Time to update the talking points
Monday, Apr 4, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Apparently, the governor’s latest catch-phrase is “supermajority,” even though Rep. Ken Dunkin’s defection means the Democrats have no real working supermajority in the Illinois House. The governor got called on that by Chris “Budget Beard” Kaergard after a Rauner appearance in his neck of the woods…
(J)udging from Rauner’s presentation, the fault rests solely with the Democrats’ “supermajority” in the Legislature. He was so certain of that, he invoked the word 17 times in public on his trip — 14 of them during his talk, and a further three during a brief question-and-answer session with the media.
That line of thinking is simplistic — suited to a sound bite, not to governing. It assumes all members of a party vote in lockstep at all times and all issues. They don’t.
We’ve seen that demonstrated after Rauner spent time wooing state Rep. Ken Dunkin, D-Chicago, effectively peeling off one lawmaker from House Speaker Michael Madigan’s one-vote supermajority. But a number of other lawmakers have voted their minds — or their districts — on issues during every session. […]
Rauner referred to [Rep. Dunkin’s] recent defeat in the March 15 primary election by a candidate backed by Madigan, implying it was a lesson to others who might think about breaking ranks: “You don’t vote your conscience in the state of Illinois. You vote the way you’re told to vote.”
That ignores the fact that Rauner tried to apply that same muscle to one of his own Republicans, state Sen. Sam McCann of Jacksonville, when he voted against Rauner’s interests and for his district’s many union workers on some legislation. Rauner took to the stump himself with McCann’s primary challenger, implying the same thing to Republicans — many of whom are just as dissatisfied with their party’s leadership and just as concerned about the threats of retaliation from above.
- Norseman - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 9:45 am:
Being deceptive is standard operating procedure for Rauner and the frat boys.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 9:50 am:
Dear Rauner Press Shop,
Your shop is literally Willfully Ignorant, or Blussfully Unaware.
At this point, having the Governor say these things, even if he’s off the reservation so bad that Google Maps can’t find a quickest route, you as a Shop look like utter fools to anyone who understand what governing is.
I can’t understand, like McQueary, why you’d ignore years of honest institutional knowledge to assist in blantent ignorance of what is true in the legislature.
Can your own credibility be held so low by a Shop that allowing this ignorance, then following it up with the Rauner Word Jumble, is the work-product you see as… good?
This narrative is something I’d expect from the Tribune Editorial Board, using them as patsies as you as a Press Shop laugh how you use them.
Raunerites just can’t be honest, and the only way to 60 and 30 is being honest with what you have, what you face, and what you need.
I’m honestly embarrassed for the cracker-jack press shop. The credibility you are trading off for your boss will come down to Eastern closing it’s doors, Chicago State folding, and “dozens and dozens” of students going to Iowa State, Iowa, Wisconsin…
Mizzou… for journalism.
Quite pathetic, but… golly… Supermajority is ok to be saying… until a hurricane crashes upon Higher Ed.
- cdog - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 9:54 am:
I like how this article was written. It was very interesting that Kaergard also invited Madigan to come and address the East Peoria Chamber.
Should Madigan go on a state-wide tour? No.
Should he speak up a little more and highlight some of the GOP nonsense in their talking points? Yes.
Brown is doing a good job of being entertaining but a lot of us would like to see the gloves come off and get Rauner and the Bots reacting on the defensive.
We are all pretty tired of the robotic and offensively simple and exaggerated talking points which have zero real effects on this dire situation.
- @MisterJayEm - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 9:56 am:
Let’s review:
• “There were many races *** where special interests backed by Speaker Madigan failed to defeat Republican incumbents and candidates who support Governor Rauner”
• “I’ve been traveling the nation, lookin’ for companies to come. I’ve got dozens of ’em ready to come.”
• “Supermajority” (X17)
What’s the over/under on the first Cap Fax post that contains a Bruce Rauner claim not fatally undermined by facts.
– MrJM
- Facts are Stubborn Things - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 9:58 am:
I think SteveBbrown’s best answer is that we would have a budget if Rauner would let the non budget hostages go. Rauner is correct about one thing. It is because of the huge democratic majorities that we don’t have a budget as long as Rauner insists on his demands of gutting the core constituency of the democrats in order to negotiate on a budget.
- Harry - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:01 am:
Beyond the fact that MJM does not actually have a working supermajority, thanks to Rauner’s efforts, is the larger craziness of Rauner saying that the impasse is the Democrats’ fault for not over-ruling HIS obstruction. As if his obstruction is a force of nature or an act of God and beyond his control.
That is a VERY peculiar moral stance. That people actually fall fro it says a lot, and not good.
- Magic carpet ride - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:03 am:
Maybe Rauner thought he ran for CEO of Illinois. He obviously doesn’t know how to govern anything.
- Sir Reel - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:04 am:
Rauner: do as I say, not as I do.
- Honeybear - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:05 am:
Willful Perfidy. These are the lies that are destroying our beloved state.
- Mama - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:08 am:
It is nothing more than a canned campaign speech. As usual, he is trying to convince people all of the state financial problems are not his fault. He is trying to tell people to vote the Democrats out of office because he wants the majority in the House & the Senate so he can do whatever he wants with the state.
- The middle - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:18 am:
Rauner’s stubborn refusal to recalibrate shouldn’t surprise anyone. The question is, will Durkin and Ragdono change their approach?
Based on Trump’s horrific general election polling numbers, and the results of the Rauner vs. Madigan proxies last month, I would not want to be a GOP candidate in a targeted General Assembly race this fall. Heck, I’m not sure I’d want to be a GOP candidate in a safe district.
Do Durkin and Radogno see what’s developing? Are they just going to stick with Rauner and his money despite the primary results and the looming Trump disaster?
Counting on Hillary Clinton’s ability to screw things up and replaying the failed “Blame Madigan” strategy, ain’t much of plan.
- Robert the Bruce - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:38 am:
What happens if the Democrats do earn a real supermajority after the election?
Rauner sticks to his talking point and digs in even more?
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:41 am:
And again the deficit deniers are at work with their comments, it’s Rauners fault, “he is trying to convince people all of the state problems are not his fault.” I suppose it’s too much to ask people to be honest here but I can again state the facts. The state was in deep debt and out of balance before Rauner, the Dems passed a budget that was hopelessly out of balance, they couldn’t override Rauners correct veto of that budget and then Madigan puts the well being of his party above that of the state by refusing to negotiate. Illinois can go down the fiscal drain before he’ll negotiate. These are facts but I suppose never let facts get in the way of what you want. Friends, this state is about to implode, lives will be lost and communities ruined because of Democratic stonewalling. What is even more sad is that it appears the voters will vote in Democratic majorities again in the fall. The hope for any real change seems very small.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:47 am:
===And again the deficit deniers are at work with their comments, it’s Rauners fault, “he is trying to convince people all of the state problems are not his fault.” I suppose it’s too much to ask people to be honest here but I can again state the facts. The state was in deep debt and out of balance before Rauner, the Dems passed a budget that was hopelessly out of balance, they couldn’t override Rauners correct veto…===
Rauner owns his vetoes.
Governors own, they always do.
You said yourself…
===…Rauners correct veto…===
… then Rauner owns every bit what the vetoES (plural) bring.
The vetoes are correct, right? Then Rauner owns the consequences.
You’re welcome.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:50 am:
How can any governor let his administration meet a roadblock and stop functioning? What kind of governor lets roadblocks stop him? How can Rauner expect citizens to accept the level of impotence and failure he has shown since Inauguration Day?
He is supposed to be governing, with or sans roadblocks. His failure to govern is his failure, not the failure of our government.
There are dozens of things Rauner could do so that he can be successful. He chooses not to.
What conservatives need to demand from Rauner is for him to do what any governor would do beyond politicizing, demonizing and whining. Rauner doesn’t need to have a majority to be a good governor. His failure to be a good governor is his failure, regardless of who the Democrat is opposing his administration.
- Demoralized - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:55 am:
@NeverPoliticallyCorrect:
You’re joking with your comment right? You admonish people to be honest and then you proceed to make a comment totally void of honesty. You pick right up with the Governor’s talking points about how he is an innocent bystander in all of this. He’s the victim. It’s all the big bad Democrats fault. Only a person who completely denies reality would say such things. The facts are that this mess is the child of both Madigan and Rauner. To deny that is just ludicrous. If you want to lament about honesty you should probably be honest in your own comments.
And that deficit denier comment? Please. You are another one of those absolutists. If you don’t agree with the Governor’s changes then you are a denier. A status quo supporter.
- forwhatitsworth - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 11:17 am:
It doesn’t matter what kind of a majority you have, there has to be legislation you believe in to politically support.
- Rollo Tamasi - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 11:18 am:
Well at least Rauner is a bit more polished than Trump. The arrogance level is the same in both and Hillary has it too. They say absolute power corrupts absolutely. Big money is just a multiplier.
- RIJ - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 11:18 am:
Rauner continues to be a weak Governor. He cannot get his ideology passed, but he isn’t wise enough to accept reality and re-envision and recreate his Governorship. But he does not care if his legacy is as a good governor or an ineffective one because of his obsession.
But truly, Rauner is the least effective Governor of Illinois I’ve seen in my lifetime. Blago was… Blago, but at least the state didn’t implode due to inaction during his term.
- Hedley Lamarr - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 11:24 am:
Maybe Bruce will change his tune after his legislative candidates lose in November.
- thunderspirit - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 11:39 am:
@NeverPoliticallyCorrect:
– I suppose it’s too much to ask people to be honest here but I can again state the facts. The state was in deep debt and out of balance before Rauner… –
This is true; Illinois’ fiscal problems did not begin in 2015 when Governor Rauner took office.
– …the Dems passed a budget that was hopelessly out of balance… –
This is partially true; the General Assembly passed an out-of-balance budget. I think the term “hopelessly” is more than a little hyperbolic, but okay.
– …they couldn’t override Rauners correct veto of that budget… –
This is partially true as well; the General Assembly lacked enough votes to override the Governor’s veto. Correct or not correct is open for debate, and has been since the veto occurred.
– …and then Madigan puts the well being of his party above that of the state by refusing to negotiate. Illinois can go down the fiscal drain before he’ll negotiate. –
The idea that Speaker Madigan is the one refusing to negotiate is demonstrably and patently false. The Governor’s own words and actions prove it to be so.
Had Governor Rauner proposed a balanced budget in the first place — for either F16 or FY17 — he would have ample evidence that Speaker Madigan (oh, and of course, the General Assembly members he controls; can’t forget that tagline) are responsible for the budget impasse. He did not, so he does not.
These are facts. But I suppose you should never let facts get in the way of what you believe. Or of whom you want to blame.
- Sir Reel - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 11:48 am:
The back log of bills was decreasing and the required pension payments were made with the 5% income tax rate. Yes the Democratic GA enacted it with a sunset but Rauner said let it expire.
So in the not so distant past the State’s fiscal situation was improving under Democratic control. Now it’s crashing and burning.
Wonder why?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 6:44 pm:
Dear Mr. Kaergard,
Danny Kaffee would be proud.
Great work. I’d get you cannoli but I’m afraid it would get lost in your beard!
I enjoy reading your work.
OW
- RNUG - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 10:13 pm:
== Blago was… Blago, but at least the state didn’t implode due to inaction during his term. ==
Only because the GA managed to put together enough votes to run the state and override any vetoes. We haven’t yet reached that point with Rauner … and we may never reach it with that $20M+ hanging over the GOP legislators.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Apr 5, 16 @ 7:44 am:
When will reality set in??