Optimism and pessimism both abound
Tuesday, May 10, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
A bipartisan group of state legislators tasked with sorting out the state’s stalled budget could have some answers by the end of the week, a Republican legislator said Monday.
State Rep. Patti Bellock, R-Hinsdale, the deputy minority leader of the House and actively involved in budget talks, said the working group formed by the governor, with legislators from both parties, including those in charge of appropriations committees, are now meeting daily for several hours at a time. […]
At a west suburban event to highlight the need for school funding reform, Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin on Monday also cited progress in the working groups when it comes to workers compensation reform, and he said the group would issue a report “very soon.” He also said there was progress with procurement reform and property tax relief.
* But…
Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, whose school funding bill still awaits a vote, offered his own “bold prediction” to the City Club crowd.
“The question was what does an eventual budget look like? I think it’s going to look substantially similar to the budget that was passed last year that the governor vetoed,” he said.
* And…
So what’s the most likely legislative budget scenario? Similar to last year: Lawmakers are required to put forward a budget and it’s likely be a Democratic plan (surprise!). Rauner will have the option to veto it in its entirety as he did in 2015 (with the exception of K-12) or use reduction veto power to fund certain services that suffered over the last year like higher ed, social services, rape crisis centers, senior services, etc. It’s unclear how Chicago schools would fare in such a scenario, however. That’s something Senate Pres. John Cullerton sought to address in his formula change push. […]
THE QUOTE: A veteran Democratic operative talking about the Rauner era in Springfield: “In the Civil War we had a budget. In the first War World we had a budget. In the Great Depression we had a budget. In the second World War we had a budget. 18 months ago we had a budget. We don’t have a budget now. What’s the only difference?”
The difference, Rauner would probably say, is that state budgets have been unbalanced for decades and he wants his reforms before he’ll do another one.
* Also…
A bipartisan forum of state lawmakers at the City Club of Chicago on Monday produced a fair amount of optimism, though tempered by the panel’s two Democratic members.
State Sen. Daniel Biss, D-Evanston, referred to himself as “Little Dark Raincloud” in pointing out the “very dramatic clash” of philosophical differences between Republican Gov. Rauner and Democrats who hold legislative supermajorities.
Biss also warned that if and when a budget agreement is ever reached after the state’s lengthy impasse, lawmakers shouldn’t “act as if it never happened” and that the “depth of the long-term damage” to social service providers should “guide our behavior.”
- Dr X - Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:34 am:
What an excellent chance for Rauner to finally show his shakin’ up chops. Line item veto or amendatory veto to balance the likely unbalanced budget. Let citizens know exactly what is important in the budget and what is not. That would be leadership and ownership. Lets finally find out what two steps backward for short term pain looks like. Dare to dream on a Tuesday.
- Dr X - Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:36 am:
This should have been a question of the day - “What describes this week better? Optimism or pessimism?”
I vote pessimism
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:38 am:
===The difference, Rauner would probably say, is that state budgets have been unbalanced for decades and he wants his reforms before he’ll do another one.===
@RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate. - Ron Sandack, 9/28/15
100% Agree with Rich. Well said.
===THE QUOTE: A veteran Democratic operative talking about the Rauner era in Springfield: “In the Civil War we had a budget. In the first War World we had a budget. In the Great Depression we had a budget. In the second World War we had a budget. 18 months ago we had a budget. We don’t have a budget now. What’s the only difference?”===
Seen “that” in Comments for weeks. Glad it’s finding its way…
- Big Joe - Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:45 am:
With the way Rauner is spouting off at the high schools during his visits, how cold anyone vote anything but Pessimism?
- illinoised - Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:49 am:
I like the hints of optimism from some legislators. The bad taste in my mouth is the long term damage which has already occurred. Mending fences will take a long time. As Jack Kerouac said, “Walking on water wasn’t built in a day.” He said that in the aftermath of a bad acid trip, therefore appropriate to this situation.
- Norseman - Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 9:59 am:
Listened to the City Club presentation. I found the Bliss and Manar comments to be more realistic.
Bellock focused on the GOP talking points with a bit of optimism that something will be done.
McSweeney did his best Jack Franks imitation railing against the bad effects of not getting things done. He then topped it off by repeating his ridiculous assertion that no tax hike was necessary. McSweeney justified that with what I’m going to call his instant pudding recipe. No tax is necessary because we will have instant savings from pension reform, Medicaid reform, purchase reform …
I’m pessimistic because there’s a lot of heavy lifting to do and we still don’t have confirmation that Rauner is abandoning his poison bills. Heavier lifting then would have been required had Rauner not taken hostages.
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 10:00 am:
Senator Biss should also acknowledge the depth of the long term damage imposed by our dysfunctional government. The highest property and sales taxes in the nation do a lot of damage to middle class families. Workers comp reform would make our businesses more competitive and it would be nice if Democrats had some suggestions for economic development instead of tossing barbs from the cheap seats. No specifics from his plan just more spending.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 10:03 am:
–State Rep. Patti Bellock, R-Hinsdale, the deputy minority leader of the House and actively involved in budget talks, said the working group formed by the governor, with legislators from both parties, including those in charge of appropriations committees, are now meeting daily for several hours at a time.–
Give me a break. Talking about what, every day for “several hours at a time” after all these months? Re-enacting the Lincoln-Douglas debates?
The arithmetic is pretty simple.
You’re spending GRF at a more-than $38 billion pace while you’re taking in only $32 billion. Plus, you’re bleeding higher ed and social services to death.
This ain’t a heavy-lift. If you’re truly committed to fixing those brain-teasers, you’ll have a solution by lunch.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 11:47 am:
- wordslinger - Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 10:03 am:
Very well said. That sums it up.
- Ghost - Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 12:24 pm:
the last couple budgets under quinn were balanced and were paying down the debt backlog. so the difference is not unbalanced past budgets, its just Rauner.
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 4:53 pm:
==The difference, Rauner would probably say, is that state budgets have been unbalanced for decades and he wants his reforms before he’ll do another one.==
What is the success rate of stopping addictions cold turkey?
- RNUG - Tuesday, May 10, 16 @ 10:13 pm:
== What is the success rate of stopping addictions cold turkey? ==
Probably 1.4%
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 4:09 am:
==18 months ago we had a budget.==
That was not a budget. That was an IOU.