easily cut union benefits.
- Norseman - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:22 am:
If this finally goes down, it will be another trophy on Rauner’s wall.
- illinois manufacturer - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:23 am:
CSU ….Nabisco to Mexico ……Mitsubishi massive layoffs at Cat …..EIU in the waiting room. Its been a heck of a tunaround.
- illini97 - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:26 am:
Sorry to hear this, Illinois college towns. But at least your municipal government might not have to pay prevailing wage for construction projects they’ll never have the revenue to fund now. So, there’s that.
/s
- VanillaMan - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:26 am:
Do this, and do this big, before the primaries. Make those who are unwilling to confront this governor’s method of holding and executing hostages, pay for their silence and support.
I do not remember any other governor so willing to make our government fail so completely. He thinks he is winning. It is time to shut him down.
- Frenchie Mendoza - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:26 am:
Layoffs are important, but accreditation is (actually) more important in the long run.
If this impacts accreditation, it’s over — the end — for CSU — even if the doors remain open.
- There is power in a union... - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:27 am:
#winning
Donna says they should all “get a job”
- Moe Berg - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:27 am:
This development is music to the Rauner administration’s ears. The crisis grows and with it the leverage they think they will have to force the Turnaround Agenda. The governor honestly believes that the “toll” unions take on the state is far worse than the massive pain, suffering, mental and financial anguish being caused to thousands of Illinoisans - growing by the day.
It’s an incredible display of callous, made all the more obscene by his daily Twitter posting of smiling just-folks pictures as if everything is A-OK.
- Frenchie Mendoza - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:29 am:
BTW — stuff like this will obviously — obviously! — send lawmakers in feeding frenzy to pass the ‘Turnaround Agenda’. They’ll be climbing over the tables, rushing the doors to get to their green buttons and say, “Yes!”
“Yep. You’re right, Rauner. Let’s pass this thing!”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:30 am:
Hmm…
@RonSandack - Needed that! Great pitching all 3 games. Nice to see some timely hitting & run production. #GoIllini - 2/21/16, 3:35 pm
“I-L-L”, Representative, “I-L-L”…
Pathetic.
- Mama - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:33 am:
++ Norseman - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:22 am: “If this finally goes down, it will be another trophy on Rauner’s wall.”++
You might be right, however Dunkin (Rauner’s guy) is supposed to be CSU’s savior, and that is suppose to save Dunkin’s election. Right?
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:38 am:
It must be a good day in Rauner’s office and for the Illinois Policy Institute. Now the IPI can write something else nasty about Illinois.
- ToughGuy - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:40 am:
I’m sure the governor is outraged and mad as he#@ about this. He plays the part of the victim so well. I’m really trying to see where opportunity arises from a crisis like this.
- Triple fat - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:41 am:
Don’t worry folks. GTCR has some for profit colleges available to buy any State University that fails. The ‘Winning’ proclamation kind of makes sense if you see it as a sales building opportunity. Private equity has destroyed so many private sector businesses that their only room for continuing their schemes is in the public sector.
- sparky791 - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:44 am:
Talked to a pretty influential Republican last night who of course is afraid to come out. But he said Rauner is the most sinister and vengeful person he has ever met. Gave me a situation that has occured that I promised not to repeat. Basically Rauner destroyed the lives of two people that crossed his path. This within the last three weeks.
- Huh? - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:45 am:
We are gathered here today to bear witness to the life and tragic death of our dear friend, Chicago State University. CSU died from severe neglect and a lack of funding from the State.
Let us bow our heads in prayer …
- Mama - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:46 am:
Rich, is this enough of a crisis to get Rauner and Madigan to work together to solve the funding problems for higher ed & other hostages?
- illinois manufacturer - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:47 am:
He is destroying the lives of more than 2 people. Its about time for a turnaround on that front
- Chucktownian - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:48 am:
Congratulations, governor. As I said a few days ago, you’ve killed your first state institution.
This action only proves my earlier assertion.
- Cubs in '16 - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:50 am:
“Rich, is this enough of a crisis to get Rauner and Madigan to work together to solve the funding problems for higher ed & other hostages?”
Mama, this assumes Rauner sees it as a BAD crisis. As other commenters have mentioned, this could very well be his plan. You don’t fix what isn’t broken.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:50 am:
Elections. Have. Consequences.
Charleston IL will soon be a “Consequence” too…
“Remember Charleston… You do… You do, it use to be where that school was that Rauner shut down.. ‘Charleston!’… yeah, Eastern… that city… it’s not a city anymore, been through there?…”
Yep.
Elections. Have. Consequences.
- Turnt Up Illinois - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:52 am:
Every casualty of the turnaround agenda shall henceforth be considered ‘turnt’. Yes, a variation on the word turned. Some call these casualties others call this the product of a sound agenda. The state is gettin turnt! So cool, #superstars.
- Annonin' - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:52 am:
Mr/Ms Triple Fat
Good call on the private college buyout , but most of them are on life support right
it is a good thing the $$tars are takin’ day off(’ccordin’ to Politico) so they don’t have to take questions about this bungle.
- Big Joe - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:53 am:
sparky,
Would love to see that situation hit the local news, but I’m sure your GOP friend is afraid to bring it up. Never take sides against the FAMILY.
- SarahA29 - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:53 am:
My husband and I have three kids. We have been paying College Illinois since 2001 and will be paying College Illinois until 2025, according to our contracts. When all three were enrolled, we were paying more for our kids’ college education than we were for our house payment. A few years ago, we had the scare that the fund would go belly up and our sacrifice would be for nothing. Now, our real concern is whether there will be universities left in Illinois for them to attend, and whether the system that remains will by one of quality.
What a lesson for us, and for our kids, about the value of planning ahead and saving for life’s big challenges.
- Politix - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 10:54 am:
“If this finally goes down, it will be another trophy on Rauner’s wall.”
Yep. Everyone save your outrage.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:05 am:
“Dear Bloomington-Normal
Carbondale
Edwardsville
Quincy
DeKalb
See: “Charleston, IL - Fall, 2016″
You’re next.
Think on that.
Respectfully,
Oswego Willy”
- Politix - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:07 am:
I’m not gonna use the R word because that might not be appropriate, but when you look in totality at the specific populations being affected by this manufactured crisis, it calls for some pause.
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:10 am:
== “If this finally goes down, it will be another trophy on Rauner’s wall.”
Yep. Everyone save your outrage. ==
Indeed.
Feature.
Not a bug.
- thunderspirit - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:11 am:
Whoops. “Anonymous” at 11:10 was me.
- Chucktownian - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:14 am:
The irony in all of this is it is just the people who support this nonsense who are being most damaged by it.
It’s like GOP voters don’t understand they’re voting against their own interests.
Oh wait…
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:18 am:
===It’s like GOP voters don’t understand they’re voting against their own interests.===
If I may, respectfully…
“It’s like GOP voters don’t understand they’re voting against their own interests and unknowingly voting Raunerite.”
With respect.
There’s a huge difference between Raunerite and Republican. Voters need to realize that Rauner owning the brand GOP, doesn’t mean it IS the GOP they think they know.
- Ray del Camino - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:20 am:
Sorry, OW. Y’all are being hijacked by Rauner at home and The Donald on the road.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:22 am:
- Ray del Camino -
Yep. You’re right about that.
Check out the Lindsey Graham quote in the Twitterverse on this. I can’t quote it here, but it seems apt, sadly.
I’m going to keep trying, however.
OW
- burbanite - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:23 am:
This sure will help those unemployment numbers. I have a lot of respect for Anthony Young, I believe CSU was trying to make a turnaround and now they are being forced into failure when they should have been experiencing a rebirth.
- Anon2 - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:26 am:
Why can’t we just go back to pretending everything is fiscally fine?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:30 am:
===Why can’t we just go back to pretending everything is fiscally fine?===
Not one person here said everything is fine. Not one.
Please pick up your Strawman, thanks.
- Down State Paul - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:30 am:
Why didn’t they go paperless? That would have saved money and maybe half of a job……
- Politix - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:32 am:
“There’s a huge difference between Raunerite and Republican. Voters need to realize that Rauner owning the brand GOP, doesn’t mean it IS the GOP they think they know.”
You’ve said this a few times and I think you might want to take a second look. Jeanne Ives’ legislation - that’s Raunerite stuff? Radogno and “starve the beast”? Sandack’s attack dog style has always been the same and fits in perfectly with what comes out of the gov’s mouth and his pr shop. No. A lot of what IL Republicans are saying and doing right now are straight from the GOP Nat’l playbook. And funny how that they aren’t supporting Trump, another successful billionaire businessman. Now, one would think IL GOP would be thrilled to work with another one of those. What - is he too insulting? Is he too brash? Too INEXPERIENCED?
- Politix - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:34 am:
Why can’t we just go back to pretending everything is fiscally fine?
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
- How Ironic - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:38 am:
@- Anon2 - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:26 am:
“Why can’t we just go back to pretending everything is fiscally fine?”
Exhibit A of the “Reality Converter Raunerite v2.26.2016″
Takes viewers on a fantasy ‘lookback’ to circa 1950-2014 view of Illinois when Universities, Museums and Social Services were routinely gutted through financial calamities foisted upon them by a series of callus Governors.
Give. Me. A. Break.
Illinois has been in trouble for years, that’s not in dispute. HOWEVER the last Gov had pushed through a much needed revenue boost that was resulting in a large reduction of unpaid bills, full funding of the pension payments and funding of valuable social and education needs of the citizens of the State.
Gov Clueless begged for the tax increase to sunset, then proceeded to savage the finances of the state by refusing to provide a balanced budget and insisting the courts by mandate force payments to ANYONE.
Rauner is willfully destroying the state, one agency and mandate at a time.
Take off your fantasy googles and take a look at reality.
- Anon2 - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:39 am:
==Not one person here said everything is fine. Not one.===
Then not everything is rounders fault!
- illini97 - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:43 am:
How much farther does this have to go before Republicans from college towns say it’s time to break ranks.
Gutting unions is worth gutting the major economic engine in your districts? How is that good for anyone? Constituents head home, unpaid or uneducated. The service industries and partner organizations wither away.
But, hey, it’ll be worth it if we don’t have to pay prevailing wage to build that new fire station.
Huh?
College town Republicans. This is a watershed moment. Are you going along with this or standing up for your district? Voters are watching.
- SSPE - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:45 am:
Sad state of affairs, but hasn’t this university been an absolute mess financially for over a decade with misappropriations of funds throughout, without Rauner being invloved? A terrible way to go about it, for the employees that work so hard, but it desperately needs a flush and reboot in the right direction. Too bad you just can’t blow on it to get it to start the right way, like an old Nintendo.
- AC - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:45 am:
==Why can’t we just go back to pretending everything is fiscally fine?==
Why can’t we realize that the rate at which damage to the state’s fical health currently being done is without precedent?
- How Ironic - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:47 am:
@- Anon2 - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:39 am:
“Then not everything is rounders fault!”
No, he’s the Gov and the result of his poor decisions have directly resulted in the state museum closing (first time that has EVER happened in the state in it’s history), higher education institutions being near collapse, social services closing their doors.
Sorry Raunerite…this is all on your personal Hero Gov Bruce “Workin’ hard at Hardly Workin’” Rauner.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:48 am:
- Politix -
Let’s break your comment down…
Even when the ILGOP had majorities in both chambers here, Jeanne Ives would have been “far right”, pointing out that a majority party ILGOP knew “Jeanne Ives” are part of the formula but not its complete compound.
As for your other points, I point to the “Yellow” votes by members and the NVs. Thise are my Davi b graces that out front and center that $20 million in holding a Caucus hostage worked in usurping the GOP GA.
If they all agreed with Raunerites, there would be no need to make sure members didn’t go off the reservation, the Raunerite reservation.
‘Tween us, if March 15th is does anything, it may remind the Raunerite members that … elections have consequences… especially when they, on the floor, vote against their better selves.
There are Republicans here in Illinois, Rauner just hijacked the brand.. and the switches in the GA for now. We’ll see how 2016 goes, be it March and November.
No, Raunerites don’t define the ILGOP, Raunerites just hijacked the good the ILGOP once had to justify the ruin Raunerites now require.
- burbanite - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:51 am:
Apparently the 2016 state fair is more of a priority than higher ed and homeless kids….I know, I know, its Madigan and Cullerton’s fault. /s
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:51 am:
===Then not everything is rounders fault!===
Rauner’s gubernatorial choices are dictating the CSU and EIU demise.
Capiche?
- Because I said so.... - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:57 am:
Bruce Rauner doesn’t have a social agenda.
- burbanite - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:57 am:
SarahA29 I forgot about my college illinois semesters, ugh another problem. But as I recall you can use it on out of state or private schools, you just get the equivalent of I think U of I’s semester tuition. So that money will be leaving the state…
- wordslinger - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 12:02 pm:
If you were the governor — by far, the most powerful elected position in the state, by design — and these things were happening, and you didn’t want them to happen, wouldn’t you do something about it?
The most generous explanation you can give to the governor’s actions to date is that he truly believes that if his One True Way is not adopted immediately then the End is Nigh, and higher education and social services in Illinois are not worth the bother. Just prepare for The Rapture.
But I don’t buy it. The governor might be a zealot, but he’s not a lunatic. He must know that the insistence on The One True Way, to the exclusion of everything else, is simply not possible in a representative democracy. And the state will continue as a going concern, regardless.
I believe in the “squeeze the beast” strategy. Go full-Darwin on higher ed and social services, then do business later at a much reduced level with those that survive.
That’s the goal. It’s incredibly diabolical to disguise pre-meditated hits as hostage situations.
But it’s working.
- Anon221 - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 12:03 pm:
illini97 - “How much farther does this have to go before Republicans from college towns say it’s time to break ranks.”
*****
For some of them, the excuse will be March 15, for others Nov. 8, and then…. well, I’m sure there will be an excuse of some kind. The thing is, NOT to excuse them on their votes.
- CharlieKratos - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 12:03 pm:
OW, Raunerites like Madigan’s primary opponent are doing a pretty decent job of hiding their links to Rauner, at least from the average voters. People are going to vote for them without realizing who they’re voting for. Once they get elected, it will be too late and Rauner will point to their election as another example of his mandate.
The GOP, the REAL GOP, should have shut this down long ago. I just hope it’s not too late for them to do anything about it. They need a real leader, but McCann isn’t it and nobody seems to be listening to Edgar. How bad will this get before someone with “gravitas” AND huevos steps up?
- sal-says - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 12:04 pm:
Decisions have consequences.
The Governor & his band of SuperStarts are VERY poor deciders. And his group of in his pocket GA members fall right in the decider line.
- Anon221 - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 12:05 pm:
burbanite- on the State Fair- yeah, but will there be a butter cow? /s
This morning on NPR- she still hasn’t been paid.
- Elo Kiddies - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 12:07 pm:
@Burbanite– Not quite. College Illinois pays out the average of the state university tuitions. So if the cheaper ones shutter, you might get a higher return. /s
- How Ironic - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 12:17 pm:
@- burbanite - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 11:51 am:
“Apparently the 2016 state fair is more of a priority than higher ed and homeless kids”
The holding of the state fair is mandated under the constitution of the State of Illinois. If you don’t want a state fair, change the constitution.
While I’m sad at the plight of the state of Illinois, it is important to remember that the State Fair is NOT paid out of GRF, but rather the State Fair Fund.
Again, if you don’t want the fair talk to your legislator and have it removed from the State Constitution. It’s not optional.
- sal-says - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 12:20 pm:
== Donna says they should all “get a job” ==
sal-says: ‘raunner, Donna & all the SuperStarts should be in jail.’
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 12:22 pm:
- CharlieKratos -
The “hiding”? I agree. But the incumbents can’t hide their votes, and can’t hide the Raunerite monies.
Republicans don’t need to beat all of them, but Dunkin by the Denocrats, and if McCann wins, that would be huge.
Keep it simple.
Also, I agree with your hindsight, but like Brady and Dillard both losing, one in 2010, the other in 2014, Republicans need to learn and move on… to March 15th.
I hear ya, I really do.
- Norseman - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 12:33 pm:
=== The holding of the state fair is mandated under the constitution of the State of Illinois. ===
You have a cite on that? I’ve never come across the state fair clause.
- Filmmaker Professor - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 12:35 pm:
Don’t think this won’t hit Champaign-Urbana too. The doors of the U of I won’t close, but many heads are gonna roll who won’t be buying stuff in CU anymore.
- Jimmy H - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 12:48 pm:
The SIU system will be hit hard, but will absolutely remain open.
- wordslinger - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 12:48 pm:
–The holding of the state fair is mandated under the constitution of the State of Illinois. If you don’t want a state fair, change the constitution.–
Dude, you can’t just make up crazy stuff to make your point.
Unless, of course, that’s you, governor.
–…the State Fair is NOT paid out of GRF, but rather the State Fair Fund.–
Actually, most state fair vendors are not paid at all.
- Union thug - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 12:51 pm:
If your college Illinois is based on the average tuition of state universities but no more exsist wouldn’t that make the average 0.00 thus losing what you invested. More funds to sweep……
- Honeybear - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 12:52 pm:
-There’s a huge difference between Raunerite and Republican. Voters need to realize that Rauner owning the brand GOP, doesn’t mean it IS the GOP they think they know.-
Just as you have no sympathy for Labor when 4 in 10 union households voted for Rauner, I respectfully have little sympathy for Republicans after the total Raunerite takeover of the ILGOP. How ironic that both sides of this have lost partial or total control of their brands. Our prayers to a Loving God for both Labor and for a reasonable and compassionate ILGOP. What strange times OW, what strange times. As you have said to me many times about Labor, I say back to you about the ILGOP, I don’t hold you personally responsible, If anything I have always found you to be the “voice that crieth out in the wilderness”.
With great respect to you OW
- Secret Square - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 1:04 pm:
The State Fair is mandated by statute (the State Fair Act, 20 ILCS 210), NOT by the constitution.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 1:15 pm:
===I respectfully have little sympathy for Republicans after the total Raunerite takeover of the ILGOP.===
With respect, the Raunerite takeover of the ILGOP and GOP GA is hurting AFSCME more than it’s hurting me. That’s harsh, but it’s true. Hopefully March 15th helps.
The 8 “GOP” Cowards that turned their backs on you, that’s what happened to Labor when Raunerites took over, and that should be your battle too, as Labor now sees McCann as a huge race to bring back the ILGOP, and I know that Labor needs Republicans too.
I have zero sympathy for me too. I’ve “eaten” it, I’ve “owned” it.
It’s on me. It’s on me and I have no sympathy that “I” and those like-minded didn’t do enough, and I own that too.
It’s up to Republicans to heed to call of Edgar. I am. But leaders need to emerge, and I’m not one of them.
I appreciate your kind words and the harsh truth of your comment, but understand, Labor needs Republicans too, if anything to defeat Raunerites and irradiate them from the guise of legitimacy.
You keep plugging - Honeybear -, we’te all in the same boat.
OW
- Jimmy H - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 1:25 pm:
Divestment of public higher education is widespread. Many states are heading for zero funding. It is the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) at work. Rauner and his kind in the Republican Party want higher ed privatized and not as accessible. The pharaohs want a less educated herd. Not all Republicans share ALEC’s agenda, though it’s certainly bad when virtually all Republican members are in lockstep with Rauner. I hope Republican members and voters listen to Jim Edgar.
- CharlieKratos - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 1:36 pm:
OW, you’re on top of things. Maybe you could pen an “Open Letter” to the ILGOP. Something that would spell out where they came from, where they’re going, and the potential consequences of being accomplices to the destruction of education and social services in Illinois.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 1:53 pm:
- CharlieKratos -
I thank you for your thoughtfulness.
What I know is I’m not a leader in Illinois Republican politics. That’s the absolute truth. It’s Republicans, like me, who are looking for a much heavier weighted voice to emerge and say “enough”, so I can find my place.
It would be one thing to be in a position that someone could be a voice and refuse to do so, but I don’t find myself with that dilemma. I’m not a Lead, or a Supporting Actor. I’m in the chorus, and my solos only support what’s going on in the play, I’m not in the plot of the play.
My hope is after March 15th I can hear voices calling me to rally.
I hope.
Your very kind words are flattering, but I know my maximum is here, discussing the issues and trying sometimes to be thoughtful enough that what I say can make some sense. That’s not false humility, that’s knowing who I am, and how I fit, and that’s still pretty cool for me.
Let’s hope March 16th is a new day. I am.
With respect,
Oswego Willy
- btowntruth - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 1:55 pm:
OW:
You forgot Macomb on your list earlier.
Question is will they vote accordingly in March and November?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 1:58 pm:
1) “Sorry Macomb!”, lol
2) I’d like to think thoughtful candidates running in the Primary are making their cases, and Labor, Republicans, and Social Service advocates and benefactors understand who is with them, and who is not.
They all are burning daylight.
- thechampaignlife - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 2:07 pm:
To paraphrase the New Yorker:
“Yes, Illinois got destroyed. But for a beautiful moment in time we created a lot of value for shareholders.”
Source: http://www.newyorker.com/cartoons/a16995
- How Ironic - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 2:15 pm:
@- wordslinger - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 12:48 pm:
“Dude, you can’t just make up crazy stuff to make your point.”
I apologize for my error. Fingers got ahead of brain when typing out original post. The fair is enshrined in statute. Not the constitution.
- IllinoisBoi - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 2:27 pm:
The Grad School Hub website ranks the CSU graduate programs #50 in the USA (out of about 800 grad schools in the country). CSU is the only Illinois public university on the top 50 list, and it’s an impressive roster (Dartmouth is #31, for example). http://www.gradschoolhub.com/best/graduate-schools-in-america-2016/
- Norseman - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 3:27 pm:
How Ironic, fair enough. We all make mistakes. The problem is that there are a lot of things in statute not being funded. This was an issue even before there was an impasse. The fair is a political choice being excused by a red herring argument.
- Anon - Friday, Feb 26, 16 @ 4:24 pm:
@IllinoisBoi, interesting information. If that is true, top ranked graduate program in the state, I think the other state universities deserve to be closed.