74 Comments - AC - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:20 pm: If tweeting pictures from schools and restaurants was effective governing, we’d have a budget. The folks Rauner needs to negotiate with aren’t in Carterville today, are they? - Anon221 - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:21 pm: AC +++++ - out of touch - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:23 pm: IL Chamber: “hang in there” and “go Dunkin!”. Zero legitimacy. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:25 pm: Dear Illinois Chamber, Save yourself and everyone else some time… Representative? @RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate. - Ron Sandack, 9/28/15 … or just send a “Hang in There!”… you guys know that move too. ===“If yelling and chanting and protesting solved problems, Illinois wouldn’t have any problems.”=== Rauner Press Shop… Next time, just have the Governor say… “Let them eat cake”. It’s embarrassing that Rauner… Fled … today, scared to face the people that felt his vetoes. Where o where is the Governor willing to take the “slings and arrows”? Pretty pathetic when it’s easy to veto and hurt the most vulnerable… and then conveniently not be there to take the real heat… … while Rauner blames the protesters for their yellin’ and chantin’ Sometimes standing to take those sling and arrows is about character. Some have… character… some… - Norseman - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:32 pm: If press releases and misleading rhetoric solved problems, Illinois wouldn’t have any problems. - slow down - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:32 pm: If running TV ads about the Speaker just months after an election solved any problems, Illinois wouldn’t have any problems at all . . . - From the 'Dale to HP - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:35 pm: ===“If yelling and chanting and protesting solved problems, Illinois wouldn’t have any problems.”=== Talk about tone deaf… no wonder Rauner’s losing right now. Doesn’t get it. Then again, not everyone can call Arne Duncan to clout their kid into one of the best schools in the state. - wordslinger - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:35 pm: –“To solve this problem, we need pro-growth reforms to bolster the Illinois economy, which will be good for workers, companies, state government, and the organizations that state government funds.– So if you’re solving problems here, you obviously must have some detailed projections as to what the future payoff of these “pro-growth reforms” will be. Please share. As it stands now, the state has “invested” billions in deficit spending, thousands of lost jobs, plus billions more in unpaid bills to Illinois businesses in pursuit of these “pro-growth reforms.” What kind of growth are we talking about? What is the estimated break-even date from when these reforms are implemented to when they cover the costs to date and start showing a profit? Surely the state’s largest business organization wouldn’t advocate pursuing an expensive business plan without a clue as to what the future ROI would be? That would be insane, as any business owner would tell you. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:36 pm: Oh, this would be a FUN game! “If…solved any problems, Illinois wouldn’t have any problems at all” If… Carhartts were sold by the dozens.., If… Payton Prep had a Principal’s Choice option… If… eating a Horseshoe meant eating an iron horse shoe… If… a hurricane could be summoned by whistling… If… Trashcan vans had the optional 4th seat… - Nick Name - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:36 pm: If droppin’ G’s solved problems, Illinois wouldn’t have any problems. - Boooooooo - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:37 pm: If refusin’ to negotiate in good faith and visitin’ places solved problems, Illinois wouldn’t have any problems. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:37 pm: I think my favorite so far would be… If… ands and buts were candies and nuts.. - Anon - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:38 pm: ===“If yelling and chanting and protesting solved problems, Illinois wouldn’t have any problems.”=== Bold words coming from a guy that hasn’t solved any of the problems he said he would address. - The Captain - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:42 pm: Governor, how do you feel about thousands of working class Illinoisans rallying in front of the Capitol today to make their voices heard? “If yelling and chanting and protesting solved problems, Illinois wouldn’t have any problems.” Wow. Somehow in his mind petitioning your government is less honorable than buying it. - pundent - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:43 pm: =we need pro-growth reforms to bolster the Illinois economy= Translation, we can’t save the union until we kill the union. - Jorge - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:48 pm: “If my dropped g’s solved anything, Illinois would have a budget.” - Blue Bayou - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:49 pm: “To solve this problem, we need pro-growth reforms to bolster the Illinois economy, which will be good for workers…” RIGHT there, people. That is the GOP Bait ‘n Switch for all to see. If “growth” doesn’t allow for higher wages and solid infrastructure (education, public transport, etc.), and then shared prosperity, it means nothing. Unless you are a Porsche dealer in Lake County. - Count them - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:50 pm: Three of the first six words from the governor (50 %) ended in the letter g.! Maybe if he spent half of the time learning how to govern and not dictate we might have a budget - Cubs in '16 - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:56 pm: ===Oh, this would be a FUN game! “If…solved any problems, Illinois wouldn’t have any problems at all” If… Carhartts were sold by the dozens.., If… Payton Prep had a Principal’s Choice option… If… eating a Horseshoe meant eating an iron horse shoe… If… a hurricane could be summoned by whistling… If… Trashcan vans had the optional 4th seat…=== This could be taken a step further and borrow from Jeff Foxworthy’s schtick “If………., you might be Gov. Rauner” - RNUG - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:57 pm: Ever notice how Rauner always manages to duck the heat? Maybe if he stayed around, took the arrows and actually listened for a change … - Anonymous - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:59 pm: “If yelling and chanting and protesting solved problems, Illinois wouldn’t have any problems.” Spoken like a rich man born to another rich man, a man whose whole life has largely consisted of win win decisions and is now frustrated because he can’t get his way for once. People are not cogs and though he may be in a position of power that power is derived from those who do the labor to create our infrastructure. Over the past year next to nothing has happened. While his administration is only one part, however page it may be, of the gridlock equation, there is little evidence of any effort on the part of the governor, beyond what was proposed, to resolve the budget crisis. His complaining about justifiable frustration is almost as laughably unproductive as his administration over the past year. - Keyrock - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:00 pm: If buying the governorship solved problems . . . . - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:01 pm: If… running $2 million in ads blaming Madigan… - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:03 pm: If… being utterly and completely disengaged with my job… - Liberty - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:06 pm: Where are all the jobs from the tax cut? - Soccermom - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:09 pm: Wait — did I miss the Chamber standing up and demanding higher taxes 10 years ago, when the pension problems were clearly visible on the horizon? - Albany Park Patriot - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:10 pm: Yeah, people peaceably assembling to ask for redress of their grievances is considered so useless in our democracy. Like the Civil Rights Movement. Rauner’s is the voice of privilege. Thousands of his constituents got together in purpose today but he’s trying to dismiss them out of hand. He adds insult to the injuries he has caused with this kind of talk, but he doesn’t care: HE’LL be fine. - In a Minute - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:12 pm: Rauner is right that marches and demonstrations are not is what is needed to solve Illinois budget and larger economic problems. He is also right that raising taxes will just have the effect of driving more people and businesses from the state. The solutions are pretty straightforward and Rauner is articulating them well. Most of all, Illinois needs meaningful restructuring of its pension obligations at all levels of government. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:15 pm: - In a Minute - When Republucans are “Green” on more revenue and Rauner signs it… hows that gonna be for ya… Math. It’s just math - Triple fat - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:16 pm: As Dandy Don taught me, Governor… ‘If ifs and buts were hickory nuts, we’d all have a merry Christmas.’ The Governor’s statement proves that his salary of $1 per year makes the Governor grossly overpaid considering how much his ineffectual governance is costing the Great State of Illinois! - Soccermom - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:19 pm: Dear Governor Rauner, Marches and demonstrations do not solve political problems. But they show elected leaders that there is a political will to solve those problems, and smart leaders respond quickly and thoughtfully. I know this stuff is kind of new to you so I thought I would help. All best, Soccermom - Rabid - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:19 pm: If I was on the floor of general assembly every day - AC - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:24 pm: Soccermom +1 - Anonymous - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:25 pm: This guy has know idea who he works for. WOW - Decaf Coffee Party - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:25 pm: ==“If yelling and chanting and protesting solved problems, Illinois wouldn’t have any problems.”== And if we had that attitude back in the 1770’s we’d all still be paying taxes to a King and Queen. Come to think of it… - Huh? - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:26 pm: If riding the Harley around wearing a leather vest covered in flair … If calling the other branches of government corrupt … If killing off the middle class and unions … If freezing property taxes and not making up the difference in state funds … If talking to myself and not listening to anybody worth less than $1 billion … If trying to run the State like a business and not paying vendors … Like OW said this is fun. - Skeptic - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:27 pm: If giving 25 people $40 gift cards and Made in Bangledesh t-shirts would solve the problems, then . . . - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:32 pm: - Soccermom - A rockstar like always. We are in the same side this time. No doubt. OW. I’m glad to read all these “ifs”… It’s IS fun. Well done all! - RNUG - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:35 pm: == Wait — did I miss the Chamber standing up and demanding higher taxes 10 years ago, when the pension problems were clearly visible on the horizon? == Or back in 1968 - 1970 when the pension problems were heavily discussed, resulting in the Pension Clause? Or in 1974 - 1975 when the IFT case again publicized the problems? - Ole' Nelson - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:37 pm: “Most of all, Illinois needs meaningful restructuring of its pension obligations at all levels of government.” If by restructuring, you mean re-amortizing and paying off, then I agree. And more importantly, the Illinois Supreme Court would likely agree. - RNUG - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:48 pm: More to the point of the post and the effectiveness of crowds, see the vast majority of the American Civil Rights movement. Also see civil disobedience and/or various organized resistance and uprisings, including the Illinois Coal Mine Wars or the Chicago Taxi Wars. Or in the context of getting an opposite result, see the Springfield Race Riots that resulted in the founding of the NAACP. Putting it in that kind of historical context, everyone should be glad we are more civil today than the days of the early 1900’s when more direct action by both sides was the norm. - Logical Lady - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:50 pm: I was immediately startled to read that it was called “The Union Rally”, right off the bat. I know it couldn’t be called what most of the signs and postings were calling it, because that would be a pejorative unacceptable label on here, right? But, you see, Unions were only part of the rally. I was holding a homemade sign for the common sense of a compromise. There were many, many organizations, Agencies, churches, social service employees, social services patients, etc., etc., so letting Rauner say, “(…Those union workers)… Yelling, chanting and screaming…” well, that is letting him continue to close his eyes to elderly, homeless, disabled, and many other people of whom probably some will die tonight without their services. A good governor will compromise with the needs of the people. A child could just veto everything. Governor Rauner, some people of needs died last night because you won’t compromise. You put big business to get more taxes ahead of those dying today, and tomorrow, and the next day, because of you “passing the buck”. Do your job and join in compromising. - East Central Illinois - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:59 pm: Standing ovation for - Logical Lady - well said! - Wensicia - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:03 pm: If yelling and chanting (Turnaround Agenda) and protesting solved problems, Rauner wouldn’t have any problems delivering a budget. - JoanP - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:06 pm: “If playin’ at being governor instead of actually governin’ solved problems, Illinois wouldn’t have any problems.” - RNUG - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:06 pm: == If by restructuring, you mean re-amortizing and paying off, then I agree. And more importantly, the Illinois Supreme Court would likely agree. == The pension debt is mostly (with exception of a couple of relatively small bond issues) just a bunch of IOU’s that the State owes to itself (the five State pension funds). The current payment plan is the Edgar Ramp. It is possible to fairly easily change the expected funding level and the “repayment” period. The biggest problem with most of the recently proposed changes is moving up to requiring a 100% funding level by a specific date; 75% - 80% would be more than adequate for an ongoing enterprise like State government. The term (number of years) could also be changed but you need to recognize that, like a credit card, the longer the payment period, the greater the total paid. Once you get out to around 40 years for the term, you reach the point of diminishing returns where there basically are no “savings” with the longer term. That said, redoing the ramp now could eventually achieve a bit of fiscal year payment relief, but it won’t be enough to avoid a revenue increase. In fact, the first year may even cost a bit more than the Edgar Ramp since I’m presuming the restructuring would pay off the “debt” in equal payments like a mortgage. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:06 pm: “If yelling and chanting and protesting solved problems, I wouldn’t put John Tillman in charge of solving problems.” - Norseman - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:10 pm: === Wait — did I miss the Chamber standing up and demanding higher taxes 10 years ago, when the pension problems were clearly visible on the horizon? === Soccermom, they were too busy demanding the reduction of public salaries and benefits. - Daniel Plainview - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:10 pm: - solved problems - And history has shown us that Rauner and the superstars are nothing if not expert problem solvers… - Skeptic - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:10 pm: “If yelling and chanting and protesting solved problems, Lee Elia should be Governor.” - burbanite - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:13 pm: They should have gotten T-shirts of Rauner from bangladesh, now that would work to solve the problems! /s - Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:25 pm: If a majority of General Assembly realized there is more to Illinois than unions and trial lawyers we would have had a budget 11 months ago. - Norseman - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:27 pm: === The solutions are pretty straightforward and Rauner is articulating them well. === Brownback’s solutions were well articulated as well. The problem is that they actually weren’t solutions. Kansas is now struggling to get out from the debt caused by his “reforms.” Do you have any data to prove that Illinois will not suffer a similar fate from Rauner’s efforts. So far Rauner’s efforts to “reform” the state has lead to increased debt, reduced services to the needy and elderly, more unemployment, a damaged higher education system, cuts in local services and further reductions in our bond rating. As Word has repeatedly requested. Where is the analysis on the benefits of the reforms? - Anonymous - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:29 pm: ===“If yelling and chanting and protesting solved problems, Lee Elia should be Governor.”=== LOL, and F-bombs! - Cubs in '16 - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:30 pm: Anonymous @ 4:29 was me. - btowntruth - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:31 pm: Lucky Pierre: So unions and trial lawyers are allowed to present budgets to the General Assembly AND vote on them? I must have skipped over that part of the State Constitution. Otherwise,it isn’t their fault no matter how much the IPI may say it is. - Anonymous - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:43 pm: RECALL RAUNER! - AlabamaShake - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:44 pm: **“If yelling and chanting and protesting solved problems, Illinois wouldn’t have any problems.”** Funny — I saw IPI yelling and chanting outside Madigan’s office yesterday. - Mama - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:49 pm: Rich, I tried to send you a video of today’s rally, but it would not transfer. - Mama - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:49 pm: ==Logical Lady - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:50 pm:== +2 - Mama - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 4:52 pm: ==“If yelling and chanting and protesting solved problems, Illinois wouldn’t have any problems.”== Rauner, if you think this is all that happened at the rally today, you totally missed the boat & the messages. - Anon221 - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 5:13 pm: Doin’ the math- Not even 1.4% showed up to the IPI rally yesterday, and I was generous with numbers! (50/8000)x100= 0.625% - Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 5:24 pm: If you make bank off State pension funds, then try to cut, er, “reform” them, you might be… If you clout your kid into CPS, and then want to see them go BK now that she’s out, you might be… - Honeybear - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 8:06 pm: All I know is that I felt power today. It was real and it was tangible. I know that when I went to the rally I felt that we’d fight but in end we’ll probably lose. After the rally I felt that there is no way Rauner and his owned can win. I say every kind of person there. EVERY KIND! All united against one kind of person, the callous, and their Lord, Bruce Rauner. What I saw today was Ilinois. It was Illinois rising up to stop Bruce Rauner and his callous owned from hurting the people of our state. WE are going to stop you. We have had enough. The malignant callousness will stop. - Mama - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:23 pm: Honeybear - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 8:06 pm: I agree - - I too felt hopeful today. Great speakers. - Union no - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:42 pm: Right hb. Outside of your own little echo chamber, everyone is fed up with unions and their demands. I’ve never seen a group of people who had such a sense of entitlement to other peoples money. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:50 pm: ===Right hb. Outside of your own little echo chamber, everyone is fed up with unions and their demands. I’ve never seen a group of people who had such a sense of entitlement to other peoples money.=== LOL! Yesterday, half-dozens and half-dozens… Today… Thousands. Hilarious!!! - Honeybear -, Savor today, organize and build tomorrow. No rest for the weary, and that’s ok. Don’t burn out but don’t burn daylight. Work smart and make it count. Today put many on notice, and that’s pretty cool… All - Union no - did was remind me how Tillman failed yesterday. OW - Anonymous - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:52 pm: “- Union no - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:42 pm:” It is not other people’s money. When they work, they must get paid. Also, that pay must be fair and that is what the Unionis fighting for. - Ivesdale - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 10:08 pm: Gov. Rauner meet Bill Black. Problem solved. - PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 10:09 pm: If galavantin’, badmouthin’, paradin’, mistruthin’, carhartinin’,vannin’, tweetin’, emailin’, politicin’, misspeakin’, and bashin’ solved problems, ILLINOIS WOULD STILL HAVE PROBLEMS. Better. - PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 10:31 pm: Adlai Stevenson was a statesman. (G)0vern0r rauner, you are no Adlai Stevenson - Mama - Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 11:02 pm: Does campaigning one high school after another solve any problems? The House and Senate were in session today so what were you doing campaigning at another high school? Get back to the capitol and get to work for a change! - Claude Peppercorn - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 5:43 am: Let’s just fast-forward to the part where the veto override vote fails, and then the union contract can proceed with the Labor Relations board by design. - Anonymous - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 8:29 am: “If the poor and the unions moved to another state we wouldn’t have any problems.” Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.